Rock ’n’ roll, fashion, and even a little bit of comedy mixed on Thursday, January 25, to raise money for three organizations dedicated to wiping out poverty and homelessness. R.S.V.P. to Help—which also happened to be the official launch event for Kenneth Cole’s new fragrance, R.S.V.P.—took over Tribeca Rooftop for an evening of entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, and live and silent fund-raising auctions. Jon Bon Jovi, who had previously partnered with Cole on a line of designer jackets (the proceeds of which went to charity) and sings the song used in the R.S.V.P. ad, performed at the event, staged to benefit Habitat for Humanity, HELP USA, and the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation. Comedian Lewis Black did a set as well, and DJ Maurizio provided music.Taking a cue from beneficiaries’ missions, as well as the packaging of Cole’s new fragrance (a raw wooden box imprinted with “R.S.V.P.” in cognac-colored ink), organizers integrated the earthy material into multiple aspects of the event. A central installation of large wooden boxes stamped with the R.S.V.P. logo and displaying the new scent dominated the entrance to the space; pillars wrapped in velvet of the recurring crimson hue surrounded the grouping.
Other details—including tabletops, silent auction display boards and pen holders, live auction paddles, and even the invitation—were custom-made by JMO Woodworking Inc. “All of the decor was very much born out of the fragrance packaging,” said Ashley Barrett, director of public relations at Coty Inc., who confirmed that the wooden motif was the first concept considered for the event. When asked if an event with such high-wattage talent and big-ticket auction items might steal a little thunder from the launch of the new fragrance (a private golf lesson with Tiger Woods went for $100,000), Barrett said that if it did, that’s just fine, as giving back to the community is a key component of the Kenneth Cole brand. “We recognize that,” she said. “The halo effect that that creates all trickles down to the brand.”
Above the stage where the performances and live auctions took place, a stairway led V.I.P. ticket-holders to a tented rooftop lounge filled with black sofas, white shag rugs, mini refrigerators stocked with Red Bull, and an Okamoto Studio ice sculpture of cosponsor Saturn’s new car, the Outlook.
In the end, the event inspired more than $1 million in pledges to the three charities. An online fund-raising auction open to the public will take place at www.rsvptohelp.org through February 15.
—Mimi O’Connor
Photos: Mat Szwajkos/Getty Images (V.I.P. lounge), Getty Images (sushi station, wall signage)
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Other details—including tabletops, silent auction display boards and pen holders, live auction paddles, and even the invitation—were custom-made by JMO Woodworking Inc. “All of the decor was very much born out of the fragrance packaging,” said Ashley Barrett, director of public relations at Coty Inc., who confirmed that the wooden motif was the first concept considered for the event. When asked if an event with such high-wattage talent and big-ticket auction items might steal a little thunder from the launch of the new fragrance (a private golf lesson with Tiger Woods went for $100,000), Barrett said that if it did, that’s just fine, as giving back to the community is a key component of the Kenneth Cole brand. “We recognize that,” she said. “The halo effect that that creates all trickles down to the brand.”
Above the stage where the performances and live auctions took place, a stairway led V.I.P. ticket-holders to a tented rooftop lounge filled with black sofas, white shag rugs, mini refrigerators stocked with Red Bull, and an Okamoto Studio ice sculpture of cosponsor Saturn’s new car, the Outlook.
In the end, the event inspired more than $1 million in pledges to the three charities. An online fund-raising auction open to the public will take place at www.rsvptohelp.org through February 15.
—Mimi O’Connor
Photos: Mat Szwajkos/Getty Images (V.I.P. lounge), Getty Images (sushi station, wall signage)
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The furniture custom-made for the R.S.V.P. to Help event, like these wood-topped tables, was donated to future housing works projects.
The packaging of Cole’s new fragrance provided the inspiration for the event’s wood accents.
Wooden boards and pen holders displayed silent auction items such as a signed Derek Jeter jersey, designer handbags, and V.I.P. tickets to see Prince in concert.
Guests used wooden paddles to bid on live auction items.
Food from Tribeca Rooftop included sushi, sashimi, dim sum and pasta stations, grilled herb-spiced baby lamp chops, mini crab cakes, and Tuscan-style antipasto.
The tent enclosing the V.I.P. ticket-holder lounge was emblazoned with the question “What’s Your Outlook?”—a reference to the altruistic bent of the evening—as well as cosponsor Saturn’s new vehicle, the “Outlook.” (Okamoto Studio crafted an ice sculpture of the car on display in the lounge.)
Provocative questions stenciled on the walls served as a call to action for guests.
