Blue Star Families Program Helping Children

“Books on Bases, Smiles on Faces” is one of the many amazing programs that Blue Star Families involves itself in.  With the aid of their Board of Directors Members, such as Connie Milstein, and their many other sponsors, “Books on Bases, Smiles on Faces” is a program presented by Blue Star Families in conjunction with Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S).

Through this program, Blue Star Families brings books that are donated by K.I.D.S. to libraries on military bases, to Department of Defense schools and to military-impacted public schools. Launched on September 10^th, 2009, this program has donated thousands of books to military base libraries and to military impacted public schools so far.

In 2010, their goal is to distribute 25,000 books and to increase to 30,000 by 2011.

Milstein Family Heart Center Opens in NY

New York Presbyterian Hospital announced the opening of the new, state-of-the art Milstein Family Heart Center on the campus of Columbia University on January 20^th, 2010, with plans to open their doors to patients on February 1^st.

The new cardiac center, whose full name is the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center, was built at a cost of $260 million, $50 million of which was donated by the Milstein Family. Seymour Milstein was the chairman of the board of NY Presbyterian Hospital for 7 of the 12 years that he was actively involved with the prestigious institution. Mi

Among the more cutting-edge features of the hospital are the three Zeego 3-Dimensional X-Ray machines out of a total of five in the New York area and 11 in all of the United States. The Zeego can help doctors get a better picture of the internal functioning of their patients without having to resort as often to more invasive procedures.

Susan Axelrod Discusses CURE

CURE Founder, Susan Axelrod, talks about the recent 60 Minutes segment. Learn more about CURE and its many supporters, including Board Member Connie Milstein.

Helping People Learn to Help Themselves

Certainly, giving people money is a wonderful act.  Helping people to learn a skill so that they can make their own money is an even better one.  That’s what Connie’s Bakery & General Store is doing each day in downtown Mt. Kisco, New York, with their one-year, full-time baking apprenticeship program.

Connie’s Bakery, which donates 100% of its net profit to charitable causes, has an apprentice program each year.  Led by Executive Pastry Chef Simeon Manber, the participants learn baking techniques that will enable them to find employment in the food services industry.

Simean Manber is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has worked in the kitchens of a number of all-star chefs from Manhattan including Henry Meer from the Club Room, Larry Forgione from An American Place and Rose Hill, and Mario Batali from Babbo.   At Connie’s, owned by business executive Connie Milstein, Manber is helping people to develop the necessary skills for sustainable employment.

Standing Up for the Disabled

Recently, the President of Parade Publications and a CURE Board Member, Randolph Siegel, wrote an eloquent and passionate article called “No Way to Refer to the Vulnerable” which was printed in the Chicago Tribune.  The father of a daughter with epilepsy, and a supporter of CURE, Mr. Siegel addressed the ways that people refer to children and adults in our society who exhibit special needs.

In his article he said, “But if the true measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable citizens, then these mean-spirited attacks are not only indefensible, they reinforce the intolerance and discrimination that these children and adults often face in their schools, communities or workplaces.”

CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy), including President Susan Axelrod, newest board member Connie Milstein, and others, applaud Mr. Siegel for his honesty and passion in this article.

Connie Milstein Joins Fight for CURE

After a history of support and advocacy for the cause of finding a cure for epilepsy, Connie Milstein was named as a new board member of CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy.

Announced in December, 2009, Ms. Milstein’s appointment comes on the heels of an outstanding fund raising achievement in which $98,000 was raised in only a week utilizing a matching grant bequeathed by Connie Milstein’s CJM Foundation.

Connie also hosted a “viewing party” of a broadcast of a “60 Minutes” segment in which Lauren Axelrod was featured during the well-known news program’s feature on epilepsy. Lauren is the daughter of Susan and David Axelrod, whose life with epilepsy spearheaded her mother, Susan, to establish CURE along with two other women in 1998.

Connie Milstein is looking forward to helping in every way that she is able for such a worthy cause.

Connie Milstein Newest Board Member at CURE

Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) announced in mid-December, 2009 their newest member, Connie Milstein will be joining the board. CURE, which was founded by Susan Axelrod in 1998 with two other mothers, is dedicated to strengthening the investigation into finding a cure for epilepsy. With Connie Milstein now joining forces with CURE, the search for “no seizures, no side effects” will continue apace.

CURE is thrilled to have Ms. Milstein getting more involved as a board member. Until now Connie has been extraordinarily supportive, helping in every way she can to propel research into epilepsy. Her most recent efforts resulted in raising an incredible $98,000 in just one week through the gift of a matching grant for the Friends for a Cure Research Award. The matching grant was funded by the CJM Foundation, run by Connie Milstein.

NYU Trustee Connie Milstein

As a member of the Board of Trustees of New York University, NYU, Connie Milstein helps maintain the excellent standards of academics and education NYU is so well known for.

According to the President of NYU, Dr. John Sexton, for the past 150 years NYU has been the inspiration and support for innumerable scholars, artists and writers. Considering the entire great city of New York its extended campus, NYU can draw like a magnet some of the world’s most talented students and teachers.

NYU has developed a well-deserved reputation of achievement in a large variety of disciplines, from the liberal arts, the sciences, education, health care professions, law, medicine, business, communications, public service, the performing arts and the visual arts.

Reaching out further than the borders of the amazing cosmopolitan city of New York, NYU has increased its reach to the international arena with sister campuses located throughout the world.

Connie Milstein is part of a truly unique and stimulating institution.

Blue Star Families with Connie Milstein Supports Military Families

Originally created by military families last December, the mandate and mission of Blue Star Families is to support, empower and help to connect military families so that the challenges of military life can be eased and overcome.

No matter the rank, branch of service of actual location, Blue Star Families, now with Connie Milstein on the Board of Directors, provides on-line and physical communities for military families. BSF acts as a bridge between these families and the support and service organizations which empower them to maintain sustainable, successful and rewarding family life.
Connie Milstein is four-square behind BSF’s mission to share in the pride of national service, encourage and promote healthier, more vital families, and contribute to our country’s strength and military readiness.

Connie Milstein Supports Military Families with BSF

Only about 1% of the population of the United States consists of military families. Since their presence in the general population is miniscule, sometimes their needs are overlooked, by government agencies, civilian organizations, and by just plain people.

In December 2008, just one year ago, military spouses decided to take the bull by the horns and organize themselves to bring their issues to the forefront of the nation’s consciousness and created Blue Star Families.

Connie Milstein, by joining the board of directors at Blue Star Families this October, will help them get their message across.

Since last December Blue Star Families has grown to include families from all of the various military services, including the National Guard and Reserve, and from all segments of the general population, including veterans and civilians that believe in the cause and want to support it.