NEW YORK, April 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, three New York City businesswomen and one high school student were honored as part of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's 22nd annual Women of Distinction Luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Eliza Bolen, executive vice president of Oscar de la Renta, was honored as the Woman of Distinction in Fashion. Cyma Zarghami , president of Viacom's Kids and Family Group, was honored as the Woman of Distinction in Business. Lara Englebardt Metz of Lara Metz Nutrition was honored as the Woman of Distinction in Nutrition & Health. Chloe Hubbe , a ninth grade student at Columbia Preparatory School, was honored as this year's Rising Star.
"My mom has had Crohn's disease all my life -- it's changed who I am and inspired me to help others living with these diseases and educate my peers about Crohn's and ulcerative colitis," said Chloe Hubbe . "I've volunteered and raised money for Camp Oasis, a summer camp that supports children living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. I also started a teen awareness campaign in New York City schools. I want to thank CCFA naming me this year's Rising Star. I hope to help inspire the next generation of supporters to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis once and for all."
Veteran news reporter and Crohn's disease patient Cynthia McFadden of NBC News hosted this year's luncheon. The luncheon's honorary chairs were Nancy Brown and Diane Miller , and the chairs were Ellen Crown, Elyse Newhouse, Michelle Swarzman , and Michele Sweetwood . This year's luncheon also featured a fashion show from Oscar de la Renta, showcasing its Fall 2015 collection for the first time in New York. This event marked the New York debut of Oscar de la Renta's Fall 2015 collection, Creative Director Peter Copping's debut collection for the fashion house.
The Women of Distinction Luncheon draws well-known attendees from New York society. This year, attendees included Betsy Baron, Debra Black, Emily Blavatnik , Clarissa Bronfman, Samantha Brous , Veronica Bulgari , Maureen Cogan, Betsy Cohn , Ellen and Dan Crown , Jennie DeScherer, Beth Dozoretz, Gary Fuhrman , Jane Holzer , June Jacobs , Carol Kalikow , Barbara Lane, Judy Lauder , Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg , Dalia Leeds , Karen LeFrak , Ninah Lynne, Phyllis Mack , Sondra Mack , Linda Macklowe , Patty McEnroe, Trish McEvoy , Gillian Miniter , Marcia Mishaan, Elyse Newhouse , Pamela Pantzer , Perri Peltz , Denise Rich , Lois Robbins, Deborah Roberts , Peter Thomas and Noreen Roth, Carolyn Rowan , Dr. Gail Saltz , Mara Sandler , Josh Schulman, Dr. Howard Sobel , Dr. Robbyn Sockolow , Sara Star , Candice Stark , Bonnie Strauss , Michelle Swarzman, Vanessa Trump, Priscilla Rattazzi Whittle and Caryn Zucker.
Over the past 22 years, the Women of Distinction Luncheon has honored New York City women who are making a difference in the lives of those living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Over the past three years, the luncheon has raised more than $5.4 million to support research and education of these debilitating inflammatory bowel diseases.
"The Women of Distinction Luncheon is an incredibly important event that provides CCFA with the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank some of the incredible women whose work profoundly touches the lives of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis every day," said Michele Zellers, executive director of CCFA's Greater New York Chapter . "This year's honorees have gone above and beyond professionally and personally to support the 1.6 million Americans living with an inflammatory bowel disease. I applaud Eliza, Cyma, Lara, and Chloe for their ongoing support of those living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, both in New York and around the country."
Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive track, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss and fatigue, and many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgeries.
Photos from today's luncheon are available upon request.
About CCFA
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the largest voluntary non-profit health organization dedicated to finding cures for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). CCFA's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research, providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public, and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information, visit www.ccfa.org , call 888-694-8872, like us on Facebook, find us on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter.
About Eliza Bolen
Eliza Bolen is Executive Vice President of Oscar de la Renta, LLC., an international luxury goods firm headquartered in New York City. Within the company, Eliza oversees the development of the ready to wear collections as well as accessories, home products, childrenswear and fragrance.
