Glitterati Snowflakes Fall for Unicef

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The New York Sun

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The Unicef Snowflake Ball Tuesday night at Cipriani 42nd Street celebrated the legacy of Helenka Adamowska Pantaleoni, the daughter of distinguished Polish musicians who served as the president of the U.S. Fund for Unicef for 26 years.

Today, 20 years after her death, Pantaleoni’s son, Anthony Pantaleoni, is the chairman of the fund, and her granddaughter, actress Téa Leoni, is an active volunteer; they are going to Vietnam on a field trip in January.

“The only thing that makes me sad is I wasn’t involved with Unicef with her,” Ms. Leoni said. “I’m so glad I have that with my dad.”

The event raised $2.2 million with underwriting from Larry and Amy Robbins. Guests — including co-chairwomen Hilary Gumbel and Amy Robbins and junior co-chairwomen Margaret Betts and Barbara Bush — received sterling silver snowflake charms in honor of the snowflake mounted on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue for the holidays. Other highlights: the blue velour tablecloths, the beet salad prepared by Tabla chef Floyd Cardoz, and the performance by the Yale singing group Shades.

agordon@nysun.com


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