Bon Appétit Supper Club Dinner

The event was held at the Bon Appétit Supper Club & Café on West 57th Street, right in the heart of Manhattan. Open for two weeks only, the Bon Appétit Supper Club & Café generously opened their doors to host Joyful Heart as a guest charity of choice, in support of our mission.

The exquisite Supper Club, created by Relevant, welcomed over 100 guests into a warm and inviting Fall oasis. Guests included fellow SVU cast members Isabel Gillies and Judith Light, Academy Award Nominee Brenda Blethyn, Joyful Heart Board members Jennifer P. Goodale, Linda Fairstein, Ashley McDermott, Michael King and Peter Hermann.

We also welcomed the companies and organizations who have believed in Joyful Heart from beginning- philosophy, Me&Ro, Liz Claiborne, Entertainment Industry Foundation, American Airlines, Altria, and our friends at Capital One Bank. And to the individuals who have been so incredibly generous and help us grow- the McDermott's, Cristina Carlino, Robin Renzi, Hilary Swank, Poppi Massey, Robby Karp, the Madoff's, Nancy Ellison and Bill Rollnick, and so many others.

The eloquent Linda Fairstein opened the evening by giving a toast to our Founder and President, the "fearless" Mariska Hargitay.

Mariska started Joyful Heart in 2004 with the intention of helping survivors heal and reclaim their lives. Since then, as you will hear tonight, more than 1200 have participated in our pioneering retreat and wellness programs, thousands more have taken that first important step to reach out for help through our website, and Mariska's participation in national educational and media awareness campaigns has planted the seeds of a changed awareness in the lives of millions.

- JHF Board Member Linda Fairstein

With his affable, humorous and practical approach to the culinary arts, as well as the personal appeal that led him to be named the "Sexiest Chef Alive" by People Magazine, Florence introduced the dinner menu, featuring many dazzling fall items ranging from a Roasted Beet Salad with Indian summer citrus and whipped honeyed goat's butter, to California Grass-fed Beef Short Ribs with a papparadelle, mushroom stroganoff - paired with a 2005 Reserve Cabernet.

Joyful Heart Board Co-Chair, Jennifer P. Goodale, courageously shared her experience as a survivor and JHF program participant, "The Joyful Heart Foundation gave me the gift to experience safety, hope and joy again and yes, possibility. It was the most healing week of my life. And I use the tools I was given during that retreat every single day of my life."

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And she shared, "All of us at Joyful Heart share a unique vision for what a community can be if we all work together. We envision a community that says to a survivor, we hear you. We believe you. We feel for you. You are not alone. And your healing is our priority."

Learn more about the vision of Joyful Heart.

The evening came to a sweet close family style, with Tyler serving up warm Autumn Apples for dessert with genoise, anglaise, and caramel. Guests were given gift bags with items from our longtime supporters at philosophy, Bon Appétit Magazines, Linda Fairstein's acclaimed crime novel Killer Heat, and information about Joyful Heart's unique and groundbreaking programs.

This event was made possible by the generous support of Bon Appétit - and our joyful hats off to the chef, Tyler Florence!