The Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York, led by John Henry Lambert, performs during the last concert of the 2004 Flatiron Festival of Music. The orchestra was later joined by special guest Neil Berg, a composer and pianist, and several Broadway stars. Musicians in the lobby of The Lincoln Building entertain tenants and visitors. Performances were given once a week throughout the month of December.

Music in Madison Square Park

The International Toy Center was a sponsor of the 2004 Flatiron Festival of Music, which was held between June and September in Madison Square Park. The last performance took place on a beautiful day, and hundreds of people stopped by to watch the show. And what a show it was! The theme of the concert was "100 Years of Broadway," and performers included the Gramercy Brass Orchestra, composer and pianist Neil Berg, and Broadway stars Alan Green, Capathia Jenkins, Danny Zolli, Michael Lanning, Rita Harvey, and Charles Bergell.

Cookie Connection

Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos... if you have a sweet tooth, you're probably familiar with these annual treats from the Girl Scouts. Not only do these cookies taste good, but their proceeds also benefit good causes.

This year, several W&H buildings helped the Girl Scouts with their efforts by hosting "Cookie Connection," a citywide cookie sale held on Veterans Day. Tenants at The Toy Center, The Lincoln Building, 501 Seventh Avenue, and 250 West 57th did their part by buying lots and lots of cookies. "I've been known to eat an entire box at one sitting," sighed one Lincoln Building tenant, who wished to remain anonymous.

Lincoln Building tenants Charles Updike (left) of Schoeman, Updike & Kaufman and Alan Blanchard (right) of the Church Pension Group support the Girl Scouts during Cookie Connection, a citywide cookie sale held on Veterans Day.

"I'm an ex-Girl Scout, so I have to contribute to the cause."

Proceeds from "Cookie Connection" fund educational and cultural programs for 22,000 Girl Scouts in New York City. In addition, they will support "Gifts of Caring," gift packages for overseas troops that will be delivered this spring.

Portfolio-Wide Drives

Every year, during the fall and early winter, W&H tenants participate in toy, coat and blood drives. The International Toy Center holds its own annual toy drive, while The Lincoln Building, 501 Seventh Avenue, 1359 Broadway, and 250 West 57th Street work with the Robin Hood Foundation to host toy drives in support of three local charities – Iris House-A-Center for Women, Women in Need, Inc., and The Family Center.

In December, coat collections for the annual New York Cares Coat Drive are held at 501 Seventh Avenue and 1359 Broadway. Coats collected in this drive are distributed to struggling men, women, and children at New York City homeless shelters, community organizations, churches, and agencies serving seniors. The New York Cares Coat Drive is a lifeline for New York's neediest citizens during the cold winter months.

W&H tenants also help others by donating blood. The Lincoln Building hosts the YM/WREA's annual Sherri P. Koeppel Blood Drive. And 501 Seventh Avenue, a frequent host, recently received a letter of appreciation from Brandon Osorio of New York Blood Services. Mr. Osorio thanked the building management "on behalf of New York Blood Services, as well as the thousands of patients we help." He noted that the management's "hard work and dedication helped us to collect 35 pints of life saving blood," and praised its "sense of community spirit, responsibility, and dedication to humanity."

Thank you to all of our tenants who participate in these drives. W&H is committed to serving the community, and we will continue to host similar events in the upcoming months.