Dina Lohan attended the Harboring Hearts Benefit at the Bryant Park Grill in New York City and we got the chance to chat with her!

On Attending the Harboring Hearts Benefit Gala:

This event is very close to my heart because my father in the 80s had a quintuple bypass. I was younger and my brothers and I were so scared and we thought he wasn’t going to make it. They have come so far. This was at St. Francis hospital on Long Island. Throughout my whole life, as he would get older he would get stints put in. It was always a part of me, and a part of our life.

Lindsay met a little girl who was from the Make a Wish Foundation and she came on the set of her movie. Her name was Rachel and had a heart condition. She’s ok to this day but as you grow, the heart may not take and you may have to get another heart transplant.  Her lips would be a little purple and she couldn’t come to the set. It really touched Lindsey and myself seeing it right there.

It’s so great to be here. I’m honored!

On what she loves about New York City:

EVERYTHING! I was a dancer. I was a little girl on the train coming to study at  ABT American Ballet Theatre and I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. So I’m a city girl, im a New York girl. I love New York.

On what is next for her: 

I’m producing and working with my producing partner, Chanel Omari on some television shows, me as a talk show host and also good content, like working with women of abuse and getting their self-esteem back.

I’m a victim of abuse. My ex was extremely abusive. I raised my children by myself, I had sole custody, no visitation their whole lives. Then Lindsay was dating someone and went through something that I never thought would happen.

One of my other charities is ReconstructingHope.org. They work with women of abuse, and they are board certified plastic surgeons, dentists, and tattoo removals, so when a woman looks in the mirror she doesn’t visually see the scars.

These doctors are giving up their time to help women beautify themselves and get their self-esteem back and making them feel better.

On her upcoming book:

My book, there will be a book. It will be an empowering book, but it will also be an educational book, but it is also my story. It’s not like I am talking from something that I didn’t experience. Not necessarily that you have to, but it makes it more real to me. It’s healing for me to help. Any topic you touch on, my family has probably been through it, and survived it!