How NYs Largest Benefit Grew Even Bigger

Guests entered the benefit by walking through an oversize keyhole, a visualization of the evening's theme of "Unlock the Future." Freestanding keyholes in the same size continued at intervals along the entryway.

The keyholes gave way to a series of unlocked doors that continued throughout the cocktail space.

They ended at a screen that displayed the foundation's logo as well as a digital representation of the doors that made them appear to go on forever.

The benefit's decor always celebrates New York City. Fabricated elements this year included 3-D silhouettes of iconic buildings such as the One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building.

A drum corps and horn players from the Brooklyn United Marching Band played during the transition from cocktails to dinner.

The bars were designed to look like New York City skyscrapers. Each served a specialty cocktail and was named for a restaurant by Major Food Group.

The bars were embedded with screens that contained messaging about the foundation's work.

Television journalist and Robin Hood board member Katie Couric hosted the event. Also addressing the crowd were New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and comedian Jim Gaffigan.

A ring of large screens lined the perimeter of the room. As guests entered the dining room, numbers on the screens and color-coded tableclothes helped them find their tables.

The centerpieces resembled building blocks for children, underscoring this year's focus on early childhood development. After the benefit, the blocks were removed from the base and donated to a Robin Hood-funded program.

The room layout had a different look this year, with an in-the-round setup instead of a stage at the front. A Jumbotron-style, four-sided overhead screen offered close-ups of the action in the middle of the room.

One of the benefit's traditions is an unannounced musical set. This year, the Zac Brown Band performed.

R&B star Usher was the headlining entertainment at the benefit.

Taking place simultaneously were two separate concerts for younger patrons of the foundation. They included Joey Bada$$ (pictured) and DJ Mark Ronson, who performed at Terminal 5, and Citizen Cope at Irving Plaza. Good Sense & Company handled production for the concerts.

Another effort to raise awareness for the foundation involved lighting the Empire State Building (pictured), Madison Square Garden, and the Bloomberg Tower in the foundation's signature green hue.

Another new effort saw Robin Hood’s message spread to the Bronx, where the Robin Hood-supported KIPP Academy String and Rhythm Orchestra performed before the New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium. Two graduating seniors from KIPP NYC College Prep High School threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Also that night, some 30,000 Yankees fans received a Robin Hood-green Yankees cap and 10,000 people served by Robin Hood-funded organizations received free tickets to the game.