PROFILE
Opening a children’s clothing boutique... is something that I’ve been planning for quite some time because there are really just a handful of fabulous children’s stores... Michelle-Marie has been a passionate expressionist painter for the last 20 years and has enjoyed every second of it. “I’ve had shows all over the world and my paintings were even featured in the windows of Tiffany’s. Robert Rufino, who was their VP of creative services discovered my paintings at the National Arts Club and chose to put them in the 5th Avenue windows. It was an honor to have them featured alongside Tiffany’s magnificent jewelry.” Her recent exhibition in St. Barth’s showcased 22 of her paintings and attracted her friends from all over the world. Michelle-Marie has a new show coming up in Gstaad, Switzerland, at the legendary Gstaad Palace. “I’m very excited about it. My family and I are going to Switzerland before the exhibition to make sure everything will be perfect. I’m thrilled about taking my children to Gstaad because they haven’t been and it’s just so beautiful.” Aside from her success as a painter, she is involved with several charities including Blankets for Warmth, which she founded 15 years ago. This non-profit organization is a seasonal charity, which allows Michelle-Marie to collect blankets for the homeless during the warm weather months. “This charity has a direct impact on the homeless; we take our trucks out on the streets at 8 p.m. There are specific locations around the city where the homeless wait so we know where to stop. After the Coalition for the Homeless distributes food, we give out blankets. Last winter I started to incorporate a
t Resident August 2013
toiletry set. I include a tube of toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss and a little mirror so after they eat they can freshen up and feel good about their teeth.” On November 1st, Michelle-Marie is hosting her first gala for Blankets for Warmth at the Carlyle Hotel. She expects a hundred major donors and several celebrities have expressed interest in helping call attention to the organization’s mission. “It’s important to raise awareness about the issues facing the homeless. I’m proud we help people in other countries but we also have hungry and homeless families in New York City. I hope more people will get involved with Blankets for Warmth. And it’s very easy; all you need to do is donate one blanket. What may not be a big deal for us is a big deal for them. They use it for warmth and they also use it to cuddle with, almost like a security blanket. I see them walking around the streets with my blankets, especially at the Saint Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue. It makes me feel so good because I know they’re using the blankets and keeping warm in the evening.” Along with Blankets for Warmth, Michelle-Marie is involved with an equestrian charity called Equine Resolution. It’s a new charity that focuses on rehabilitating horses that have been put out to pasture. They focus on getting these horses healthy so that they’re not put down. “There’s a real need for this. Show horses can have a hard life when they reach a certain level.” This spring she supported Prize4Life, which is seeking a cure for Lou Gehrig’s disease. “I