Jessica Seinfeld
Encyclopedia
Jessica Seinfeld is the wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld
, author of two cookbooks about preparing food for children and the whole family, and founder of Baby Buggy, a New York City
Charitable organization
that provides essential gear, clothing and products for families in need throughout the five boroughs of New York City.
. Her father, Karl, designs computer systems and databases in Burlington. Her mother, Ellen, is a coordinator of volunteer programs at the Vermont Department of Corrections. United States Senator Bernie Sanders
was a neighbor when she was growing up in Burlington. She graduated from the University of Vermont
, and worked in public relations for Golden Books Entertainment, as well as for Tommy Hilfiger
.
Baby Buggy works with a network of over 50 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and City agencies to distribute its goods including: organizations working with victims of domestic violence like Safe Horizon and New York Asian Women’s Center; multi-service sites like Single Stop East Harlem and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House; prenatal and NICU units at hospitals like Woodhull and NY Presbyterian; immigrant and refugee-serving organizations like the International Rescue Committee; and parenting programs such as the nationally-recognized Nurse-Family Partnership program and Harlem Children’s Zone’s Baby College.
About $2 Million of Baby Buggy’s budget is made up of in-kind product donations from individuals and corporations. Financial support for the organization comes through its Board of Directors, the Friends of Baby Buggy group, other private individuals, corporations and foundations. As of 2008, 88 cents of every dollar received by Baby Buggy went straight to programs. In 2009, Baby Buggy received its third Four Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity is also an Accredited Charity of the Better Business Bureau.
In July 2010, Baby Buggy launched a layette collection with Target Corporation
, with 10% of sales going to help families in need. The layette line was designed by illustrator and children’s book author Maira Kalman
.
, became a #1 New York Times bestseller, remaining on the list for five months after its release. The book also reached #1 on Amazon.com
and #2 on the USA Today
bestseller list. Expert Joy Bauer adds nutritional advice to the recipes, while Dr. Roxana Mehran and Dr. Mehmet Oz
pen the foreword. A portion of the royalties from Deceptively Delicious are donated to Baby Buggy.
In October 2010, Jessica released the follow-up to Deceptively Delicious—her second cookbook Double Delicious! Good, Simple Food for Busy, Complicated Lives. Building on the concept of her first book, Jessica shares more healthy twists on traditional recipes—including many dishes designed to please the palates of kids and adults alike. Her recipes in Double Delicious! also incorporate vegetable purees, whole grains, and alternatives to processed sugars and flours to give the food a hidden boost of essential nutrients. Nutrition expert Joy Bauer offers more advice on how to live a healthy lifestyle. Double Delicious! was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show
on October 26, 2010.
, a theatrical producer and Broadway
scion
. Shortly after returning from a three-week honeymoon in Italy
, she met Jerry Seinfeld
at a Reebok Sports Club (using the same gym membership her then-husband had purchased for her). She filed for divorce from Nederlander in October 1998, only four months after marrying him. She then married Seinfeld on December 25, 1999. Comedian George Wallace
was the best man at the wedding. After much criticism on her divorce from Nederlander and subsequent marriage to Jerry Seinfeld
, Jessica and Jerry gave a personal account of their life to Vogue in November 2004. Jessica is quoted as saying, “I met Jerry at the end of what was the most difficult period of my life. I had just made a painful decision to dissolve a five-year relationship that began when I was 21 and culminated in a brief marriage. Jerry was neither the cause nor the effect of the breakup, but his friendship gave me strength and resilience at a time of desperate need, and it has formed the basis for my happiness in the years that have followed.”
According to Jerry Seinfeld
on the relationship, “If it wasn’t for Jess and the kids, I’d really blow my brains out. Jessica saved my life. She gave me something to care about.”
The Seinfelds have three children, one daughter and two sons. Daughter Sascha was born on November 7, 2000 in New York City, son Julian Kal on March 1, 2003 in New York City, and Shepherd Kellen was born on August 22, 2005 at New York's Cornell Medical Center.
sued Seinfeld for copyright and trademark infringement. Lapine had unsuccessfully shopped her manuscript to several publishers, including Seinfeld's (HarperCollins) before it chose to publish Seinfeld's. In response to the accusations, Seinfeld said: "My book came from years of trying to get my own children to eat healthy foods--my own trial and error in my own kitchen. The idea of pureeing vegetables has been around for decades."
