Mariska Hargitay, Daryl Roth and Carolyn B. Maloney Honored with 7th Annual Elly Awards

The Women's Forum of New York presented The 7th Annual Elly Awards Luncheon benefiting The Education Fund of the Women's Forum on Monday, June 19th at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. Click here for photos from the event!

The awards, named for the Women's Forum founder Elinor Guggenheimer, honor outstanding women leaders. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Education Fund of the Women's Forum, which has helped over 200 women over age 35, whose lives have been disrupted by extreme adversity, complete their college degrees.

This year's award recipients were Carolyn B. Maloney, U.S. Representative for New York's 12th congressional district; Daryl Roth, producer of over 100 on and off Broadway productions, including seven Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, and winner of 10 Tony Awards; and Mariska Hargitay, actress, director, producer, advocate, Emmy award-winning star of NBC's Law & Order: SVU and founder of The Joyful Heart Foundation, received a Special Elly Award.

This year's Elly Award celebrity presenters were Carole King, celebrated singer-songwriter, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, best-selling author and activist; Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, Tony Award-winning producer, Founder & CEO of Culturalist.com, and creator of Givenik.com; and Sheila Nevins, President, HBO Documentary Films.

Cheryl Wills, award-winning NY1 anchor and author, moderated a conversation on leadership with the honorees following the presentation of the awards.

"The Women's Forum of New York is comprised of the most accomplished and successful women in the city from every professional sector. We know from our own success how critical education is so our Education Fund is one way we 'give back' - helping women over 35 whose lives have been disrupted by extreme adversity complete their education and get their lives back on track. We hope we inspire them, because their dreams, drive and determination certainly inspire us. - Carolyn Carter, President of the Women's Forum of New York.

"Thirty years ago, the Education Fund embarked on a mission to help women, who had overcome serious hardships in their lives, realize their dream of a college education. Since then, we are proud to have given over $1.25 million in grants to over 200 women to help them return to school, earn their degree and take their place in the world. Our grants have changed their lives, influenced their families and made a difference in their communities." - Ilene Wachs, President, The Education Fund of the Women's Forum.

The 2017 Elly Awards:

Legendary Chair: Lucy Jarvis.

Honorary Chairs: Kay Koplovitz, Rosie Rios, Phillipa Soo.

Chairs: Myra J. Biblowit, Ceci Kurzman, Suzanne Townsen.

Committee: Beverly Beaudoin, Carolyn Carter, Janice Reals Ellig, Emita B. Hill, Ilene Wachs.

GOLD SPONSOR: BNY Mellon.

SILVER SPONSORS: Dede Thompson Bartlett, Citi, Con Edison, FIS, Lucy Jarvis, MetLife, Macy's and Bloomingdale's, Lulu C. Wang, Linda A. Willett, Wilmington Trust.

BRONZE SPONSORS: Accenture, Georgette Bennett and Leonard Polonsky, Annabelle Bexiga and Chris McConnell, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Commonfund, Janice Reals Ellig, Fiduciary Trust Company International, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Veronica Hackett, JPMorgan Chase & Co., KPMG LLP, Barbara Marcus, Pershing, a BNY Mellon company, Muriel F. Siebert Foundation, Susan Skerritt, Time Warner Inc., The Travelers Companies, Inc., U.S. Bank.

FELLOW SPONSORS: Maria R. Morris, Daryl Roth, Ilene Wachs.

VIP's who attended the event included: Carolyn B. Maloney; Daryl Roth; Mariska Hargitay; Carole King; Jordan Roth; Sheila Nevins, Cheryl Wills; Carolyn Carter; Ilene Wachs; Lucy Jarvis; Daisy Holmes, Barbara Marcus; Myra J. Biblowit; Ceci Kurzman; Suzanne Townsen; Beverly Beaudoin; Janice Reals Ellig; Loreen Arbus; and Teresa Priolo.

The Women's Forum of New York is the city's premier organization of women leaders. The invitation only membership of more than 500 women represents the highest levels of achievement across all professional sectors from finance to fine arts. Started in 1974, the Women's Forum of New York is the founding flagship of the International Women's Forum, a global organization of 6,500 dynamic women leaders in 35 countries and 74 Forums around the world.

The Women's Forum of New York is dedicated to the advancement of women's leadership through programs which enrich members lives personally and professionally, through the Education Fund which enables talented women whose potential has been derailed by extreme adversity to resume their education and through the Corporate Board Initiative which extends and expands the contribution of women leaders through board participation.

The Education Fund is the educational and charitable arm of The Women's Forum of New York, established under a separate corporate governance as a 501(c)3 tax deductible organization. Since 1987, the Fund has provided grants to women over 35 who have both demonstrated high potential and faced extreme adversity, which has disrupted their education and derailed their futures. These women fall outside the scope of most traditional scholarship programs and our grants help them complete their education and get their careers and lives back on track. Funding is provided by member donation and an annual fundraising event, The Elly Awards Luncheon, which honors outstanding women leaders. Over the past 30 years, grants totaling over $1.25 million have helped over 200 women overcome adversity and lift themselves and their children up the economic ladder.