Jenny Paulson (pictured above)
Philanthropist, Upper East Side
How did you get involved with the conservancy?
I’ve been involved with the park for many, many, many years. I attend several of their events, including the May luncheon, which is the “hat luncheon.” Which many, many, many people come to. Martha Stewart loves to attend the hat luncheon. Mayor Bloomberg is there almost
every year as well, honoring us with his presence.
How do people get invited?
One person gets the table, and you just invite your friends, whoever you want to invite. Everyone at my table is one of my girlfriends.
What is the cost of getting a table?
Maybe we don’t get into that.
Sharon Jacob
Committee chair, Upper East Side
Karen Elizaga
Executive coach, Upper West Side
Kathy Reilly
Marketing-firm founder, Upper East Side
So it was just the luncheon and an after-party?
Well, that and then, of course, there’s always the obligatory post-post-cocktails at the Mark Hotel. Several of us from several groups went to the Mark, which we had done last year as well. You get the wink and the nod to sort of head over.
Ji Park Kwak
Med-spa owner, Carnegie Hill
Muffie Potter Aston
Board president, Upper East Side
How was it getting here?
Well, I was rescued by a pedicab driver and driven to the park. You cannot drive into the park, and I was in four-inch Manolo Blahniks. And Boris, the pedicab driver, stopped and offered me a ride. I explained that I didn’t have my wallet and I couldn’t pay him, and he graciously offered me a free ride to the Bethesda Fountain.
Margo Nederlander
Volunteer, Upper West Side
Dustee Jenkins
Chief public-affairs officer, Upper East Side
Gillian Miniter
Charity-board member, Upper East Side
Sarah Alister
Real-estate broker, Upper East Side
Melody Zumaran
Attorney, Upper East Side
Elaine Textor
Retired, Upper East Side
Suzie Aijala
Fashion stylist, Carnegie Hill
What’s the point of the conservancy?
I don’t know if you realize how much it costs to run the park, but it’s about $100 million a year. It’s insane. It’s $17 million just to prune the trees. And we’re pretty much it. The city can’t give us that, but we’ve raised so much they can allocate it to other parks around New York, which is fantastic. When I was committee president, 2016 to 2018, we raised $20 million over the two years.
Juliana Diaz
Homemaker, Upper East Side
Darice Fadeyi
Cosmetic dermatologist, Upper East Side
Jocelyn Gailliot
E-commerce founder and CEO, Carnegie Hill
Peggy G. Tirschwell
Retired, Upper East Side
Why did you want to attend?
Well, it’s really a hoot and a half. Last year was my first fall luncheon, and I felt that there were some very, very rich people there who didn’t even live here. There was a woman from Virginia somewhere with her butler. I said, “Oh, come on.”
Katherine Gage Boulud
Restaurateur, Upper East Side
Betsy Smith
Conservancy CEO and president, Upper East Side
Sharon Jacob
Committee chair, Upper East Side
Karen Elizaga
Executive coach, Upper West Side
Kathy Reilly
Marketing-firm founder, Upper East Side
So it was just the luncheon and an after-party?
Well, that and then, of course, there’s always the obligatory post-post-cocktails at the Mark Hotel. Several of us from several groups went to the Mark, which we had done last year as well. You get the wink and the nod to sort of head over.
Ji Park Kwak
Med-spa owner, Carnegie Hill
Muffie Potter Aston
Board president, Upper East Side
How was it getting here?
Well, I was rescued by a pedicab driver and driven to the park. You cannot drive into the park, and I was in four-inch Manolo Blahniks. And Boris, the pedicab driver, stopped and offered me a ride. I explained that I didn’t have my wallet and I couldn’t pay him, and he graciously offered me a free ride to the Bethesda Fountain.
Margo Nederlander
Volunteer, Upper West Side
Dustee Jenkins
Chief public-affairs officer, Upper East Side
Gillian Miniter
Charity-board member, Upper East Side
Sarah Alister
Real-estate broker, Upper East Side
Melody Zumaran
Attorney, Upper East Side
Elaine Textor
Retired, Upper East Side
Suzie Aijala
Fashion stylist, Carnegie Hill
What’s the point of the conservancy?
I don’t know if you realize how much it costs to run the park, but it’s about $100 million a year. It’s insane. It’s $17 million just to prune the trees. And we’re pretty much it. The city can’t give us that, but we’ve raised so much they can allocate it to other parks around New York, which is fantastic. When I was committee president, 2016 to 2018, we raised $20 million over the two years.
Juliana Diaz
Homemaker, Upper East Side
Darice Fadeyi
Cosmetic dermatologist, Upper East Side
Jocelyn Gailliot
E-commerce founder and CEO, Carnegie Hill
Peggy G. Tirschwell
Retired, Upper East Side
Why did you want to attend?
Well, it’s really a hoot and a half. Last year was my first fall luncheon, and I felt that there were some very, very rich people there who didn’t even live here. There was a woman from Virginia somewhere with her butler. I said, “Oh, come on.”
Katherine Gage Boulud
Restaurateur, Upper East Side
Betsy Smith
Conservancy CEO and president, Upper East Side
More From This Series
- The Look Book Goes to an Anime Convention
- The Look Book Goes to the New York City Marathon
- The Look Book Goes to a Butt Magazine Dinner
