Nationally renowned interior designer, author and philanthropist Suzanne Rheinstein was honored by Children’s Institute with its Children’s Champion Award at its 4th annual Cape and Gown Gala, held under a lovely pink evening sky Saturday night in Santa Monica. Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a vaccine researcher and Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard, and former Scientific Lead on the Coronavirus Vaccines & Immunopathogenesis team at the NIAID (where she and her team rapidly deployed a COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with Moderna),was also honored. Loni Love, comedian and award-winning host of the nationally syndicated talk show The Real, hosted the gala for the second time.
Rheinstein, one of Windsor Square’s most prominent residents, has been recognized for her signature style that is often described as elegant civility—“fewer things but better things”—encompassing a mixture of beautiful objects, furniture styles, personal art, painted surfaces and great attention to comfort, textures, details and light. She founded Hollyhock, her renowned home furnishings shop known for its unique antiques, decorative accessories, on Larchmont before she relocated the shop and her design studio to West Hollywood, expanding to create the Hollyhock Home collection, which includes furniture and lighting.
In her introduction, Jennifer Fain, longtime friend and next door neighbor of Rheinstein, described her generous support of Children’s Institute over nearly 30 years.
“Her belief that everyone should experience beauty in their lives has inspired her generosity,” said Fain, noting that Rheinstein and her late husband Fred supported the 90012 program at the Los Angeles Opera for the past twenty years, providing a chance for more than 1,000 high school students to attend four operas annually at the Music Center.
“Suzanne is a trustee and generous supporter of Episcopal School of Los Angeles, whose mission is to attract students from historically underrepresented communities,” said Fain. Adding that Rheinstein is also an active and longtime member of the Colleagues, which has raised more than $30 million to support CII to serve Los Angeles’s most vulnerable children.
“It’s a privilege to be honored this evening along with the amazing Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett,” said Rheinstein in accepting the award. “I do indeed believe in giving whatever way you can along your journey in life without waiting until you can give big, but that, too, for sure, when you can! Every bit of generosity, which is love, matters and helps to build the world in which we want to live.”
Rheinstein thanked Children’s Institute CEO Martine Singer and her amazing staff, along with her colleagues on the board and in the community for all their generosity, large and small, adding every bit makes a difference.
Rheinstein said she was fortunate to grow up surrounded by loving extended family feeling loved and safe. She spoke passionately about the importance of giving each child that same support so they have a chance to succeed, and explained how CII’s programs provide that essential support to children and their parents to over come the trauma of generational poverty.
“I am passionate about early education programs that support healthy development, providing kids with the building blocks for success later in life. Children’s Institute is a vital organization in Los Angeles that does just that,” Rheinstein said.
“The success of our children is deeply connected to the health of their families and neighborhoods we are so proud to recognize both Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett and Suzanne Rheinstein for playing vital roles in keeping our communities healthy and safe, offering hope to families across Los Angeles during one of the most difficult years of their lives,” said Martine Singer CII’s President and CEO. “At Children’s Institute we celebrate the abundant potential of all people and partner with a heroic community of supporters to provide the counseling education and advocacy to empower the most vulnerable among us to reach that potential.”
More than 250 people attended the gala, which was held outdoors and followed strict COVID-19 protocols that required every guest to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test to attend. Vanessa Ambatielos Thanos, who, it turns out grew up in the neighborhood and is the cousin of Buzz contributor Anne Wilner (LA really is such a small world!), conducted a spirited auction, raising funds for Children’s Institute. She started off with the option to skip the valet line and drive home with your trunk filled with wine and CII swag. The winning ticket went for $3,000.
In total, more than $762,000 was raised from the more than 330 people who attended in person and virtually, according to CII staff.