In separate court papers, a lawyer for Jessica Seinfeld accused Lapine of falsely claiming she invented the idea of hiding fruits and vegetables in children's meals when "countless prior works utilized this very same unprotectable idea," including a 1971 book. He called the lawsuit "opportunistic."
On September 10, 2009, the federal judge threw out all claims against Jessica Seinfeld. The federal judge ruled that "no reasonable fact finder could conclude" that copying occurred, and that the works were "very different" and that Seinfeld's book "has a completely different feel."
In February 2011, Seinfeld's law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher said: "The decision also vindicates HarperCollins and Jessica Seinfeld yet again, confirming what the two different federal courts have already ruled: Jessica independently created her bestselling book, 'Deceptively Delicious.'"
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
, author of two cookbooks about preparing food for children and the whole family, and founder of Baby Buggy, a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
that provides essential gear, clothing and products for families in need throughout the five boroughs of New York City.
Early life
Sklar grew up in a middle class household in Burlington, VermontBurlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. Her father, Karl, designs computer systems and databases in Burlington. Her mother, Ellen, is a coordinator of volunteer programs at the Vermont Department of Corrections. United States Senator Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
was a neighbor when she was growing up in Burlington. She graduated from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
, and worked in public relations for Golden Books Entertainment, as well as for Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger
Thomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...
.
Divorce
After marrying Eric Nederland, and returning from a honeymoon, Jessica met Jerry Seinfeld at a gym (with the gym membership her new husband Mr. Nederland purchased for her) and began an affair with Jerry Seinfeld. Though Sklar maintains her marriage was over before she and Jerry began their romance, her former husband was livid. "I was manipulated, misled and completely caught off guard by Jessica's infidelity," he told the New York Post on Nov. 9, 1998. "Jerry and Jessica have no respect for decent values. They deserve each other." He promptly filed for divorce.Baby Buggy
Baby Buggy was founded in May 2001 by Jessica Seinfeld after the birth of her first child. According to Jessica, “shortly after the birth of my daughter, Sascha, having slowly accumulated closets full of used – but very usable – baby clothing and equipment she no longer needed, I had a moral dilemma; as the daughter of a social worker, throwing out perfectly good baby gear was unthinkable; and yet there was no easy way to get it to a family who could use it. Thus, Baby Buggy was born.” With a motto of “Love Recycled,” Baby Buggy's goal is to help families in need access the essentials to ensure their safety and well-being. By providing concrete resources to their families through a network of social service professionals, Baby Buggy helps to alleviate the stress of living in poverty, and help prevent crisis. In total, Baby Buggy has donated over 4.4 million items to hundreds of thousands of families in need in the past nine years.Baby Buggy works with a network of over 50 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and City agencies to distribute its goods including: organizations working with victims of domestic violence like Safe Horizon and New York Asian Women’s Center; multi-service sites like Single Stop East Harlem and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House; prenatal and NICU units at hospitals like Woodhull and NY Presbyterian; immigrant and refugee-serving organizations like the International Rescue Committee; and parenting programs such as the nationally-recognized Nurse-Family Partnership program and Harlem Children’s Zone’s Baby College.
About $2 Million of Baby Buggy’s budget is made up of in-kind product donations from individuals and corporations. Financial support for the organization comes through its Board of Directors, the Friends of Baby Buggy group, other private individuals, corporations and foundations. As of 2008, 88 cents of every dollar received by Baby Buggy went straight to programs. In 2009, Baby Buggy received its third Four Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity is also an Accredited Charity of the Better Business Bureau.
In July 2010, Baby Buggy launched a layette collection with Target Corporation
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, with 10% of sales going to help families in need. The layette line was designed by illustrator and children’s book author Maira Kalman
Maira Kalman
Maira Kalman, born in 1949, is an American illustrator, author, artist, and designer. Born in Tel Aviv, Kalman came to New York City with her family at age 4. She attended the High School of Music and Art, now LaGuardia High School....
.
Cookbooks
In October 2007, Jessica released her first cookbook, Deceptively Delicious, Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food, which contains strategies and recipes for making healthy food appealing to young children. The book features traditional recipes such as mac and cheese and spaghetti and meatballs that get a nutritional boost from vegetable purees. Deceptively Delicious was featured on The Oprah Winfrey ShowThe Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
, became a #1 New York Times bestseller, remaining on the list for five months after its release. The book also reached #1 on Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
and #2 on the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
bestseller list. Expert Joy Bauer adds nutritional advice to the recipes, while Dr. Roxana Mehran and Dr. Mehmet Oz
Mehmet Oz
Mehmet Cengiz Oz , also known as Dr. Oz, is a Turkish-American cardiothoracic surgeon, author, talk show host, and commentator for The Dr. Oz Show, a daily television program focusing on medical issues/personal health....
pen the foreword. A portion of the royalties from Deceptively Delicious are donated to Baby Buggy.
