Only $350,000 to Go to Meet Kresge Challenge! - Cooke Center

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Cooke Board Chairman Takes Strong Stand Against Discrimination at Cooke Spring Gala Event Raises More than $800,000 Cooke Honors Board Chairman Lon Jacobs Cooke’s Board Chairman Lon Jacobs spoke out against discrimination toward people with special needs when he was honored at Cooke’s Road to Independence Spring Gala on April 27. “The Cooke Center should be proud of its many accomplishments, none more so than to treat each of our kids as an individual who possesses unique gifts,” said Mr. Jacobs as he received Cooke’s Founders Award. “Unfortunately, much of the rest of the world does not share this view,” Mr Jacobs continued. “The word ‘retard’ appears 17 times in Ben Stiller’s film ‘Tropic Thunder‘,” he told the crowd of 400 guests. “And of course people with intellectual disabilities are now a favorite target on the Internet.” People who Discriminate ‘Need to be Educated’ Senior Executive Vice President and Group General Counsel at News Corporation, Mr. Jacobs spoke of how discrimination has hurt his own daughter Molly, a 12-year-old with a mild cognitive impairment who started with Cooke in kindergarten. “I can’t remember what I was like before Molly was born. She has never had a bad day,” said the proud dad. Yet, he said, people think it’s okay to stare at Molly in public. “Why is it so hard to understand that people with special needs count as much as you and me?” Mr. Jacobs had some advice for the crowd at Cipriani 42nd St: “The next time you hear someone use the word [retard] or see someone humiliate a person with disabilities, call them on it. Most people aren’t evil; they are simply ignorant and need to be educated.” Corporate Support Mr. Jacobs also thanked Ira Sheinfeld and Hogan & Hartson for their support of Cooke over the years, not only with financial contributions but by accepting and mentoring Cooke’s student-interns. Many other supporters came out to support Cooke on the warm spring evening, including lead donors like News Corporation, Allen & Company, Goldman Sachs and Loeb and Loeb. Cooke Board members and parents were also there to celebrate. Fox 5 News Anchors Ernie Anastos and Dari Alexander emceed the event with humor and charm. NASDAQ OMX Honored Also honored at the gala was NASDAQ OMX, which has been tremendously supportive of Cooke’s technology efforts and its programming for older teens at the Cooke Center Academy high school. “The innovation and creativity that defines Cooke is seen every day,” said Bruce Aust, executive vice president for NASDAQ’s Corporate Client Group. “Cooke prepares their students for life.” Left to Right: Cooke Board Member Christine Hennessey, her friend Shirley Wise, and Katherine Gallagher, speech therapist to Cooke student Lexie Hennessey / Fox 5’s Dari Alexander and Ernie Anastos Award to NASDAQ OMX, with Bruce Aust accepting / News Corp’s Executive Vice President, Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs Gary Ginsberg (right), who introduced Mr. Jacobs, with his wife Susan Cravath Swaine & Moore, Peter Smith of Hogan & Hartson and Steve Gold of Mintz & Gold / Cooke President Michael Termini with Kevin Hopkins and Laura Inzalaco-Hopkins, who will serve as Cooke’s He Mikhaila Wirfel
Cooke Wins Basketball Game; Receives $20,000 CVS Grant The Cooke Center Academy basketball team handily beat Columbia Prep/Dalton 91 to 77 on May 21, defending their undefeated record. Their win was no doubt made easier by some foot-stomping encouragement from their cheerleaders. “Put that ball in the hoop, hoop!” they shouted, waving their pom-poms. Cooke Parent and Teacher Shares Her Family’s Story Cooke teacher Muna Belbase, joined by her husband, Krishna, shared her unique perspective at the gala as both a Cooke teacher and parent. “When my son Srijan was six months old, doctors said he might never walk or talk,” Mrs. Belbase told the crowd. “When he started at Cooke in kindergarten, he was not communicating at all. Well, within one year, he was speaking not only English, but our native Nepali as well. “ The game got started with some extra encouragement from CVS Caremark Charitable Trust — a grant for $20,000 to the Cooke Center Academy. Robert Schwartz, CVS’ district sales manager from New York, presented a giant check to the players and staff. The kids clapped and cheered. When the cheers died down, Cooke president Dr. Michael Termini reminded students that many had visited CVS as part of their Off-Site Education program. “How many of you have been to the CVS on Sixth Avenue?” he asked, as quite a few hands shot up. Dr. Termini also mentioned that students may have an opportunity to do an internship at CVS in the coming months. A UNICEF program officer, Mr. Belbase said his work in developing countries has taught him that programs like Cooke are to be treasured. “I talk about Cooke wherever I go,” he said. emcee the evening / Cooke Chair Emerita Karen Robards presents the Road to Independence na Aaron and News Corp’s Deputy CFO John Nallen / Lon Jacobs with Neil Westreich of ad of Lower and Middle School beginning this fall. Inset: Cooke alumni David Robards and Robert Schwartz of CVS (far left) joins CCA players and Cooke President Michael Termini in presenting a $20,000 check to the Cooke Center Academy. Inset: CCA Cheerleader Christina Charles
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Only $350,000 to Go to Meet Kresge Challenge! - Cooke Center

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