NEW YORK-MAY 6: On Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 guests gathered in Central Park’s six-acre Conservatory Garden at Fifth Avenue and 105th Street for the annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon. Hosted by the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, the event raised $2.1 million for the maintenance and preservation of Central Park. A stunning sea of hats and spring blooms filled the Park’s secret garden. This year’s chairwomen were Vicki Foley, Muffy Miller, Gillian Miniter, Tara Rockefeller and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. Betsy Messerschmitt is President of the Women’s Committee. Angela and Wade Thompson were honored for their outstanding support of Central Park. Attendees included Bette Midler, Sigourney Weaver, Tory Burch, and Martha Stewart. Conservatory Garden is the ideal location for the celebration. The six-acre oasis is Central Park’s only formal garden and takes its name from the huge glass conservatory that once stood there. Guests enter from Fifth Avenue and 105th Street through the Vanderbilt Gate, which originally stood before the Vanderbilt Mansion at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, the site of today's Bergdorf Goodman store. The Garden is often an inspiration for the guests’ glamorous or whimsical hat creations. The Women’s Committee thanks ANKASA New York, Print International, Estėe Lauder Companies Inc., and Wathne Ltd. for their in-kind contributions. The Committee would also like to acknowledge Olivier Cheng catering and Andrew Pascoe Flowers, Ltd.About the Central Park Conservancy: The Women’s Committee is an association dedicated to fundraising for Central Park and enhancing the Conservancy's programs in education, conservation and horticulture. The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1980 as a public-private partnership with the City of New York. Thanks to the generosity of many individuals, corporations, foundations, and the City, the Conservancy has invested more than $500 million to date into the Park, transforming it into a model for urban parks worldwide. The Conservancy provides 85% of Central Park’s annual $27 million operating budget and is responsible for the maintenance and management of the Park. PHOTO CREDIT:Copyright ©Manhattan Society.com 2009 by Christopher London | tel: Private |e-mail: ChrisLondon@manhattansociety.com PLEASE NOTE: More Id's and select images to follow.***