In October 2010, Jessica released the follow-up to Deceptively Delicious—her second cookbook Double Delicious! Good, Simple Food for Busy, Complicated Lives. Building on the concept of her first book, Jessica shares more healthy twists on traditional recipes—including many dishes designed to please the palates of kids and adults alike. Her recipes in Double Delicious! also incorporate vegetable purees, whole grains, and alternatives to processed sugars and flours to give the food a hidden boost of essential nutrients. Nutrition expert Joy Bauer offers more advice on how to live a healthy lifestyle. Double Delicious! was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
on October 26, 2010.
Do it Delicious
In October 2010, Jessica launched a website for beginner cooks called do it Delicious. The website features home videos where Jessica teaches at-home viewers how to prepare particular dishes or meals step-by-step, as well as a kitchen guide, store, blog, and community forum where users can submit tips and ask how-to questions.Personal life
In June 1998, she married Eric NederlanderNederlander Organization
The Nederlander Organization, founded in 1912 by David T. Nederlander and based in Detroit, Michigan, is one of the largest operators of legitimate theatres and music venuesin the United States. Its first acquisition was a lease on the Detroit Opera House in 1912. The building was demolished in...
, a theatrical producer and Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
scion
Kinship
Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
. Shortly after returning from a three-week honeymoon in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, she met Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
at a Reebok Sports Club (using the same gym membership her then-husband had purchased for her). She filed for divorce from Nederlander in October 1998, only four months after marrying him. She then married Seinfeld on December 25, 1999. Comedian George Wallace
George Wallace (comedian)
George Henry Wallace is an American comedian and actor. He is number 93 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.-Early life:...
was the best man at the wedding. After much criticism on her divorce from Nederlander and subsequent marriage to Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
, Jessica and Jerry gave a personal account of their life to Vogue in November 2004. Jessica is quoted as saying, “I met Jerry at the end of what was the most difficult period of my life. I had just made a painful decision to dissolve a five-year relationship that began when I was 21 and culminated in a brief marriage. Jerry was neither the cause nor the effect of the breakup, but his friendship gave me strength and resilience at a time of desperate need, and it has formed the basis for my happiness in the years that have followed.”
According to Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
on the relationship, “If it wasn’t for Jess and the kids, I’d really blow my brains out. Jessica saved my life. She gave me something to care about.”
The Seinfelds have three children, one daughter and two sons. Daughter Sascha was born on November 7, 2000 in New York City, son Julian Kal on March 1, 2003 in New York City, and Shepherd Kellen was born on August 22, 2005 at New York's Cornell Medical Center.
Lawsuit dismissal
Following the release of her first book Deceptively Delicious, on January 7, 2008, another author, Missy Chase LapineMissy Chase Lapine
Missy Chase Lapine is an American author. She is best known for her cookbook The Sneaky Chef, published in 2007.Before the release of The Sneaky Chef, Lapine was publisher of Eating Well magazine -Controversy:...
sued Seinfeld for copyright and trademark infringement. Lapine had unsuccessfully shopped her manuscript to several publishers, including Seinfeld's (HarperCollins) before it chose to publish Seinfeld's. In response to the accusations, Seinfeld said: "My book came from years of trying to get my own children to eat healthy foods--my own trial and error in my own kitchen. The idea of pureeing vegetables has been around for decades."
In separate court papers, a lawyer for Jessica Seinfeld accused Lapine of falsely claiming she invented the idea of hiding fruits and vegetables in children's meals when "countless prior works utilized this very same unprotectable idea," including a 1971 book. He called the lawsuit "opportunistic."
On September 10, 2009, the federal judge threw out all claims against Jessica Seinfeld. The federal judge ruled that "no reasonable fact finder could conclude" that copying occurred, and that the works were "very different" and that Seinfeld's book "has a completely different feel."
In February 2011, Seinfeld's law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher said: "The decision also vindicates HarperCollins and Jessica Seinfeld yet again, confirming what the two different federal courts have already ruled: Jessica independently created her bestselling book, 'Deceptively Delicious.'"