See What You Missed From Spring Benefits Season

On June 4, the Museum of Modern Art in New York hosted its annual spring fund-raiser, Party in the Garden. Guests gathered in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, which was followed by a seated dinner in the museum’s lobby. This year, both the first and second levels of the main lobby were transformed for the dinner. Party in the Garden is the last fund-raiser in the building before final renovations at the museum begin in late June.

The layout and design of the party, designed and produced by the museum’s in-house event team led by Tania Abitbol, was inspired by tropical flowers in light shades of pastel lavender, rose pink, cantaloupe, and lime green. Pastel tropical foliage was used on the tables, accented by custom neon Lucite chargers with a lavender Anthurium print. The carpet, tables, and chairs were a neutral shade of ecru. Projections of tropical foliage completed the look throughout the space.

Celebrity Series of Boston hosted its 80th anniversary Shine! Gala in April at the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. The event raised $530,000 to support performance and community engagement programs. Produced by Rafanelli Events, the gala’s design drew attention to the center stage where the evening’s performances by Caleb Teicher & Company and the Boston City Singers took place. Illuminated neon tubes suspended above the stage moved in tandem with the performers. The Catered Affair curated the food and beverage menus.

The 22nd annual ASPCA Bergh Ball, held in April at the Plaza Hotel in New York, raised $1.1 million to support the organization’s life-saving work for animals. The black-tie gala, themed “Reach Fur the Stars,” honored longtime supporter David Patrick Columbia. Sponsored by Generation Tux and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the event featured decor design by StoneKelly in collaboration with decor chair Robin Bell. The event programs featured dogs and cats peeking out from the top.

The Chicago Zoological Society’s Women's Board and Board of Trustees hosted its 38th annual black-tie gala in April at Brookfield Zoo. The organization’s largest fund-raiser of the year raised more than $1.4 million. This year’s theme, “Roaring Whirl 2019,” celebrated the 100th anniversary of the land donation by Edith Rockefeller McCormick to the Forest Preserves of Cook County for the purpose of creating a zoo. Calihan Catering served a three-course dinner in the Grand Tent, which was decorated in a 1920s theme by the Flower Firm.

The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s 21st annual Butterfly Ball, held in May at the museum, raised more than $2 million in support of its science education initiatives. More than 650 guests attended the event, which included a three-course dinner provided by Calihan Catering. The event’s colorful, nature-inspired look was provided by HMR Designs.

Patrons of Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum gathered for this year’s Gardner Gala in May. Following cocktails, guests dined in the museum’s Calderwood Hall, the Tapestry Room, and Cafe G. The event was designed by Jennifer Wheaton of Design Collaborative and catering was provided by Gardner Museum Catering.

On June 10, the Apollo Theater in New York celebrated its 14th annual spring gala, raising over $2 million for its artistic and community programming initiatives. The event’s after-party, held in a tent created and designed by Apollo board member Bronson van Wyck, was decorated in black, gold, and stage-curtain red, creating an atmosphere that evoked the classic theater of yesteryear. A 15-foot-tall gramophone that overflowed with florals served as the centerpiece.

In May, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium hosted its annual black-tie gala, titled Reflections, and raised nearly $2 million. Guests began the night walking through Shedd’s south lobby, adorned with giant mirrored decor and installations to play into the event’s theme and the silver jubilee anniversary. Once again, animal encounters were the highlight of the evening.

In April, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County hosted its 13th annual gala, which raised close to $1 million to support the center’s arts education programs that serve students throughout Miami-Dade County. The festivities continued at the Party on the Plaza, an after-party celebrating Miami’s Caribbean carnival traditions on the center’s Thomson Plaza for the Arts. Proceeds from the public after-party supported the Arsht Center’s Miami Diaspora Fund, which supports the commissioning and presenting of multicultural artists.

The Hollywood Reporter held its inaugural Empowerment in Entertainment Gala in April at Milk Studios in Los Angeles. The event honored Oprah Winfrey with the first-ever Empowerment in Entertainment Award for her work as an advocate for inclusion in entertainment. The gala, produced by AGENC, featured a sit-down luncheon for 400 industry guests. This year’s gala was presented by WME with platinum sponsor Amazon Prime Video.

