Now that summer has officially arrived, it's time to take a look back at highlights from a busy season of spring benefits. From shoe-shaped desserts to a bar decked with leopard spots, here are 20 of the best ideas from fund-raisers held across North America this spring.
Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater hosted its annual gala on May 9. Inspired by the setting of the then-current production The Way West, Event Creative's decor was inspired by a home in England, and the tabletop centerpieces were designed to look like window boxes.
The charity hosted its fund-raiser at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington on May 8. Ridgewells handled catering, and festive menu items included pours of champagne over popsicles for dessert cocktails.
The Bata Shoe Museum celebrated its 20th anniversary with a gala celebration on May 7 for 300 guests in Toronto. Fittingly, the event featured a shoe-theme sweets table.
The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Carousel played at the Lyric Opera of Chicago this spring. To celebrate the beloved music on April 17, the opera's women's board hosted a preshow celebration for 90 guests. The passed specialty drink was called the "Carousel Cocktail." It contained ginger, lemonade, and vodka and was garnished with fresh mint and a striped paper straw embellished with a miniature carousel horse.
The American Cancer Society hosted its Discovery Ball at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago on April 25. This year's theme had a futuristic overtone that inspired the look and feel of the 750-guest soiree. "During dinner, planes of light and hand-tied wire patterns that projected light striae ... visually transported guests into a future periphery," designer Rishi Patel of HMR Designs said.
This year's "Give Kids the World" benefit took place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in May and had an "Under the Big Top" theme. For dessert, executive pastry chef Alain Vergnault put together a confection that combined caramel apple cake, cotton candy, and soft-serve-style vanilla crème fraîche.
This year’s Opera Ball, a benefit for the Washington National Opera, took place at the Residence of the German Ambassador in June. For the first time, planners incorporated video content into the decor. There were two 18-foot towers with an illuminated event logo and screens that rotated images of past Washington National Opera performances in German as well as images of German architecture and art to honor the culture of the host venue. The event's logo for this year also was incorporated into the towers.
The Women’s Committee for the Corcoran Gallery of Art hosted its 60th annual Corcoran Ball on April 17 at George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum in Washington. Design Foundry suspended strings of pink butterflies above the dance floor as part of the metamorphosis theme.
On April 25, the JW Marriott Marquis Miami played host to the Sylvester Gala, a benefit for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s research programs. The event had a "Brave" theme, and entertainers with Pop Art-inspired body paint had the word written on their chests.
The space known as Pier 36 Basketball City along the East River in Manhattan recently scored a few new baskets—of the picnic variety—for the Friends of the High Line's spring benefit, held May 20. A large grassy tableau, featuring actors reading, picnicking, and sunning themselves, separated the cocktail section from the dining area.
On May 21, the Baeumler Family Foundation held its third annual “celebrity karaoke” gala at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto. The fund-raiser’s 450-guest crowd included several famous faces, among them DJ Joel Zimmerman of Deadmau5, Suits actor Patrick J. Adams, and celebrity chef Lynn Crawford. The evening included an interactive silent auction, cocktails, and dinner; its centerpiece was a karaoke showcase that helped raised money. Here’s how it worked: The celebrity guests had their head shots added to an app, designed by Ready Set Auction, which guests could access at the event or online beforehand. At the event, those in attendance could donate money via the app to see their favorite celebrity get up and sing karaoke.
On June 5, Chicago celebrated the opening of the 606, a public, elevated trail along a former railway, with a gala that paid homage to the host city. Limelight Catering serviced the event. Menu items included a first course of hanging flatbreads in two flavors: herb and olive oil and three cheese. The dish incorporated onions from an Illinois farm and cheeses from Wisconsin.
On June 4, the SickKids Foundation hosted its 14th annual “Scrubs in the City” benefit at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto. At the end of the night, a food trunk gave guests a taste of next year's theme: "London Is Calling." The truck had the date of next year's event written on its side.
Heal the Bay's annual fund-raising gala took place on June 4 at the Jonathan Club on the beach in Los Angeles. In keeping with the nautical theme, about 1,000 guests dined at tables with ocean-inspired design.
The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery held its annual Power Ball in Toronto on June 4. Presented by luxury brand Max Mara, the evening drew 1,500 guests and had the theme “Appetite for Excess.” Instead of a traditional plated dinner, V.I.P. guests got an entirely different experience: an interactive experience from food artist Jennifer Rubell. Hands appeared through holes in the table, serving guests one morsel at a time.
The 2015 Wall Ball gave its 700-some guests an opportunity to make their own salad by ordering from a salad mural. Held on May 21 at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia and produced by Bread & Butter Productions, the annual fund-raiser supports the City of Mural Arts Program, which advocates community-focused public art that includes mural-making projects and educational programs. Complementing the event's artistic roots and inspired by the idea of a mural depicting community gardens, Catering by Design created a mural wall of salad greens.
In Toronto, the Luminato Festival kicked off with an opening-night party at Hearn Generating Station on June 18. The event's theme was "Nature Versus Industry." To play off the former concept, guests participated in a D.I.Y. flower-press activity that let them take home framed flowers. Hot Pop Factory sponsored the crafty station.
The Bark Ball, benefiting the Washington Humane Society, took place at Washington Hilton on June 20. The pet-friendly event drew 1,000 guests—and 500 dogs. To accommodate the canine partygoers, organizers plied the buffet with heart-shaped dog treats.
Chicago's Shedd Aquarium hosted its annual gala on June 20. The event's theme, "Metamorphosis," was inspired by the current exhibition of amphibian species. Event Creative handled decor and built a custom bar that celebrated the theme with glowing cutouts of salamanders.
Here's another animal-inspired bar. In late April, the Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago hosted its annual fund-raising gala. The event featured animal-theme decor from the Flower Firm, including a bar with leopard spots and eyes.