Eliza graduated from Brown University in 1992 with a BA in Modern European History. She and her husband, Alex, who serves as Oscar de la Renta's Chief Executive Officer, are the proud parents of three boys.
About Cyma Zarghami
Cyma Zarghami is the President of Viacom Inc's (Nasdaq: VIA ) and (Nasdaq: VIAB ) Kids' and Family Group, a portfolio of content brands that includes all of the linear, online, mobile and consumer products divisions of Nickelodeon, TV Land and CMT. Based in New York, she reports to Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom.
Ms. Zarghami began her career at Nickelodeon in 1985, and over the years rose through the company ranks. She was named President of the Nickelodeon Group in 2006, assuming oversight for all of the company's creative and business operations. Now in its 36th year, Nickelodeon is the world's most widely distributed kids' channel, with 50 channels reaching more than 350 million people in 25 languages.
In February, 2015, Viacom President and Chief Executive Officer Philippe Dauman expanded Ms. Zarghami's responsibilities to include oversight of TV Land and CMT, naming her President of the newly-formed Viacom Kids' and Family Group.
During her years leading Nickelodeon, Ms. Zarghami has nurtured the continued growth and expansion of the Nickelodeon brand in television and beyond while ensuring it has remained true to its primary mission of serving and being inclusive of all kids.
Under her leadership, the network is serving the newest generation of kids with content they can watch on every platform, including linear television, on-demand and mobile. From gold-standard preschool programming to the best in animation and live action comedies, Nickelodeon continues to lead and innovate on behalf of kids.
Ms. Zarghami has also expanded Nickelodeon's pro-social leadership role as a key component of its brand identity. Under its award-winning The Big Help banner, Nickelodeon informs and empowers kids of all ages to connect kids to issues they have said are important to them and their families. In fall, 2014, Nickelodeon celebrated its 11th annual Worldwide Day of Play in New York City.
Ms. Zarghami lives with her family in New York City.
About Lara Englebardt Metz
Lara Englebardt Metz's, MS, RD, CDN, love of food and cooking, coupled with a passion to help others led her to New York University where she earned a master's degree in clinical nutrition. Lara completed her dietetic internship at New York Methodist Hospital in affiliation with NYU and immediately knew she wanted to work in a private setting which would allow long-term relationships with my clients.
Lara offers a lifestyle-based approach to nutrition and health and excels in delivering the personal support her clients' needs. She has a keen ability to listen and understand her clients' strengths, weaknesses and ultimate nutrition and health goals. Lara develops customized plans for each client and works closely with each client and their support system including executive assistants, chefs, partners and other members of their team.
Lara is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Greater New York Dietetic Association, Nutrition Entrepreneurs, Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group, and Women's Health and Reproductive Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. She has contributed to national websites and magazines including Thebump.com, Glamour and Life and Style. Lara lives in New York City with her husband, Corey, and daughters, Avery and Macy.
About Chloe Hubbe
Chloe Elizabeth Hubbe is grateful to everyone affiliated with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America for being selected the Rising Star Recipient for 2015. Chloe began her involvement with the CCFA in 2012 when she pledged time and resources for Camp Oasis as part of her Bat Mitzvah project. Since that time, Chloe has stayed connected with the CCFA. In 2014 she started a teen awareness campaign across New York City schools to raise funds for research, increase awareness of the disease, and to help inspire the next generation of supporters to find a cure once and for all!
Chloe's involvement in the CCFA is very personal, as she has grown up seeing firsthand how Crohn's disease has affected the life of her mother, Dana. Limitations on diet, all too frequent episodes of stomach pain, several late night trips to a hospital ER and a weeklong stay for surgery are not the kind of memories that a child should have of their mother. However, Chloe has time and time again risen to the occasion by responding with empathy, love and support. Our family, her friends, and the CCFA are inspired by Chloe's commitment to such a personal and socially important cause.
Chloe's passion for achievement is also seen in her dedication to academics and extra curricular activities at Columbia Preparatory School where she is in the 9th grade. Chloe is active in the school theatre department, and a player on the varsity tennis team.
Rebecca H. Kaplan 201-707-6633
