NBC, CNN Newscasters to Emcee Friends of Karen's Benefit

Children’s charity Friends of Karen announced their spring gala “Portraits of Strength, Hope, Courage & Love” will be held on May 29, 2015 at The Loading Dock (Stamford, CT). Trish Lobenfeld, a blogger, teacher and author on culinary topics, will receive the charity’s Sheila W. Petersen Award, named in honor of Friends of Karen’s founder, in recognition of her decade of helping Friends of Karen’s children. The charity’s Humanitarian Award will be given to Yorktown resident Thomas Jocelyn, founder and president of Scientific Electric, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to Friends of Karen’s mission and children.

Friends of Karen is the only organization in the New York Tri-State area that provides the vital, practical and comprehensive support that families caring for a child battling cancer or another life-threatening illness so desperately need. With a range of services for each member of the family, Friends of Karen helps free them of everyday needs and concerns, so they have more time for what’s most important: each other.

The gala’s theme spotlights the children themselves. “These are remarkable children who have uncommon childhoods. As a result of their illness, they face daily life in a way that no child should have to experience,” says Judith Factor, Friends of Karen’s Executive Director. “They and their families teach us so much about courage, strength, hope and love.”

NBC National Correspondent Kate Snow returns as Master of Ceremonies. Ms. Snow is an Emmy Award-winning journalist whose investigations have sparked national conversations, created change, and even caused revision of State Department policies. She has covered breaking stories around the world, including the school shooting in Newtown, CT, the mall attack in Kenya, and the oil spill in the Gulf – as well as four presidential elections.

John Berman, co-anchor of CNN’s “Early Start with John Berman & Christine Romans” and of “@THISHOUR” will be co-Master of Ceremonies. In his two decades of television news reporting, Mr. Berman has covered stories ranging from the milestone 2008 Presidential election to the war in Iraq, from the steroids scandal in American sports to the best way to catch catfish barehanded. He has won the Edward R. Murrow Award for best broadcast and the James Beard Award for best television segment.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit the hundreds of children battling cancer or another life-threatening illness in the tri-state area whose families turn to Friends of Karen for help every day.

“Friends of Karen started with one child, named Karen, in 1978 and since then has touched the lives of almost 14,000 children,” says Ms. Factor. “Our honorees are incredibly generous in spreading the word about the lifeline we offer to families dealing with a situation that’s impossible to imagine.”

Friends of Karen serves all qualified families without regard to race, religion, national origin or cultural background. For more information, visit www.FriendsOfKaren.org or call (914) 617-4042.