From a glamping after-party to Rihanna masks to live painting, here are the ideas, themes, and event designs that caught our eye from this summer’s galas, benefits, and fund-raisers.
For the Parrish Art Museum event, which was held in Watermill, New York, on July 15, Ovando drew inspiration from the work of one of the honorees, Clifford Ross. The custom-crafted ceiling treatment aimed to transport the guests into the ocean, using hundreds of panes of different shades of blue polypropylene.
On September 12, Unitas hosted its third annual gala at Capitale in New York to raise money and awareness for the fight against human trafficking and exploitation. The evening’s auction raised over $1 million. The gala, produced by AAB Productions, featured decor such as black linens and vibrant red floral centerpieces on the tabletops, along with hanging disco balls from the ceiling.
The Grammy Museum hosted its third annual fund-raising gala, which honored David Foster with the Architects of Sound Award. Proceeds from the night benefited the museum's newly expanded music education programs. During the September 19 event, which was held at the Novo in Los Angeles, singer Katharine McPhee performed, as well as former American Idol contestant Pia Toscano, singer Sheléa, and others.
The Clara Lionel Foundation, which was founded by musical superstar Rihanna, held its third annual Diamond Ball September 14 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. The benefit raised more than $5 million for the foundation’s global education, health, and emergency response programs.
Guests received a cut-out mask of the singer’s face at their table settings.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center hosted its 21st Annual Recognition Dinner July 20 at the historic Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado. The event featured cocktails, dinner, and a live auction of works by contemporary artists, which was facilitated by Sotheby’s. Design team Snarkitecture created the mountain landscape-inspired decor. All proceeds benefited Anderson Ranch’s educational programs.
The eighth annual L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade Stand raised more than $1.3 million for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. Held on the Royce Quad on the U.C.L.A. campus in Los Angeles on September 9, the culinary event, which featured upwards of 100 chefs, supports childhood cancer research.
Some 400 guests attended the Tanglewood Gala on July 7, which included a cocktail reception and dinner, to celebrate the kick off of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s season. Held at the Tanglewood Music Center in the Berkshires, the gala raised more than $470,000. Design was handled in-house, and foral and ceiling decor was handled by Winston Flowers.
The Ride Foundation’s inaugural gala titled “Dance for Africa,” which was held July 23 at Boulevard3 in Los Angeles, featured dance, vocal, and artistic performances, as well as Africa-theme food and decor. Dancing with the Stars’ Karina Smirnoff served as the headline performer, while artist Brian Olsen opened the evening by live painting three pieces, including one of Nelson Mandela, all choreographed to music. The event benefited the African Wildlife Foundation.
Chicago's Shedd Aquarium held its signature summer party, Blu, on July 29, drawing about 800 guests and raising $400,000. This year, the “Blu Goes Green” theme highlighted the aquarium’s conservation initiatives, such as the recent Shedd the Straw campaign and the launch of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership. Guests sampled bites from more than 20 of Chicago’s top restaurants, including Hooked on Fish, Baptiste & Bottle, Bistro 730, Cemitas Puebla, Maple & Ash, Shaw’s Crab House, and more.
Guests received aquatic tattoos in Shedd’s gallery space.
The Farrah Fawcett Foundation held its fund-raising event, Tex-Mex Fiesta, on September 9 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. A live auction, led by George Hamilton, included items such as a 10-person dinner at the Palm and a sculpture by Fawcett. Proceeds from the evening event benefited Stand Up To Cancer.
Nonprofit F.L.I.P.A.N.Y. (Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth) hosted its seventh annual “Chefs Up Front” fund-raising dinners in August at the Biltmore in Coral Gables and the W Fort Lauderdale. The events included five-course dinners prepared by top South Florida chefs. Proceeds benefited Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters Program, which teaches families how to prepare nutritious meals on a limited budget.
The San Francisco Symphony's gala, which was held September 14 at San Francisco City Hall, featured four concurrent dinners. The largest one was the colorful patron’s dinner, which was housed in a 12,000-square-foot tent erected next to Davies Symphony Hall. The Blueprint Studios-designed space was inspired by modern chinoiserie art and fashion.
The tabletop decor at the July 14 Zoo Ball in Chicago, which featured an African safari theme, included decorative rope, custom wood plinths, papyrus grass, and classic camping lanterns. A starlight pattern was projected on the ceiling of the tent.
At the event, guests retreated to a "glamping" theme after-party. The custom 12-by-14-foot tents were filled with custom benches, as well as directors chairs and decorative lanterns. Each tent had a dedicated server for food and drink service.
At the July 29 benefit in Watermill, New York, Jared Madere’s "Melbaumme, Zoey Carves The River, Every Rose" greeted guests at the event’s entrance. The tapestries incorporated large-scale, laser-cut vinyl works with LED lights, fake flowers, and vines.
Caterer Bite served a family-style dinner, featuring a "Mid Summer Greenmarket Mosaic" starter of heirloom tomatoes, beet carpaccio cavaillon, and olive oil grilled bread.
