In lieu of a live event this year, the Robin Hood Foundation Benefit—New York's largest single fundraiser (and the No. 1 benefit on BizBash's Top 100 Events in the U.S. 2019 list), gathering nearly 4,000 guests each year to raise tens of millions of dollars to fight poverty in the United States—teamed up with iHeartMedia on Monday, May 11 for a virtual telethon titled "Rise Up New York!" Hosted by Tina Fey, the star-studded virtual fundraiser raised funds to help the city recover from the hard-hitting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; guests included Jennifer Lopez, Barbra Streisand, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sarah Jessica Parker, and many others, as well as New York's local political figures Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The telethon brought the nonprofit's tally to more than $115 million to benefit organizations on the frontlines who are providing support for food, shelter, cash assistance, health and mental health, legal services, education, and more.
Paying homage to the foundation that continues to break fundraising records year after year, we're taking a look back at the Robin Hood Foundation Benefit's creative production over the years.
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2019
The annual benefit pointedly does away with conventional gala traditions like a step-and-repeat and a black-tie dress code, drawing 4,000 guests to a room where you might find yourself standing next to a billionaire, professional athlete, or television star. The theme of last year's event, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, was "Robin Hood to the Power of You." The idea directly factored donors into the equation for finding solutions to issues like hunger, unemployment, homelessness, and more, according to Lindsay Carroll, the foundation's managing director for events and production. "You" is an inclusive word, she noted, and "the benefit is a celebration of the power of the community." Shown here, the entrance featured a tunnel of 7,000 backpacks arranged in colorful rows. The backpacks were filled with school supplies and donated following the event. As in previous years, the benefit was designed and produced by longtime collaborator David Stark Design & Production.
Photo: Lisa Vecchione
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2019
Dancers performed on an abacus, underneath a giant pencil, inside a right angle, and on a platform with a Cyr wheel.
Photo: Lisa Vecchione
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2019
To transition from cocktails to dinner, a marching band and dancers flooded the space for a production number featuring an original song based on a Janelle Monáe song she performed on Sesame Street. See more: Do the Math: New York's Biggest Benefit Turned an Equation Into Event Design
Photo: Lisa Vecchione
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2018
With a theme of the "Lights of New York"—referencing both philanthropists and the city they support—the Robin Hood Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary during its 2018 event. The event paid homage to its history in a number of ways. A large marquee welcomed guests to the event space, which they entered via a red-carpeted tunnel flanked by movie theater-style posters from past Robin Hood events, from annual benefits featuring Lady Gaga (2011), Pearl Jam (2008), and Beyoncé (2006) to 12.12.12: The Concert for Sandy Relief. The dining space had 370 tables set up in the round. "I won't be so bold to say it's intimate. But it doesn't feel like as much of a football field," designer David Stark said. He described the layout as almost like four 1,000-person dinners since the event had four separate kitchens, each located in a different quadrant of the area.
Photo: Taylor McIntyre
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2018
Evoking the vibrant cityscape without referencing specific NYC icons, Stark's team fabricated 45 signs of different size, material, and message to fill the cocktail space. Stark said he wanted to evoke "that feeling when you walk down the street, particularly in the theater district, and the feeling of layers." There were printed, constructed, and LED signs—much like the true-to-life mix of digital and traditional in the city. They bore messages of inspiration and gratitude such as: "Bright Lights, Huge Hearts, Our City," "Bigger Dreams," and "Be Kind," as well as signs for each of the city's five boroughs.
Photo: Taylor McIntyre
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2018
Groups of dancers performed on platforms with dramatic backgrounds, including one depicting the New York skyline. To transition to cocktails, the dancers joined in a single high-energy performance and led guests to the dinner space. See more: See How New York's Biggest Benefit Thanked Donors
Photo: Taylor McIntyre
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2017
The 2017 benefit's theme was “love and leadership,” celebrating its donors’ love of New York and introducing the organization’s new CEO, Wes Moore, said Carroll. That theme was translated into the event design, which created a lively New York City park in the cocktail space with a Sherwood Forest twist. Bars and signage were inspired by park architecture, and fabricated trees were topped by flowing fabric canopies in shades of green suspended by airline cables. Familiar landmarks like Bethesda Fountain in Central Park were recreated and enlivened by costumed salsa dancers, while roller skaters entertained guests from the main stage. Shown here, fabricated trees did double duty, hiding structural columns in the venue and adding to the park decor. The leaves were evoked by fabric canopies suspended by airline cable.
Photo: Ron Antonelli
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2017
A decor piece styled like a map listed and thanked the organization's donors.
Photo: Ron Antonelli
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2017
The centerpieces played off the story of Robin Hood shooting an arrow through an apple. Afterward, the organization planned to donate the apples to New York Common Pantry, estimating they would meet the food pantry's need for three weeks. See more: How New York City's Parks Set the Scene for This Year's Robin Hood Gala
Photo: Taylor McIntyre
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2016
Decor at the 2016 benefit itself also took on larger-than-life proportions. This year’s design played on the theme of “Unlock the Future,” starting with the entrance, which invited guests to pass through an oversize keyhole. Individual keyholes continued down the carpeted entryway like giant arches, giving way to massive unlocked doors in the cocktail space. “We love a metaphor,” said Carroll. “Keys opening the doors to the opportunities that Robin Hood provides is something we can integrate into the programming and messaging.”
Photo: Taylor McIntyre
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2016
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. See more: How New York's Largest Benefit Grew Even Bigger
Photo: Taylor McIntyre
Robin Hood Foundation Benefit 2015
Inspiring the 2015 event's decor was a partnership with Brandon Stanton, creator of the popular Humans of New York photo blog that features portraits of the city’s diverse residents. The event design incorporated the photos and theme into the entrance, cocktail space, and dining area. Guests entered by walking through the lens of a giant camera. They emerged from a tunnel into a vibrant gallery of portraits from the Humans of New York collection. That led into the cocktail space, where 15-foot letters spelling out the word “Together” were staggered in the center of the room. Stark created photo opportunities, executed by Smilebooth, in which guests could pose in front of iconic New York backgrounds—from Luna Park at Coney Island to Central Park to a subway car. In a surprise for guests, the photos later were used in the program as the backdrop to a running total of pledges. See more: How Robin Hood Turned Its Benefit Into a Personal Affair
Photo: Cornelia Stiles
