Manhattan's Top Tastemakers & Philanthropists Share Their Guide To Giving

Celebrated for their expert eye, we asked some of Manhattan's top tastemakers and power philanthropists to share their guide to giving.

LYDIA FENET

If you have attended a major Manhattan benefit, you have seen Lydia Fenet leading the charge. As the founder and CEO of the Lydia Fenet Agency, a boutique agency representing best-in-class charity auctioneers, the author has singlehandedly raised over one billion dollars for more than 800 organizations and broken down countless barriers for women in the auction industry. Fenet doesn’t stop with the gavel when it comes to championing causes like The River Fund and Room to Grow, which provides three years of parenting support and baby items for families. “As a mom of three, I know how many times I reached out to my mom and friends to ask for parenting advice or help when my children were born. Room to Grow provides all of those services and helps defeat the cost of basic necessities for growing children,” she says. As for how to find your philanthropic passion? “Find something that really speaks to you… spending time educating yourself about the organization and dig in,” Fenet advises. “There are so many ways to be philanthropic: volunteer, spread the word, donate resources if you are able to do that. Non-profits need all the help they can get and are always looking for new people to help spread the word about their work.” Here, the Manhattan maven shares her gift list.

HOUSEWARMING GIFT:

Dear Annabelle Gift Tags, dearannabelle.com

STOCKING STUFFER:

A tin of MarieBelle hot chocolate, mariebelle.com

FOR THE LITTLES:

"Super Smalls Jewelry—My girls love getting decked out in the jewels," supersmalls.com

FOR THE PET:

A needlepoint dog collar from Tuckernuck, tnuck.com

FOR THE TEEN:

"A Lingua Franca sweater—The coziest sweater for a good cause… and they personalize so your kids can pick out the motto they want on the front," linguafranca.nyc

PHILANTHROPIC GIFT:

"Room to Grow is doing a toy drive to provide toys to babies 0-3 years of age. Donate a toy or money to help them," roomtogrow.org

FOR THE FRIEND:

"Mignonne Gavigan earrings—they are statement pieces that you can dress up or dress down," mignonnegavigan.com

VALERIE ROCKEFELLER

“Generosity is innately human,” offers Valerie Rockefeller, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Board Chair and RPA Europe Board Member. “The spirit is expressed differently in each of us, so I’m grateful different types of generosity are increasingly recognized,” she says, noting that the gift of time is as essential as financial gifts. “Any type of volunteering, including unpaid care within your own family and neighborhood, should be celebrated.” Rockefeller serves on the Generosity Commission, which supports all forms of everyday giving, volunteering, and other forms of civic engagement because being involved in community also strengthens our democracy. “The number of dollars being donated continues to rise overall, but the trend of giving being concentrated in the hands of fewer donors undermines the sustainability and independence of nonprofits. These are larger social questions we and our clients are grappling with at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, which seeks to accelerate philanthropy in pursuit of a just world,” she explains. “There are seven generations of Rockefellers now, and since John D. Rockefeller Jr. started donating parks, we have been committed to the environment,” she says. She also personally champions educational and environmental causes. “I also give to nonprofits promoting the global phase-out of fossil fuels since environmental racism means those who are suffering most are those who contributed the least to climate change. Obviously, as a Rockefeller, I feel enormous responsibility to help alleviate the tragic consequences of the source of our family wealth.” When asked where to start, she advises to consider your passions. “If you are excited about starting fresh, I would reflect on what grabs your interest. What articles or podcasts do you read or listen to first? What problems and issues can you simply not get out of your mind? There’s always a way to be involved, and you can change your mind later as you learn more, but you should find meaning AND pleasure in how you give... and spend and invest.... your resources.” Here, the altruist shares some of her seasonal gift list.

HOUSEWARMING GIFT:

"My sister-in-law Indre Rockefeller’s Paravel sustainable luggage and accessories," tourparavel.com

FOR TEENS:

"A Donors Choose gift card so they can support a classroom," donorschoose.org

PHILANTHROPIC GIFT:

"Multi-year operating support with no strings attached!"

FOR THE LITTLES:

Little Passports kits or Magic Puzzle Company puzzles, littlepassports.com; magicpuzzlecompany.com

THE FRIEND:

"No virtue involved—a massage gift certificate," gopriv.com

THE SPOUSE:

Music festival tickets, ticketmaster.com

OLIVIA CHANTECAILLE

“I think the spirit of giving has always been important, perhaps now it feels more prominent because of the current crucial state of our planet,” says Olivia Chantecaille. “People are very aware and thankfully want to make a positive impact on the wellbeing of all and our future generations.” As the Creative Director and Co-Founder of Chantecaille, Chantecaille crafts collections that support a variety of causes including Marine Conservation Institute, Cheetah Conservation Fund, Yellowstone Forever, amongst many others. “Since our first Les Papillons collection in 2006 that supported the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, Chantecaille has created 110 conservation inspired products that have supported 35 philanthropy groups focused on endangered species, wild land and oceans and the local people. We work very closely with the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which helps to rescue wild, orphaned, baby elephants, as well as protect wild lands from poachers. This fall we worked with the American Wild Horse Campaign to help protect our country’s very own wild mustangs that are meant to live freely on our protected public lands.” The glow getter encourages all to make a difference if they follow their heart. “There is so much good in the world and good intentions. If someone truly cares about a cause their genuine feeling will have significant ripple effects.” Here, she offers her guide to giving.

