East End Chapter/Jeanne Kaye League honors Brooke Shields, Melissa L. Cohn
Teri BloomBrooke Shields and Melissa L. Cohn
Actress and author Brooke Shields and mortgage industry pioneer Melissa L. Cohn were feted at the East End Chapter/Jeanne Kaye League’s annual “Woman of the Year” luncheon, held May 8 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. More than $300,000 was raised for City of Hope through the event, where more than 500 attendees gathered to see the accomplished women honored with Spirit of Life® Awards.
Shields, whose film career has spanned nearly two decades, accepted her award in honor of her late father, Francis A. Shields. With the publication of her book, “Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression,” she became a high profile advocate for women’s health issues. A Golden Globe nominated performer, Shields is best known for her television series “Suddenly Susan” and feature films including “The Blue Lagoon” and “Endless Love.”
Fellow honoree Cohn, chief executive officer of The Manhattan Mortgage Company, often is cited as a mortgage industry leader by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and regularly appears on news channels. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to found Manhattan Mortgage Company, now a premier residential mortgage firm that originated loans last year worth $5 billion. She also was honored with a Stevie Award for Women Entrepreneurs in 2007. The Israel Cancer Research Fund recently acknowledged her support of causes benefiting women and children with its “Woman of Action” award, and in 2005 she received The Retreat Hope Award, an honor from The Retreat, a group that supports women experiencing domestic abuse.
Each year, the East End Chapter/Jeanne Kaye League recognizes women of distinguished achievement and leadership who have made significant contributions to their profession and community. Past honorees include Fran Drescher, Kelly Ripa, Cindy Crawford, Paula Zahn, Mary Tyler Moore and Katie Couric.