New York Events. The 2013 Outstanding Mother Awards Press Reception
It’s that special time of year when we honor the women most important to us: our mothers. And amid the constant streaming of sales and gift guides, it’s inspiring to see when actual women are spotlighted for their efforts and achievements in both their fields and in their families. The National Mother’s Day Committee pledges to honor four exceptional women each year who balance highly successful careers with the daily demands and rewards of motherhood. This year’s 35th Annual Outstanding Mother Awards was held at the Pierre Hotel on the Upper East Side and we were thrilled to attend the pre-ceremony press reception.
This year’s honorees included women of many industries — from actresses to presidents — and it was apparent that each one was thrilled to be there for such a prestigious honor and important cause. Proceeds of the 2013 awards luncheon will benefit the Save the Children’s U.S. Programs, a not-for-profit dedicated to making lasting positive change in the lives of children living in poverty in the United States. The Mistress of Ceremonies was none other than Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN,Inc. and an Outstanding Mother Honoree from 2010.
The 2013 Outstanding Mother Award Honorees are:
Margarita Arriagada: Chief Merchant of Sephora, USA
Arianna Huffington: President and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post Media Group
Dottie Mattison: Senior Managing Director of the Guggenheim Partners
Debra Messing: Emmy Award Winning Actress
I was lucky enough to catch up with Debra Messing during the reception, which had me more than a little geeked since I’m a huge Will & Grace fan! Resplendent in a copper- colored Carolina Herrera dress, Messing told me straight off that she was overwhelmed and honored to be part of a group of such accomplished and innovative women. She was thrilled to have her mother with her at the ceremony, who she said was her first and remains to be her most important role model. And in the Council honoring her, she felt it as a celebration of her mother as well.
As her role model, I asked if her mother had given her any specific advice when she herself became a mother. She said she remembers very specifically when she was a new mother and in addition to working constantly, was involved in HIV prevention as an advocate among other causes. She called her mother weeping because of how overwhelmed and exhausted she felt, how “inept and paralyzed” she was, almost to the point where she could not go on. And her mother told her, “You can’t do it all. But you can do it all at different times. You need to prioritize and you need to be kind to yourself.” And she that’s what I strive to do every single day.
Aptly chosen for the award, Messing was inspiring to speak with and every bit the genuine, warm hearted person that you would expect a dedicated mother to be. The event lifted every attendee’s spirits amid a chilly, rainy New York morning and made us all go home appreciating mothers everywhere but knowing, deep down, that ours was the most outstanding.
-Alia Rajput
Photo Source: Second City Style