April 22, 2015

In commemoration of her longtime service to Citymeals and her 95th birthday, Citymeals honored Board Member Ruth Finley at Upper Story by Chef Charlie Palmer on Monday. The event raised more than $68,000, which will deliver over 10,500 nutritious meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers.  

More than 80 guests attended this intimate cocktail reception, including some of the fashion industry’s most elite members. Attendees included Mark Badgley and James Mischka, Nicole Fischelis, Fern Mallis (who served as honorary chair of the event), Citymeals Co-Founder Gael Greene, Citymeals Board Co-President Anne Cohen, and Citymeals Board Members John Pomerantz, Janet Rodgers and Kathleen Turner.
                         
Finley founded the Fashion Calendar in 1945, which quickly became known as the industry’s "bible" of fashion events, as it remains today. After joining the Citymeals Board of Directors in 1983, only two years after it was founded by Gael Greene and James Beard, Finley engaged her friends in the fashion industry to support the needs of homebound elderly New Yorkers. Her annual Fashion & Beauty Industry Salute to Citymeals-on-Wheels – which was the first event of its kind for Citymeals – relied on Finley’s many friends, designers and peers, to raise critical funds to nourish frail aged New Yorkers.

Executive Director of Citymeals-on-Wheels Beth Shapiro applauded her achievements, saying, "Ruth is one of Citymeals’ most devoted supporters. Over the years, through her untiring commitment to the organization, she has raised more than $2 million in support of homebound elderly New Yorkers. On behalf of everyone at Citymeals and all of the meal recipients she has helped over the years, thank you."