If any of the guests at the New Yorkers for Children gala on Tuesday night briefly forgot why they were there, a reminder was never far away.
Held in the recently renovated 583 Park Avenue, the benefit featured shimmering silver surfaces that reflected attendees' images right back at them, underscoring the evening's theme, "Help starts with you."
Designer David Stark employed mirrored surfaces of all kinds, ranging from silver origami paper and Mylar to metallic sugar cake decorating baubles, to achieve the effect. Flower arrangements crafted from the materials (in silver vases), along with candleholders wrapped in reflective material, adorned tabletops. Delicate white chiffon banners hung overhead to add an element of height, movement, and further sparkle to the space."It's beautiful, and relates to the overall message," Stark said of his design. "It's very simple, and I hope in this environment it's elegant but also concept-on." Stark's creations also included an element of surprise in what he described as quirky materials from real life, such as silver cake decorations and miniature silver baking cups, which served as coronas for the hand-crafted flowers: "Until I tell you that's a baking cup, you may not necessarily know."
Adding another element of sparkle to the fund-raiser, which featured a live auction during the dinner for the first time, was the debut of jeweler Harry Winston's collection "Diamond de Neige."
Known for drawing a crowd of society and fashion types to its fall fund-raiser—Oscar de la Renta and Dayssi and Paul Kanavos were among this year's co-chairs—New Yorkers for Children provides assistance to youth in foster care in the form of college scholarships, tutoring programs, mentoring, and more. Tuesday night's auction benefited the organization's Back-to-School Package Program. The event, overseen by New Yorkers for Children executive director Susan L. Magazine, raised $1.9 million.
Held in the recently renovated 583 Park Avenue, the benefit featured shimmering silver surfaces that reflected attendees' images right back at them, underscoring the evening's theme, "Help starts with you."
Designer David Stark employed mirrored surfaces of all kinds, ranging from silver origami paper and Mylar to metallic sugar cake decorating baubles, to achieve the effect. Flower arrangements crafted from the materials (in silver vases), along with candleholders wrapped in reflective material, adorned tabletops. Delicate white chiffon banners hung overhead to add an element of height, movement, and further sparkle to the space."It's beautiful, and relates to the overall message," Stark said of his design. "It's very simple, and I hope in this environment it's elegant but also concept-on." Stark's creations also included an element of surprise in what he described as quirky materials from real life, such as silver cake decorations and miniature silver baking cups, which served as coronas for the hand-crafted flowers: "Until I tell you that's a baking cup, you may not necessarily know."
Adding another element of sparkle to the fund-raiser, which featured a live auction during the dinner for the first time, was the debut of jeweler Harry Winston's collection "Diamond de Neige."
Known for drawing a crowd of society and fashion types to its fall fund-raiser—Oscar de la Renta and Dayssi and Paul Kanavos were among this year's co-chairs—New Yorkers for Children provides assistance to youth in foster care in the form of college scholarships, tutoring programs, mentoring, and more. Tuesday night's auction benefited the organization's Back-to-School Package Program. The event, overseen by New Yorkers for Children executive director Susan L. Magazine, raised $1.9 million.
![Mirrored surfaces made up much of David Stark's decor.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2007/09/e8782stand.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Mirrored surfaces made up much of David Stark's decor.
Photo: Joanna Totolici for BizBash
![David Stark's silver flower arrangements topped tables.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e8782image2.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
David Stark's silver flower arrangements topped tables.
Photo: Joanna Totolici for BizBash
![A blue lighting effect from BML Blackbird filled the building's rotunda.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e8782image1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
A blue lighting effect from BML Blackbird filled the building's rotunda.
Photo: Joanna Totolici for BizBash
![Guests included Mayor Michael Bloomberg.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e8782image3.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Guests included Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Photo: Joanna Totolici for BizBash
![Seven hundred people attended the gala.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e878204.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Seven hundred people attended the gala.
Photo: Joe Schildhorn/PatrickMcMullan.com
![The venue, 583 Park Avenue, is a restored church.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e878205.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
The venue, 583 Park Avenue, is a restored church.
Photo: Joe Schildhorn/PatrickMcMullan.com
![Holes punched in the Mylar covering the candleholders allowed points of light to shine through.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e878206.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Holes punched in the Mylar covering the candleholders allowed points of light to shine through.
Photo: Joe Schildhorn/PatrickMcMullan.com
![Artist Sean Kingston performed a short set.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e878207.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Artist Sean Kingston performed a short set.
Photo: Joe Schildhorn/PatrickMcMullan.com