Nonprofit fundraising

McNamara's Re: Re: Re: Relâche performance saw dancers in white leotards emerge from the crowd and move onto the stage.

Between the end of dinner and the start of the after-party, the gala screened the short film Entr'acte, which was originally shown during Relâche's intermission. Aerial acrobats followed, performing from long white strips of fabric hung from the ceiling.

On the mezzanine, photographer Jonathan Hokklo snapped black-and-white portraits of guests, shooting digital images as well as Polaroids.

Tables set up on one side of the room held long sheets of paper and drawing instruments for the gala's version of the surrealist art technique known as exquisite corpse. The activity invited guests to draw individual panels as part of a larger piece, resulting in a collection of bizarre, colorful, and collaborative works that decorated a section of the event.

The night ended with a performance by Australian singer Sia, who was accompanied by pianist Barney Mcall.

DC Rental provided moss green and black linens for the cocktail tables, which Amaryllis topped with lanterns and candelabras.

DC Rental set up multiple lounge groupings of moss green, gold, and black furniture for seating in one of the two exterior rooms from the main event space.

E! News correspondent Ashlan Gorse served as the night's M.C. and assisted with the live auction.

Mini bowls of mac and cheese were among the savory passed hors d'oeuvres.

Caterers assembled the po boys upon request.

The po boy stations served roast beef and fried oyster sandwiches dressed with lettuce, tomato, and rémoulade sauce, along with Zapp's potato chips and vegetarian dirty rice.

The taco station had two options: grilled shrimp with pickled red cabbage and citrus chimichurri or smoked pork shoulder with green onion, cheddar, and white barbecue sauce.

The two taco stations also served made-to-order dishes.

A street-style hot dog cart served mini versions of the snack.

The Honey Island Swamp Band flew in from New Orleans to perform for the night.

The hotel served a twist on the classic New Orleans staple of beignets, which were topped with cinnamon and sugar instead of powered sugar, for dessert.

Waiters also passed mini cones of coconut caramel ice cream.

Amaryllis draped Spanish moss from all of the chandeliers and wall sconces to create a swampy atmosphere.

The top sponsors for the night—Arent Fox, law firm Bingham McCutchen, and Washingtonian—had elevated lounge areas in the main ballroom.

#19 Benefit
In March Keep a Child Alive acquired the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation’s fund-raising events, including Dream Halloween. The family-friendly affair with treats for kids, arts and crafts activities, and face painting also offers a sponsor reception, food from L.A. eateries, stage shows, and live and silent auctions at Barker Hangar. Next: October 27, 2012

#3 Benefit
This year's ball drew 800 guests who raised $300,000 to support the Corcoran's College of Art and Design and outreach programs—beating the fund-raising goal of $200,000. Next: April 19, 2013

#21 Benefit
The 91st year of the annual event drew record attendance of 430 people and 10 new sponsors, requiring a new seating layout for dinner and helping it exceed a fund-raising goal of $550,000. Next: May 3, 2013

#13 Benefit
This year's Alice in Wonderland theme came from the ballet's production of Alice; the event drew 400 guests and increased its fund-raising total from last year to $335,000. Next: Spring 2013

Held at the Waldorf-Astoria, as it has been for many years, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Hot Pink Party filled the storied hotel's ballroom with its namesake hue. This year the April 30 fund-raiser saw more than 1,200 guests and paid tribute to the organization's founder Evelyn Lauder with the theme, "My Fair Evelyn's Dream." As part of this, the planning team and decor consultant Monroe Alechman incorporated the word "dream" into the evening's design, with gobos illuminating the walls of the dinner space.

The theme also included a nod to My Fair Lady, with staffers dressed as Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins interacting with guests during cocktails. Music from the 1964 film also played as attendees entered the venue.

Auction items, which were displayed in the reception space, included a three-night stay at Loews Miami Beach hotel, a Chanel "mademoiselle" handbag, and a gold and diamond ring designed by Laura Ramsay and titled "Evelyn's Hope" (pictured).