In April, the Institute of Contemporary Art hosted its annual gala to raise funds to support its mission and programs. Inspired by the evening’s honoree artist John Akomfrah, whose work “Purple” is presented at the ICA Watershed in Boston this summer, Tyger Productions created a sparkling atmosphere with a palette of metallics, grays, and smoky purples punctuated with pops of white, fuchsia, and lavender. Hundreds of feet of mirrored circle-cut panels were suspended above the dining area for a shimmering effect.

The Los Angeles Ballet held its annual fund-raising gala in April at the Beverly Hilton. The evening included a performance by the company of Balanchine’s Serenade against a sparkling black tapestry strung with white and blue lights.

The Phillips Collection’s annual gala, held in May, featured the theme of “Mexico: A Land of Beauty” with a mix of bright, colorful table settings including large paper flower centerpieces. The gala was produced by Dufour Collaborative with dinner provided by Occasions Caterers. The event raises resources for the museum’s educational programs in the Washington community.

The Washington Ballet raised $850,000 at its annual spring gala, held at the Anthem in May. This year’s theme, “Illuminate and Ignite,” was brought to life through prismatic design, abstract table decorations, “ghost chairs,” and laser lights that created patterns above the dance floor. Guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner, provided by Occasions, with glow-in-the-dark cotton candy and sorbet with fruit for dessert. Event florals and decor were done by Amaryllis, with event coordination by TaylorMade Experience.

Toronto Public Library Foundation held its third annual Biblio Bash, presented by TD Bank Group, in April. Each table at the event was hosted by a notable author and featured custom charger plate inserts that displayed information about the authors. Candice & Alison Events Group designed the event, which had a yellow color scheme. The black-tie event raised more than $745,000 for the public library system.

Brooklyn Museum’s annual fund-raising gala took place in April. The event, which was designed by David Stark Design and Production, featured a Frida Kahlo theme, inspired by the museum’s new exhibition “Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving.” The ceiling of the museum’s Beaux-Arts Court featured a cascade of colorful “papel picado” decorations. The event drew more than 1,200 guests and raised more than $1.9 million for the museum’s exhibition and education programs.

This year, the Joffrey Ballet’s annual gala, which was held in April, was rebranded with the name “UNgala.” Formerly held between the Auditorium Theatre and a downtown hotel, the 2019 gala took place entirely at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The revamped gala was designed by HMR Designs' creative director Bill Heffernan, while Frost bathed the Lyric Opera House in fiery hues of orange, red, pink, and gold lighting. See more: ​This Is What Happens When You Turn a Traditional Annual Gala Into an 'UNgala'

This year’s Met Gala was inspired by the museum’s spring 2019 exhibition, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” with tabletop decor that included pink tablecloths, bamboo flatware, feather-decorated lampshades, and napkins embroidered with pink flamingos. Raúl Àvila created the design for this year’s benefit in collaboration with Jan Versweyveld, who designed the exhibition. See more: See Inside This Year’s Met Gala Filled with Feathers and Flamingos

The theme of this year’s Robin Hood Benefit, held in May at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, was "Robin Hood to the Power of You." Designed by David Stark Design & Production, the event featured school-inspired decor like an oversize desk and chair, a digital blackboard writing out messages tied to the foundation's mission, and a tunnel lined with 7,000 backpacks in colorful rows. See more: Do the Math: New York's Biggest Benefit Turned an Equation Into Event Design

The San Diego Museum of Art's spring fund-raiser, held in April, featured four days of events showcasing more than 100 floral interpretations of classic works of art created by top local and national floral designers. In addition to the floral exhibitions, the weekend event included a V.I.P. dinner and the massive, public Bloom Bash. Above the tables were 40 golden chandeliers from Revelry Event Designers. See more: How This Benefit Draws 12,000 Attendees Every Year