CUIMC Celebrates Fall on Haven Plaza
Despite an unseasonable snow shower, members of the CUIMC and Washington Heights communities enjoyed warm soup, a live jazz performance, a winter squash giveaway, and a fall photo contest at the CUIMC Annual Fall Festival on Nov. 11 in Haven Plaza.
Chef Keily Busby from the Faculty Club created two soups, turkey chili and creamy butternut squash soup, especially for the event, where more than 3,000 servings of soup were given out to attendees as well as 1500 winter squash. The festival was part of a series of employee appreciation events organized by the CUIMC Events Office.
The festival also featured the award ceremony for The Great Fall Photo Chase, a photo competition hosted by the Events Office. More than 40 photos that embody fall at CUIMC were submitted. A panel of CUIMC employees, including university photographer Eileen Barroso, selected the winning photos; Lorraine Fraizier, dean of the School of Nursing, presented the awards to three photographers.
First place was awarded to “The Jack-O-Lab Interns” by Adoife Weiss (Pathology & Cell Biology). Second place was awarded to “Fishy Fright!” by Joshua Barber (Institute of Comparative Medicine). Third place was awarded to “White-throated Sparrow” by Xiaoni Xu (student, Mailman School of Public Health).
Festival attendees also donated to the CUIMC Annual Community Food Drive organized by the CUIMC Office of Academic and Community Partnerships.
The food drive continues through Nov. 21, and donations will be distributed to families in need this holiday season. The most needed items include grains (brown rice, oatmeal, and pasta), dry and canned beans, cooking oils (olive and canola), seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic, cumin), and canned food (cranberry sauce, unsweetened fruits, tomatoes, soup, vegetables, meat, and fish). Only unexpired and non-perishable food items will be accepted. Donations can be dropped off at collection bins across campus at the following locations:
- Allan Rosenfield lobby (722 W. 168th St.)
- Hammer Health Sciences Center Lower Level 1 (701 W. 168th St.)
- Black Building lobby (650 W. 168th St.)
- School of Nursing lobby (560 W. 168th St.)
Donations can also be made via the drive’s Amazon Wishlist.
For more information about the food drive, please contact the Office of Academic and Community Partnerships at 212-305-8060, acp@cumc.columbia.edu, or visit the website.