BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: High and Mighty Brass Band performs during New York Public Radio Live at Brooklyn Bowl on June 13, 2019 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for New York Public Radio)
Thursday night, June 13th, New York Public Radio held a live event and fundraiser at Brooklyn Bowl. The event offered music, cocktails, fried chicken, and a chance to rub elbows with some of NY Public Radio’s biggest names. Early guests milled about, talking over drinks, filling out social experience bingo cards, and snacking on popcorn at some of the tables near the stage.
After a short DJ Set by members of indie rock band Yo La Tengo, the event exploded with live music from High & Mighty Brass Band. The musicians, looking like the world’s most Brooklyn marching band, marched in from the front of the room toward the stage. A crowd gathered as they performed in all of their Hawaiian-shirt-clad glory, the trumpet player sipping a beer between notes.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – JUNE 13: Michelle Buteau speaks onstage during New York Public Radio Live at Brooklyn Bowl on June 13, 2019 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for New York Public Radio)
With attention drawn to the stage, Michelle Buteau–comedian, podcaster, and actress in the recent film Always Be My Maybe–introduced one band after another. Music was the centerpiece of the evening. The High & Mighty Brass Band got a second act, sandwiched between newcomers Red Baraat and Real Estate. Between songs, WNYC Radio Host John Schaefer snuck on stage to ask band members a few questions exploring, for example, the bhangra-driven music of Red Baraat with dhol-playing lead singer Sunny Jain.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – JUNE 13: Red Baraat performs onstage during New York Public Radio Live at Brooklyn Bowl on June 13, 2019 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for New York Public Radio)
All in all, it was a good time. The drinks flowed and the music brought the house down. I was, however, unable to locate that fried chicken. Maybe next year.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – JUNE 13: A view of atmosphere during New York Public Radio Live at Brooklyn Bowl on June 13, 2019 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for New York Public Radio)
The New York Mission Society, held its annual Champions for Children Gala on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, to support educational programs and support services that help youth and families in New York City’s underserved communities break the cycle of poverty and achieve success. This year’s Gala Co-Chairs were Katrina & Don Peebles, Leah & Stanley H. Rumbough, and Jean & Martin Shafiroff.
The Gala, attended by more than 330 people, was held at the Mandarin Oriental in Columbus Circle overlooking Central Park and featured music, dance, and a program including awards presentations.
Legendary Cathy Hughes, Founder, and Chairperson, Urban One, Inc. (which includes TV One and Radio One), received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her myriad, trailblazing accomplishments in media, and Mannie Jackson, 2017 Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and President, Mannie Jackson for the Humanities Foundation, received the Dina Merrill Hartley Public Service Award, named after the longtime actor and philanthropist whose family has supported the Mission Society for generations.
Mannie Jackson, Elsie McCabe Thompson, Francis W. Kairson Jr., Cathy Hughes2018 Champions for Children Gala
Other awards were presented to LTC Francis W. Kairson, Jr., Ret., Director Emeritus, of the Mission Society; BNY Mellon; and, International Flavors & Fragrances.
“We are celebrating those who have been committed to empowering others to achieve their dreams,” said New York Mission Society President Elsie McCabe Thompson. They embody a profound commitment to make the world a better place, one full of promise and of opportunity, particularly for our younger generations.”
Reflecting on the New York Mission Society’s storied history, Ms. McCabe Thompson spoke about the organization’s increased focus on education through initiatives such as Learning to Work, the free afterschool music program GRIOT, and the summer and afterschool program, Power Academy, and its plans to provide even more opportunities in the future.
“From our earliest days, we have provided access to services. We have created programs that have benefited people who needed a chance, but who didn’t always see a light at the end of their tunnel,” she said. “For 206 years we have opened doors, we have changed lived, and we have brought out the best in those we served – – individuals who had the ability but often came to us without the skills or self-confidence to realize their full potential.
Gala Champions were: International Flavors & Fragrances; Katrina & Don Peebles; Leah & Stanley Rumbough; and Jean & Martin Shafiroff. Visionaries are BNY Mellon; Fiona & Stanley Druckenmiller; and, Yemi & Patrick Vatel. Advocates are Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP’ MacFarlane Partners; and, Stifel Financial Corporation.
Among the notable attendees at the event were: Jean & Martin Shafiroff, Don & Katrina Peebles, Amelia Ogunlesi, Yemi & Patrick Vatel, b. Michael, Valerie Simpson, Elsie McCabe Thompson, William Thompson, Cathy Hughes, Mannie Jackson, Victor DeSouza, Randi Schatz, Tanja Dreiding Wallace, Anthony Marx, Michele Herbert, Lucia Hwong Gordon.
Last night, Shantell Martin, Kelly Osborne, Jessica Hart, Perez Hilton, Jasmine Chess, among others, gathered at the Hudson Hotel in efforts to make AIDS history at amfAR’s generationCURE Solstice Auction Event.
In efforts to eradicate the spread of AIDS, generationCure collaborated with Artsy — known as the leading source for art collecting and education — to give both event chairs and attendees the chance to bid on a variety of artwork from Robert Beck, William Eggleston, Steven Klein, Brett Lloyd, Cindy Sherman, Sam Taylor-Johnson, and original pieces from Shantell Martin. All proceeds from the silent auction will go towards scientific research and finding a cure for AIDS.
Photo courtesy of Krissy Lewis
Brad Jones, scientist in HIV cure research, explained what his hopes were for the night, “I hope that they just keep raising money the way that they have for the last five years, maybe even continue to build upon that. I know that they have some really ambitious goals to fund more scientist so I hope other scientist are as lucky as me to receive some money and start making more progress.”
So far in the year, Jones along with the financial help from generationCURE has seen progress on a monthly basis and are optimistic for what the future holds, “We really hope that if we get good consistent results on this level it will bring that into animals, models, and eventually into people. I think that we’re going to get there in terms of curing HIV and events like this are really going to help accelerate that better.”
Shantell Martin, known for her black and white illustrations and her cure for AIDS amfAR beach towel, did live illustrations at the event and spoke about her hopes for the event as well, “A lot of interesting [and] creative New Yorkers or out of New Yorkers come together to start conversations and do a little something that is for amfAR generationCURE coming together and raising some money and having some fun, said Martin.”
Photo courtesy of Krissy Lewis
Ryan Serhant, one of the event chairs and television star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing New York, expressed “I hope we raise a lot of money to help fight HIV/AIDS and find a cure before 2020, but more importantly I think it’s about spreading awareness.” Servant continued, “I tell people all of the time people are overwhelmed, 24-hour news cycle, there’s always something to worry about everyday that big diseases like this are still killing people every second of everyday in the world. If it’s out of sight and out of mind then no one cares.”
The trendy black and white summer affair brought individuals from all over together to support a bigger cause in a way that was most inspirational to each artist. The night was filled with artistic scenery, fashionable labels, a passion to bring change; as well as sparkling drinks donated by Moet Hennessy — who recently started a year long collaboration with amfAR.
Items from the auction are still accepting bids on Artsy until June 30.
