Beauty and generosity were much in evidence as MDIBL’s friends and supporters filled a gallery lined with Old Masters paintings at Christie’s in New York and raised an astonishing $312,000 for the Lab. Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, New York Governor Eliot Sptizer, and U.S. Congressman Michael Michaud from Maine’s Second District were among those honoring the work of the Lab and enjoying the opportunity to meet with friends and scientists in a stunning setting. Cheryl MacLachlan, Vice President of U.S. Trust, which sponsored the event, drew the connection between art and science for the 185 people in attendance at Rockefeller Center on the evening of April 13. “Beauty,” she said, “is capable of lifting the human spirit. When the human spirit is lifted, there is hope and possibility. And in an environment where people believe things are possible, scientists will be supported - and then great science can happen.” MDIBL Trustee John Hays is the Deputy Chairman of Christie’s America and orchestrated the event with co-chairs Elizabeth Gosnell Miller of New York City and Tara Rockefeller of Seal Harbor and New York City. Jeri Bowers, MDIBL’s Development Director, said working with the event planning committee “was an amazing experience. They worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this event, and we are extremely grateful for their involvement.” Considered the premier auctioneer of Americana sales, John Hays also presided over the after-dinner auction of four items, which included a week on Shelter Island and a day’s sail on a 77-foot Sparkman and Stephens yacht. Senator George Mitchell, who also delivered the Boylan Lecture at MDIBL in 1998, offered the keynote address. Terence Boylan, Chair of MDIBL’s Board of Trustees, introduced Senator Mitchell, calling him “a person who by his conduct in public life has re-articulated the meaning of leadership, not with brassy bands and wild waving, but with precision and intellect and an extraordinary dedication.” Senator Mitchell said that, as a lifelong resident of Maine who has spent every summer of his adult life on MDI, “I know how much the Lab means to the people of the Island, the people of Maine, and, increasingly, people all over the world. “What I think is most impressive about MDIBL,” he added, “is the extent to which it has advanced so dramatically in recent years in the most important areas of science. Mapping the genome of other species to assist us in understanding our own, engaging in education, producing more and more young scientists - kids in high school, in college, in medical school, all now study, learn, and benefit from their experience at MDIBL.” Governor Spitzer, MDIBL Director John Forrest, M.D., and Terence Boylan also addressed the gathering. Dr. Forrest spoke of the necessity of understanding the biology of what we call “lower” species to explain the human genome, and Terence Boylan evoked the “sense of magic” at MDIBL that “you can see when you come down the road, you can sense when you see scientists coming out of their buildings, stopping and talking….so many things have been discovered there, so many important breakthroughs, because of this wonderful process of collaboration.” U.S. Trust underwrote the event, and Frank L. Hohmann III donated a wonderful selection of fine wines for the dinner. As Cheryl MacLachlan said in concluding her remarks, “When great science happens, people's lives and their environment are made better - which leads to further hope and possibility. It is a virtuous circle - in which US Trust was pleased to play a role!” As too, apparently, were the many other MDIBL supporters in New York that night. Click here for pictures of the event. Download this release (PDF, 112k) |
