(New York, January 12, 1999) — Anna Wintour has been elected an Honorary Trustee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it was announced today by James R. Houghton, Chairman of the Board of the Museum. The election took place at today's meeting of the Board of Trustees.
"We are delighted to welcome Anna Wintour to the board," Mr. Houghton commented. "Her tireless work on behalf of the Metropolitan as chairman in 1995 and again in 1997 of one of the city's grandest events — The Costume Institute Benefit — has provided important support for the Museum. We look forward to working with her more closely in the future."
Anna Wintour served in 1995 as co-chairman of The Costume Institute Benefit, for the opening of the exhibition, Haute Couture. In 1997, she again co-chaired the benefit, celebrating fashion designer, Gianni Versace. The evening raised more than $2 million for the Museum.
Ms. Wintour has worked in publishing for nearly three decades. In 1988, she joined Vogue as editor-in-chief and is widely recognized for her impeccable sense of style and international influence in the world of high fashion. Vanity Fair magazine named her one of the most influential women in its recent November issue. Her career began in 1970 at Harpers & Queen magazine in London. In 1976, she moved to New York and joined Harper's Bazaar as fashion editor. She later became senior editor at New York magazine and produced the magazine's fashion, style, and living sections before joining Vogue.
Since 1990, she has been actively involved, as well, in a number of volunteer efforts. She helped raise more than $10 million through the "Seventh On-Sale" benefits for AIDS research. In addition, she also co-chaired benefits for: Kids For Kids, a pediatric AIDS foundation; the New York City Ballet; and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In September 1998, Vogue magazine sponsored and Ms. Wintour co-chaired "Super Sale" in Washington, D.C., which raised $1.4 million for the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Ms. Wintour is married to Dr. David Shaffer, Chief of Child Psychiatry at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, and they have two children.
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