Mike's Hard Lemonade was a sponsor this year and set up a lounge within the cocktail space.

The alcoholic beverage brand took the opportunity to display its pink lemonade, a flavor created in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Stickers matching the Mike's Hard Pink Lemonade labels bedecked the pink parasols that hung from the ceiling.

Even waitstaff were incorporated into the sponsor's setting, wearing black aprons with their typical black-tie outfits.

Pink linens, napkins, and floral centerpieces decorated each tabletop in the ballroom for the dinner portion of the fund-raiser.

The use of peonies in the centerpieces was a subtle tribute to Evelyn Lauder and her favorite flower.

Matching the theme and the gobo lights shining on the walls of the space, illuminated bracelets that read "Dream" served as napkin holders at each place setting.

More parasols decorated the ceiling of the ballroom.

The fund-raising concert's main musical act was Hail Mary, a band comprising Jodi Marr and Jim Camacho (pictured) as well as Dylan Schiavone and Jordan Welch.

The Sony Ericsson Open tournament took place in the Tennis Center at Crandon Park and featured the world’s top-ranked men’s and women’s tennis players.  The tournament was covered by more than 600 credentialed media outlets from 36 countries.

Zo’s Summer Groove celebrated its 15th anniversary at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and attracted 11,500 people throughout the five days it took place. The fund-raiser is a benefit for Alonzo Mourning Charities’ Overtown Youth Center and Honey Shine Mentoring Program, and tickets for the concert portion, priced at $45 and $65, all sold out.

Fashion’s Night Out this year featured a series of runway shows, after-hours shopping, musical performances, and cocktail receptions from more than 65 retail participants.

Ultra Music Fest sold out months in advance and reached a new attendance record of 150,000 attendees for the three-day event.

Chefs relaxed in the V.I.P. lounge before the competition. The space was filled with white lounge furniture lined with World MasterCard pillows.

Guests bid on silent auction items during a cocktail reception before dinner. Items included a $25,000 suite of GE Monogram kitchen appliances.

Guests received a swag bag that included a signed copy of David Rocco's Made in Italy cookbook, Le Creuset utensils, and a GE Monogram apron.

Solutions With Impact created original centrepieces out of vibrant vegetables and cooking utensils.

A Fisker Karma electric car was on display at the back of the dining room.

The stage was lit in blue and lined with photos of the six team-leading chefs and host Bobby Flay. Each team got a station to themselves.

Bobby Flay hosted the event.

Before the competition, Bobby Flay tested the top 60 fund-raisers' palates. Blindfolded, they had to guess what they were eating.

Chef David Rocco helped out a member of his team during the competition.

Chef Massimo Capra tasted his team's chervil pesto that would top a coffee and ancho chile-crusted filet of beef.

Mark McEwan and his team won the competition, and each received a trophy.

Dubbed "Paparazzi," the installation at the entrance of Performa's opening-night benefit put a swarm of 45 fake photographers on a red carpet.

The piece staged in the center of the space involved two men in knit skirts. As the party went on, each performer pulled the yarn from the other's costume.

As the performers slowly pulled the yarn from their costumes, the skirts got progressively shorter, and the yarn made patterns on the black stage.

Six performers washed the same six plates for the duration of the night, pausing occasionally to pass them in a circle, assembly line-style.

Two men sat quietly on either side of a bed before undressing and spooning every 20 minutes or so.

Caterer Bite served rounds of hors d'oeuvres, as well as small plates of more substantial food.

Inca the husky, who appears in the film An Insignificant Harvey, walked the runway in a custom-made scarf from Babies and Beasts. Jeff Kopas, the director of the film, walked with him.

Guests petted a dog named George Hamilton after the runway show.

Richard Lambert, owner of Parts and Labour and the Hoxton, opened the show with Bacon the bulldog.