FOR THE LITTLE ONES:

"‘Kiki’ Stuffed Elephant doll from The Elephant Project—100% of net proceeds go to various organizations that help aid in fighting the poaching crisis and also provide care to injured, abandoned, orphaned, and abused elephants," theelephantproject.com

FOR THE FRIEND:

"Walters Faith Rose Gold and Blue Sapphire Pebble Locket—10% of sales that gives back to WildAid," waltersfaith.com

FOR THE SPOUSE:

"A trip for the two of us to Rosewood Kona Village, which is a new and incredibly sustainable hotel with a zero-waste initiative that uses 100% solar power and is a leader in green hospitality," rosewoodhotels.com

FOR THE TEEN:

"Custom & Sustainable 3D Knit Blanket from The Surrey Shop—50% of proceeds give back to American Wild Horse Campaign and yarn is generated from recycled plastic water bottles and zero waste," thesurreyshop.com

STOCKING STUFFER:

"Lip Cristal in Rose Quartz—Sales of each lipstick support planting trees through Sheldrick Wildlife Trust," chantecaille.com

FOR THE PET:

"P.L.A.Y. Bamboo Lounge Bed— Every bed purchased provides a bed to shelter pets in need," petplay.com

HOUSEWARMING GIFT:

"Flamingo Estate The Chef's Kiss— percentage of each purchase goes to Farmer's Footprint," flamingoestate.com

PHILANTHROPIC GIFT:

"Adopt and sponsor an Cheetah through Cheetah Conservation Fund," cheetah.org

ERIC RIPERT

“New Yorkers are going to fall in love with it,” says celebrated chef Eric Ripert of the newly unveiled event space The Venue at City Harvest. The star-studded team behind the nonprofit’s new 10,000 square-foot space includes design by the Rockwell Group, catering by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events and consultation by three-Michelin-starred chef Ripert, who also serves as the Vice Chair of City Harvest’s Board of Directors. “My wife Sandra and I have been proud supporters of City Harvest for more than 25 years, and I was thrilled to consult on The Venue,” says Ripert. “If you are lucky in life, you should give back. It is natural for me, and I feel good about making the people around me happy while being able to make a difference in the community, especially when so many people are in need,” he offers. “Whichever cause you support, it must be one that is close to your heart. Choose a cause where you believe you can make the most efficient difference.” We check in with the famed foodie for his holiday gift list.

STOCKING STUFFER:

Artisanal spice blends, skincare, decorative tea towels, olive oil, or tinned fish

FOR THE SPOUSE:

"Either an experience/a memory you can create together or, on a special occasion, a quality piece of jewelry, Cartier Le Voyage Recommencé High Jewelry necklace in 18k white gold with sapphires, emeralds, onyx and diamonds," cartier.com

FOR THE KIDS:

"Books for all ages!"

FOR THE FRIEND:

"Depending on their taste, something meaningful to them, or take them out to eat."

HOUSEWARMING GIFT:

"Orchids because they make the home feel happy for many weeks if well taken care of," flowerbx.com

FOR THE TEEN:

"Bluetooth speakers/record player, comfortable athleisure," Tivoli Audio Model One BT, tivoliaudio.com

FOR THE PET:

"Portable water dispenser for going on walks or an elegant throw blanket/pet bed," Hermès dog bed, 1stdibs.com

PHILANTHROPIC GIFT:

"Make a donation in someone’s name, gift them tickets to a bene t, or invite them to join you at a philanthropic event."

City Harvest: "1 in 4 New Yorkers is food insecure, and City Harvest exists to end hunger in communities throughout New York City."

Tibet Fund, Tibetan Aid Project, Tibet House, & in general, Tibet: "Tibetans are in constant need of support, even today, since being invaded by China in 1959. They have had to preserve their culture under stress inside China, and, as a Buddhist, I care deeply about this cause."

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: "Best known for its Orphans’ Project, the first and most successful elephant orphan rescue and rehabilitation program in the world."

American Cancer Society: "For obvious reasons, the American Cancer Society is the leading cancer- fiPortable water dispenserghting organization with a vision of ending cancer."

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