Connie Milstein Joins Board of Blue Star Families

At the end of October Blue Star Families (BSF) announced that Connie Milstein joined their Board of Directors. BSF expressed enthusiasm with their latest board member, praising Ms. Milstein’s look-standing concern for veterans and military families. The BSF expressed admiration in their announcement for Connie’s belief that empowerment is the best way to help people improve their lives.
The BSF announcement went on to compliment Ms. Milstein’s understanding of the human side of international events, especially wars, and her sincere desire to help people overcome the challenges of global crisis.

Blue Star Families see Connie Milstein as a unique and invaluable addition to their board for all these reasons, in addition to the fact that she is an accomplished businesswoman and philanthropist, involved in many extremely valuable and worthwhile causes.

The Jefferson Hotel: History, Elegance, Style

Located in downtown Washington, DC, the Jefferson Hotel is a luxurious hotel well-known as Washington’s finest small hotels. Located at the corner of 16th and M Streets, the Jefferson opened in 1923 and has since earned a fine reputation as the hotel where the savviest travelers are accommodated.

Done in the Beaux Arts style of Europe with many details which remind visitors of the great statesman, Thomas Jefferson, the hotel’s namesake, the elegant Jefferson Hotel has recently completed three years of extensive renovations by owner Connie Milstein.

Within the fine walls of the Jefferson are 99 exquisitely appointed guest rooms and suites, one of Washington’s finest restaurants, and a new spa which bases many of its treatments on botanicals grown in the gardens of Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.

A stay at the newly renovated Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. is an experience which joins the beauty, elegance and style of the 18th century with the luxury and convenience of the 21st.

Connie Milstein Opens Newly Renovated Jefferson Hotel

Explaining that the work took “a lot of guts and determination,” Connie Milstein, owner of the renowned Jefferson Hotel, expressed excitement and pleasure that finally the hotel’s three year renovation was complete.

Ms. Milstein described feeling like she was “coming home” when she encountered the newly renovated hotel.

“It was a wonderful hotel before,”Connie continued to explain. And she believes that the renovations have returned the Jefferson to its former glory. “What I love most about the hotel is its home-like feeling.”

Connie hopes that when people stay at the Jefferson they will feel at home; not like they are checking into a strange, uncomfortable place, but a wonderful homey place to feel warm and welcome and at ease.

Jefferson Hotel Back to Former Glory, and Then Some

Connie Milstein, owner of the Jefferson Hotel, expressed happiness at the re-opening of the Jefferson Hotel, after three years of renovations.

“It was a wonderful hotel before but it needed to be even more than I would say refreshed,” Milstein said. “It sort of needed to come back to its former glory. I’d like to feel that we brought it to where it was.”

To celebrate the re-opening of the historic hotel, a few hundred guests were invited and were treated to an evening dedicated to the hotel’s namesake, Thomas Jefferson.  Doormen were dressed in 18th century Jeffersonian style; Monticello was portrayed in the restaurant with a painting on the wall; but the real happy surprise was that the favorite wine of Jefferson, Chateau d’Yquem was served to the guests.

A Bit of History About the City Parks Foundation

The City Parks Foundation is just the kind of organization Connie Milstein likes to get involved in, and as a board member she is certainly involved.

The CPF was founded in 1989 in response to the fact that the majority of parks in New York City had no access to private funding and were thus left without programming which is so important to a neighborhood’s quality of life. The CPF began to bring sports, arts and educational programs to the more than 700 public parks all over New York City, this revitalizing not just the parks themselves, but the neighborhoods in which they exist and bringing great culture to the families and people living there.

Great Programming Made Possible by the City Parks Foundation

Connie Milstein likes to get involved. At the City Parks Foundation there is a lot going on with which to get involved in.

Take for instance the arts programs, which run all year long, but truly booming in the summer. Included in the arts programming are all genres, such as popular, spoken word, ethnic music, theater, dance, puppets, and readings which are all presented in the public parks and are almost all free.

The education department brings families together with teachers and students out to the parks, waterfront areas and recreation centers. Programming is usually hands-on and specific to the needs of the community in which the events take place.  Lately the education department has expanded to include programming on technology initiatives, health awareness and other types of open events for the public.

Take some good advice from Connie Milstein’s father and help out if you can. The City Parks Foundation also hosts Benefit Events which you can be a part of and contribute to the enhancement of life in New York City.

Connie Milstein on Board of the City Parks Fondation

Learning from her father that it is a person’s responsibility to find out what needs to be done to improve the world, and then to go out and do it, Connie Milstein has taken her father’s words to heart. Not only is Connie a busy attorney working as a Principal at Ogden CAP Properties, but she is involved in a large array of charities and community organizations to make the world a better place.

We have already spent a few posts to describe the innovative shop that Ms. Milstein runs called Connie’s Bakery and General Store. Let’s now venture into the world of nature: the City Parks Foundation. Connie Milstein is on the Board at the City Parks Foundation, which happens to be the only independent and not-for-profit organization which brings programming to all the parks located all throughout the five boroughs which make up New York City.

Connie Milstein Trains Bakery Chefs at Connie’s Bakery

When you come to Connie Milstein’s Bakery and General Store in Mt. Kisco you not only contribute to the charities that are supported by your purchases nor do you only receive remarkable baked goods from Biscotti to Brownies to Tarts.

When you support Connie’s Bakery you support her efforts to help people surmount any barriers they have experienced to acquiring sustainable employment. The employees at Connie’s participate in a one year, full-time baking apprenticeship training program. Under the tutelage of Executive Pastry Chef Simeon Manber students train to become pastry chefs, a valuable skill which will enormously increase the likelihood of these trainees acquiring and maintaining gainful employment in a rewarding profession.

Come Visit Connie’s and Treat Yourself While Helping Others

Connie Milstein has developed a business model which has proven itself successful and which benefits charities in an innovative experiment where all the profits are dedicated and donated to charitable causes.

But at Connie’s Bakery and General Store good business sense expresses itself in more ways than just great ingredients and superb chefs with spectacular recipes fashioned like grandma used to, by hand. There is also a sense that the business itself should be a model of fairness and justice. All employees are paid a fair, “living wage” so that they are not a part of a sad phenomenon known as the “working poor.” In addition all full-time employees receive medical benefits, an important component of an employee’s compensation.

Connie Milstein’s Bakery in Mt. Kisco a Sweet Success

In a remarkable wedding of business acumen with generosity of spirit, Connie Milstein has created a model of philanthropic innovation and creativity.

At Connie’s Bakery and General Store you will discover delicious homemade baked goods such as cakes, pastries and pies. They are made with only the most wholesome ingredients of the highest quality available. But the superb quality of the products is only the beginning.

All the profits of this successful enterprise are donated to charity. So when you stop by Connie Milstein’s brain child in Mt. Kisco, you can feel great that you are not only enjoying some of the best baked goods and gifts around, but you are helping people in a very real way.