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Dancing on the New York State Theater Promenade at New York City Ballet's Spring Gala. |
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| Last Tuesday night, the New York City Ballet celebrated the 90th anniversary of choreographer/director Jerome Robbins at its Spring Gala. Beginning at 5:30, guests attended a cocktail reception, then a performance at 7, followed by dinner (by Glorious Food) in the Promenade and on the Terrace of the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center. Chairmen for the most successful fundraising event in New York City Ballet history ($2.2 million) were: Charlotte Moss and Barry Friedberg and Veronique and Robert Pittman. Corporate chair was Richard Beckman of the Conde Nast Media Group (Conde Nast sponsored the Gala this year) and Vice Chair was Eric Nederlander. Mica Ertegun was honorary chairman. |
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| Jerome Robbins was one of the greatest choreographers and stage directors of the past century. Amanda Vaill who as a child grew up across the street from him (East 81st between Park and Lexington) and used to see him walking his dog, wrote a rich and fascinating biography of him (“Somewhere: The Life of Jerome Robbins” – Broadway Books) published in 2006. The program Tuesday night included several of his pieces such as Circus Polka, which featured 48 students from the School of American Ballet; and The Four Seasons, his piece based on the music of Verdi, and West Side Story Suite, his distillation of the dance sequences from the Broadway musical which he directed. |
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| Last Thursday at the Metropolitan Club, Fundacion Amistad, hosted it annual luncheon, “2008 Images of Cuba.” They honored Mr. Alfredo Jose Estrada, Editor and Author, and Mr. Peter W. Davidson, Chairman, The J.M. Kaplan Fund (award was accepted on his behalf by Richard Kaplan and Conn Nugent). Fundacion Amistad is a New York based non-profit organization founded by Mrs. Luly Duke, who is also President, dedicated to fostering mutual respect and understanding between the United States and Cuba. |
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| Publicolor kicked off their second decade using color, design, collaboration and the painting process to push back at our nation’s dropout rate and catalyze change in struggling inner-city schools and community facilities, held their 8th annual high-energy fundraiser Stir, Splatter + Roll last Tuesday night at the Louis D. Brandeis High School. They honored Christo and Jeanne-Claude and NYC Councilman and Education Chair, Robert Jackson. James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller and Deana and Stephen Hanson were Event Co-Chairs. Michael Kors, Mark Ecko, Mark di Suvero, Jamie Drake, Doug Wilson and Paige Davis from Trading Spaces,Aerin Lauder, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Commissioner Kate Levin, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly were in attendance, as was Fox 5 anchor Rick Folbaum among other notable guests. To date, the event has raised over $850K. |
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The colorful dinner scene at the Louis D. Brandeis High School. |
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| Publicolor’s Founder and President Ruth Lande Shuman (see NYSD Philanthropy [6]) started the organization eleen years ago as a vision of a creative solution to halting the rising drop-out rate in our public schools. Currently, it is the only non-profit organization using design to promote social change.” The event kicked off as guests at Stir, Splatter + Roll painted collaborative artworks in teams. All guests were offered white Tyvek® suits to put over their party clothes! Some of New York City’s most illustrious designers donated their time as Team Leaders and worked with the party guests to execute large-scale collaborative painting projects. Team Leaders included: Mark Ecko, Paul Aferiat and Peter Stamberg, Pamela Bell, Yoonjai Choi and Emile Molin, Jamie Drake, Wendy Evans Joseph, Michael Kors and Lance Le Pere, Tom Krizmanic, Frank Lupo, Jonathan Marvel and Rob Rogers, Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown, Henry Myerberg, Michele Oka Doner, Giovanni Pellone, Jeannie and Tom Phifer, Charles Renfro, Behnaz Sarafpour, Leni Schwendinger, Alex and Michael Shuman, Gael Towey, Tucker Viemeister, and Douglas Wilson. During the seated dinner, the 450 guests were entertained by music from The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn. At 9 PM, the TOP COAT after party kicked off for over 100 of Publicolor’s group of young professionals to paint, party, mingle and groove to sounds by DJ Eric Oldfield. Publicolor’s Stir, Splatter + Roll Benefit was generously supported by the following sponsors: Bulldog Gin, Don Julio Tequila, Barefoot Wine, Izze Sparkling Juice, Heineken USA, B.R. Guest Restaurants, Benjamin Moore and Duane Baughman. |
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Last Wednesday night, leaders from the worlds of grassroots community activism, the arts, business, labor, politics, media and philanthropy gathered together and raised $316,000 to support North Star Fund’s innovative grants program for New York’s most effective grassroots community organizations.
This year’s honorees were: Joe Conason, Author, Director of the Nation Institute Investigative Fund, columnist for the New York Observer and Salon.com; and his wife, Elizabeth Wagley, founder of the Progressive Book Clubl; Kanyere Eaton, Executive Director of The Sister Fund; Susan Butler Plum, Founding Director, Skadden Fellowship Foundation. The North Star Fund Frederick Douglass Award recognizes grassroots groups creating equality, economic justice and peace was presented this year to Domestic Workers United, for catalyzing a national domestic workers movement. Among the guests attending: Jonathan Alter, Wayne Barrett, Christopher Walling, Carter and Charmaine Burden, Carmen Charles, Pierre Hauser, Anne Hess and Craig Kaplan, Helen LaKelly Hunt and Harville Hendrix, Joyce and Seward Johnson, Sarah and Victor Kovner, Vincent McGee, Rev. Katharine Henderson, Chandler Bazemore and Sharon Weiss, Daniel Gross, Gonzalo Mercado, Asa Johnson, Rev. Linda Tarry-Chard, Barry Scheck and Dorothy Rick, Chris and Susan Plum, and Toby D’Oench. |
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| North Star Fund raises funds from activist donors to further North Star’s direct support of community organizations on the front lines of the struggle to achieve equality, economic justice and peace. Over the past 30 years they have raised and granted more than $27 million to 3,700 community organizations with the courage and deep understanding it takes to build local leadership and address the root causes of injustice. |
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Seated: Chris Plum, Susan Plum, Dr. Fred Plum, Barbara Kelly, Steve Lioce, and Cynthia Coulson. Standing: Susan Fine, Christopher Walling, Carol Plum, Jane MacKillop, Michael Holzman, and George Nichols. |
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An assembling of Skadden Fellows. |
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| North Star Fund’s goal is to create change beyond charity. They focus their grants in areas where the need is most urgent, and the potential impact the greatest. Their strategic areas of support are: • Ending Institutional Racism, Discrimination and Gender Bias • Ensuring Economic Justice • Protecting Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights • Securing Peace and Justice |
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| Photographs by ©PatrickMcMullan.com (Ballet) | Click here [7] for NYSD Contents |