E-Talk anchor Tanya Kim closed the show with French bulldog Bordeaux.

Paws for the Cause had seating and larger runway this year at its new venue, Airship37.

Guests walked through the dog house entrance to get to the venue.

Furnishings by Corey supplied the white leather benches. Moroccan Oil gave complimentary hair touchups to guests.

Before the fashion show, guests sipped cocktails in the Godderham Lounge at Airship37.

Guests posed for photos at the booth from Photostar. The images were printed onsite and posted on the Paws for the Cause Facebook page.

Luxury items were raffled off at the end of the evening and included a $500 shopping spree at Holt Renfrew and a trip to Barbados.

A glittering dog house added to the dog-themed desserts table from Pusateri's. The sweets had playful labels like "Puparazzi" and "Best in Show."

Truffles were served in dog bowls on the desserts table.

Go-go dancers performed on a small stage during the cocktail reception.

The decor from Meetinghouse Companies Inc. followed a black-and-white color scheme.

Oversize white feathers played into the '60s-inspired decor.

The dancers dressed in the evening's signature hues.

Record a Hit helped guests created keepsake flip books.

Passed appetizers included bites of hummus.

Sarah's Pastries and Candies created a black-and-white wedding cake.

Windy City Linen provided the linens and Classic Party Rentals provided chairs.

The cake was displayed in the ballroom where the dinner took place.

After dinner, guests danced to the Becca Kaufman Orchestra on an illuminated floor. Projection screens in the room projected films and video loops from I Do Films and Leap Weddings.

Logos for Wish Upon a Wedding appeared in the ballroom.

More logos appeared in the hotel lobby.

The evening included silent and live auctions. Companies to donate larger items included Sears Outlet, Viceroy Anguilla, W Vieques, and Jordan's Food of Distinction.

Illustrator Rosemary Fanti sketched portraits of guests.

Loews Royal Pacific Resort used a bento box to represent a TV dinner, filling it with roast chicken with tomato onion jam, braised short ribs, truffle mac 'n cheese, baby carrots, and haricot verts.

In keeping with the theme, dessert consisted of a mini banana split with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla mousses.

When guests picked up their cars from the valet at the end of the night, they found a pair of fuzzy dice hanging from their cars' rearview mirrors, with a thank-you message on the ribbon.

Wizard Connection provided large light-up stars to line the entrance to the Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

As cars pulled in to the hotel's valet, costumed attendants would ring a bell to mimic the sound of an old-fashioned filling station.

Business is Blooming used carnations to create centerpieces that looked like ice cream sundaes.

Kirby Rental Services decorated the tables with satin linens and coral napkins to give the room a retro vibe.

Spectacular Themes used the Mel's Drive-In diner counter to serve as the bar inside the ballroom.

Day Entertainment & Events provided a doo-wop band, Double Date, which performed during dinner.

This is the second year the fund-raiser has used BidPal Network to conduct its auction, which included nearly 200 items.

Organizers decorated the ballroom to look like a prom in a high school gymnasium.

On one side of the ballroom, Spectacular Themes used set pieces to create the "Starlite Drive-In Theatre," with vintage vehicles set up in front of a screen showing American Graffiti.

Arndt Oesterle of A&O Event Lifestyle Management produced the gala dinner at Vanderbilt Hall, which was decorated with the art installation's light boxes and tables done by Preston Bailey.

As part of the volunteer activities, nonprofit Love Hallie entertained 50 students from the East Harlem School and Frederick Douglass Summer Camp amid the installation at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall.

Brian d'Arcy James, star of Broadway's Shrek and a  nominee, joined teachers at storybook readings in Washington Square Park on Monday.

On Tuesday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg stopped by the City Harvest volunteer drive in Union Square and helped pack apples that were delivered to needy families.

Throughout the city, the organization 46664 encouraged volunteers to plant, weed, mulch, and clean up the gardens.