Like others faced with the challenges of a cost-conscious event, the event designer for Tuesday night's Avon Foundation Awards gala had to find a way to fill 583 Park Avenue with decorations that wouldn't stretch the budget. With nearly 600 guests attending a seated ceremony in the church's main room, DeVinn Bruce of H. DeVinn Visual (who was responsible for last year's Dorothy Draper-inspired garden) chose a few focal points for the tabletop decor and matched the colors to the organization's logo as well as to the signature color for breast cancer awareness.
As the lighting in the room was a little tricky (there wasn't an easy way to pinspot each table), the designer used centerpieces to brighten and add color to the space. Taking the venue's dramatic ceiling fixture as an inspirational starting point, Bruce crafted mini-chandeliers from cylindrical vases, LED lights, and fiber-optic lamps. Surrounding each piece was a wreath of pink-hued roses, spray roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and ranunculus. Blue lighting added to the glowing effect.For the cocktail hour and silent auction, Bruce divided the downstairs room in two using the silent-auction items, which were each flanked by artificial hedges. The setup was a simple way to keep the auction central and prevent either area from feeling too cramped.
Cicely Wootan, the foundation's program development coordinator, planned the event, which was hosted by Avon chairman and C.E.O. Andrea Jung and the foundation's executive director, Carol Kurzig, and featured a performance from Jennifer Hudson. The night raised more than $2 million, and the nonprofit also celebrated having raised a total of $580 million worldwide.
As the lighting in the room was a little tricky (there wasn't an easy way to pinspot each table), the designer used centerpieces to brighten and add color to the space. Taking the venue's dramatic ceiling fixture as an inspirational starting point, Bruce crafted mini-chandeliers from cylindrical vases, LED lights, and fiber-optic lamps. Surrounding each piece was a wreath of pink-hued roses, spray roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and ranunculus. Blue lighting added to the glowing effect.For the cocktail hour and silent auction, Bruce divided the downstairs room in two using the silent-auction items, which were each flanked by artificial hedges. The setup was a simple way to keep the auction central and prevent either area from feeling too cramped.
Cicely Wootan, the foundation's program development coordinator, planned the event, which was hosted by Avon chairman and C.E.O. Andrea Jung and the foundation's executive director, Carol Kurzig, and featured a performance from Jennifer Hudson. The night raised more than $2 million, and the nonprofit also celebrated having raised a total of $580 million worldwide.
The Avon Foundation's glittering gala.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
Partially inspired by the venue's chandelier, the night's design included sparkling miniature chandeliers as centerpieces for each table.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
Artificial hedges divided the cocktail area and drew attention to the auction items.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
