Daily Front Row

May 10, 2010

Motherly Love

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Maureen Chiquet, Holly Atkinson, Alfre Woodard, Mindy Grossman
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(NEW YORK) It's shaping up to be an emotional lunch season, especially at the Pierre. Last Wednesday, Cynthia Nixon discussed her victory over breast cancer at the Breast Service Luncheon. And yesterday, the National Mother's Day Committee presented the 32nd Annual Outstanding Mother Awards in that very same ballroom. Honorees included Maureen Chiquet, Chanel's Global CEO, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, a lawyer and advocate, Alfre Woodard, the actress, and Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, Inc. The organization partnered with Save the Children, donating a portion of the event proceeds to the hause that benefits over 52,000 children living in poverty in the United States alone.

The ballroom was packed---mostly with Grossman supporters, judging from the program pages congratulating the retail exec (as well as the hoots and whistles that resounded every time her name was called). But everyone in the room from Linda Fargo to Adrienne Landau felt a slight tug on his or her heartstrings as the program began over an arugula salad with blue cheese and poached pear. After all, the concept of mother is universal.

Soledad O'Brien served as mistress of ceremonies and presented the mothers with their remarkably hevy award. "If I'm being honored as an mom, it's because I have outstanding children and an extraordinary husband," said Chiquet, giving extra thanks to her husband for attending all the events that she misses while toiling in "seat 1L" of Air France flights to and from Paris.

But it was Grossman's story that had the teary-eyed crowd on its feet in standing ovation. About two weeks ago, she recounted, she lost both her parents within 72 hours of one another. "As some of you may know, I was adopted," she said. "My parents waited 12 years for me...My whole life, they let me know that I was special. It was the knowledge that I had unconditional love from my parents that made me the person I am today." Now the head of a $2.8 billion dollar business and ranked one of Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women in 2009, Grossman revealed that her mother was most proud on December 25, when her daughter gave the Christmas greeting on HSN. "She would watch the loop for 24 hours just so she could see me over and over," she said. "And she made her friends watch, too."
ASHLEY BAKER