22 Ideas From Winter Benefits

Nashville's Ballet Ball drew 400 guests to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on March 7. The directive for the creative team from Syzygy Events was to create a clean, sleek, unfussy atmosphere. At the entrance to the event, ballerinas posed on platforms and transitioned slowly between poses. The ballerinas were meant to evoke elegant garden statues.

On December 4, the Chicago Botanic Garden hosted its "All Aboard" fund-raiser. After viewing the garden's elaborate, indoor miniature train set, guests had dinner in one of three dining rooms decorated by Event Creative. One room, with a "Frozen Radiance" theme, used glossy all-white furniture and frosty blue lighting to create an icy look.

On December 4, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago hosted its 13th annual "World of Chocolate" gala at Union Station. One photo activation, called "Take an Elfie," encouraged guests to pose with a costumed character inspired by the Elf on the Shelf books and dolls.

Held on December 11 at the Vineyard of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, the benefit for Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation had a "diamond" theme that was reflected in glittering decor. The glass dinner tent was decked with elaborate crystal chandeliers, and tables incorporated hanging crystals. The team from SO Events spent a week leveling the hillside ground on which the tent was installed.

The January 10 event took place at the Miami headquarters of the National YoungArts Foundation. Stephen Starr Events catered the benefit, and menu items included tri-colored cauliflower, French beans, and French breakfast radish with house-made lemon hummus and roasted artichokes.

Based in Toronto, the Walrus Foundation hosted its annual gala on January 21 at the Fermenting Cellar. The event had a gold theme, and guests got miniature treasure boxes filled with chocolate gold coins as favors.

Held on January 24, the museum's gala offered several food stations from Sodexo. At one station, a portable, mess-free version of a salad offered greens in a crispy shell; dressing was drizzled on with a pipette.

Chicago production firm Revel Global Events hosted its annual Super Bowl bash at Chicago's Union Station on February 1. To reflect the event's colorful, Katy-Perry-inspired "Candyland" theme, the firm built a custom tray meant to look like a giant popsicle. The tray carried snacks from Limelight Catering. The evening raised funds for Oakley Square.

The Toronto Reference Library was lit up in pink lights for the February 5 black-tie affair. The visual theme for this year was literature, and novels came to life in many forms. Attendees observed the library's Digital Innovation Hub in action, where on-site technicians were using 3-D printers to create busts of famous writers.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay hosted its annual “Big Night” fund-raiser at the House of Blues on February 7. This year's event had a brand-new—yet throwback—theme: the 1990s. Guests, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay's C.E.O, Wendy Foster (pictured), posed in front of a graffiti-decked step-and-repeat.

The Boston Ballet hosted its annual gala at the Castle at Park Plaza on February 7. The theme was inspired by the current production of Lady of the Camelias, and the flower theme extended to the presentation of the silent-auction paddles, which were housed in planters surrounded by greenery.

The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, held its annual gala February 7 at the Bullock Texas State History Museum with an "Off the Wall" theme. Both the gala and after-party featured statement floral pieces designed by Mandarin Design Lab, which drew inspiration from the theme and colors of the event invitations. The entry piece at the after-party, held at the Blanton Museum, was a collection of moss, vines, and flowers mounted onto four hanging frames.

Though it was held in early February, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's annual fund-raiser in Miami had a springtime feel. The dinner tent was bathed in bright pink light, and from the ceiling hung crystal chandeliers embellished with prop butterflies. Le Basque Productions handled catering and production.

The Miami institution hosted its annual gala on February 7. While raising funds, the affair also served as a celebration of the 70th birthday of co-founding artistic director Michael Tilson Thomas. The evening's decor from Shiraz Events incorporated the guest of honor's favorite color—blue—and Tilson Thomas's image was shown in illuminated boxes that appeared on tabletops.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra hosted its "Remix: Red Hot" fund-raiser at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom on February 27. The event had a New Orleans-inspired theme, so servers greeted guests with a "Southern Punch" made with Tito's handmade vodka, Grand Marnier, pomegranate juice, orange juice, soda, cinnamon, and frozen berries. Food for Thought handled catering.

The ballroom at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex was packed with a crowd of 2,500 guests for the “Motionball” gala in support of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation on February 6. A new feature for this year’s Motionball was a 130-square-foot art gallery. Artists including JessGo, Jimmy Chiale, and Jay Soule among others attended the event and painted live. “We wanted to transform [the ballroom] to feel like the streets of Toronto," planner Marsha Doucette said.

On March 1, Lady Gaga and Vince Vaughn were among the 4,500 shivering individuals who dipped into Lake Michigan for the Special Olympics Chicago's Chicago Polar Plunge. Event organizers developed a social media campaign that used the hashtag #VinnyDippin to playfully solicit Vaughn to serve as the “V.I.P.,” or Very Important Plunger, for the event, and the campaign worked.

Held at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Washington on March 7, the annual auction had a "Spirit of America" theme. Designed by Events by André Wells, the venue was decked out in red, white, and blue decor. To complement the theme, stars hung from the ceiling of the dining room.

Held on March 6 at the Carlu in Toronto, the ballet school's gala had a theme inspired by the classic film set in New York An Affair to Remember. This year, planners added casino gaming as a new form of after-dinner entertainment. The activity also helped raise funds: guests were given complimentary "play money" to begin with, but had the option to purchase more, and proceeds benefited the school.

Each year, the California Science Center's Discovery Ball gala dinner corresponds with the launch of a new exhibit. This year, the institution's March 7 bash was also the debut of the Dead Sea Scrolls. During the cocktail reception, goats and a costumed shepherd invited guest interaction and also served as a photo op.

United Way of New York City’s Women’s Leadership Council hosted its "Power of Women to Make a Difference" luncheon on March 11 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The event raised funds for one of the United Ways' projects, ReadNYC, which helps children learn to read. To emphasize that theme, the planning team from JFM Group used children's books as centerpieces.

The Human Rights Campaign hosted its annual gala in Los Angeles on March 14. Held at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live, the benefit went big on entertainment: Mariah Carey (pictured) was the headline performer. Other famous guests included Girls creator Lena Dunham, who presented an award.