Jennifer Geisser — NBCUniversal’s executive vice president, unscripted communications and talent relations — was honored Wednesday night in New York City at NephCure’s “Countdown to a Cure” Gala at the Pierre Hotel.
NephCure raises money to fight rare kidney disease (FSGS and nephrotic syndrome), and for Geisser, her involvement with the organization is personal — and essential. Twenty years ago, when Geisser’s son Owen was 18 months old, they discovered, after several misdiagnoses, that Owen had nephrotic syndrome. The filters of his kidneys were working in reverse, causing his body to lose protein, damaging his kidneys in the process. Geisser found NephCure soon after Owen’s diagnosis, and the organization connected her with other families on Long Island who were going through the same thing. “We built this whole community out there,” Geisser told Variety earlier this week, “and we’re still all very involved.”
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Geisser threw the first gala for NephCure 20 years ago, and is on the organization’s board. But when organizers said they wanted to honor her this year, she didn’t immediately accept, she said. She considers herself to be a private person, and didn’t know whether she wanted to share her personal life with colleagues. But she changed her mind after thinking about some of her daily duties, which involve overseeing talent on NBCU’s unscripted series, who include Bravo’s reality stars. “I work in reality TV, where people open up their lives every day and share everything, and I see so much good comes from that — relating to it, and helping people,” Geisser said. “So I said, ‘OK, it’s time for me. I can do it.’”
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A number of Bravolebrities were among the attendees of the event, including Heather Dubrow and Tamra Judge of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” Erin Lichy and Sai de Silva from “The Real Housewives of New York City” and Kyle Cooke of “Summer House.” Even warring “Real Housewives of New Jersey” sisters-in-law Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga called a truce for one night in order to honor Geisser. The event raised $1 million.
“Real Housewives” executive producer and “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen was also in attendance. When asked over email ahead of the event to describe Geisser as a colleague, he wrote, “When you have Jenn in your corner, you have someone fiercely loyal, committed to the truth and fairness — and feel protected.”
He continued: “We have been through a lot together over the years — the absolute explosion of Bravo as a pop culture juggernaut, the ever-shifting line of political correctness, and endless clickbait nonsense. But she never loses her cool, and has emerged as a corporate and crisis PR powerhouse.”
Geisser’s two sons — Parker and Owen — introduced Cohen at the event. Owen, now 22, was at the gala for the first time, having come so far since those early days right after he was diagnosed. “When you hear that your child has a disease that has no cure, the first thing you think of is, ‘What does his future look like?’” Geisser said. “And Owen went away to school in Florida, he studied abroad in Italy for a semester. There’s no mountain he can’t climb.”
Cohen said the best advice Geisser has ever given him is, “Say less!” But accepting being honored by NephCure, and inviting the people in her life to share the evening with her, has taught Geisser a lesson.
“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness — it’s actually a sign of strength,” she said. “And I know that now.”
