Attending a Benefit for Robin Hood
On Monday evening, I went to a very important benefit in New York City for Robin Hood that I try to attend every year. Robin Hood is New York’s largest private poverty-fighting organization, started in 1988 by Paul Tudor Jones, the founder of Tudor Investment Corp. Over the past 24 years, Robin Hood has contributed more than $1.1 billion to hundreds of the best poverty-fighting programs in New York City. In addition, Robin Hood finds, funds, and supports schools and programs that generate meaningful results for families in New York’s poorest neighborhoods. At the benefit, it was announced that Robin Hood recently partnered with the X PRIZE Foundation to launch a series of incentivized prize competitions designed to unite people from around the world to find solutions to the problems of poverty in New York City and beyond. After an evening of evangelical-like fundraising, it was announced that Robin Hood raised a staggering $57 million!
1 When I arrived at the sprawling Javits Center, I ran into Bill Cunningham, fashion photographer for the New York Times.
2 Whenever I see Mr. Cunningham, I always take his picture. However, he has only published one photo of me! I wonder if this time will make for two?
3 A bar inside the Javits Center - Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
4 The space was decorated with all sorts of interesting facts about Robin Hood, such as $2,500 sends one student to a high-performing charter school for a year. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
5 Some 400 tables were set for about 3,800 guests. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
6 There were giant projection screens displaying images throughout the evening. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
7 The subway was chosen as the theme of the event because the subway connects New York City just as Robin Hood connects New York City. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
8 We were all delighted when surprise guest, music legend Neil Young, performed his hit, 'Heart of Gold' at the start of dinner along with his wife, Pegi.
9 Glorious Foods catered the event and the first course was American grilled cheese sandwich and cold gazpacho.
10 Robin Hood’s board of directors generously fund all operating and fund raising expenses, so that every dollar raised toward the general fund will go directly to helping New Yorkers in need. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
11 Photographs of clients of the Children’s Health Fund, Women in Need, and other Robin Hood grantees were displayed, reminding us of all these good causes. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
12 The benefit co-chairs got up on stage to speak. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
13 The co-chairs included Eli Manning - quarterback for the New York Giants and two-time Super Bowl MVP and his wife Abby.
14 And Steve Burke - chief executive officer of NBCUniversal and his wife Gretchen
15 And Howard Schultz - CEO of Starbucks and his wife, Sheri
16 This is the host of my table, Alan Schwartz, Executive Chairman of Guggenheim Partners and Robin Hood Board Member.
17 Here I am with Anya Ayoung-Chee, Season 9 Project Runway winner (2011) – She designed this year’s Robin Hood benefit T-shirt. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
18 Last year the foundation gave $146 million to more than 200 nonprofits providing job training, shelter, meals, education, and health care in New York’s five boroughs. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
19 This sign says it all. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
20 The centerpiece of each table contained pledging devices for each guest to use for pledging throughout the evening. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
21 Each guest was given a pledge card, which could be worn around the neck. The cards were inserted into the pledge devices to record each person's pledges and were collected at the end of the evening. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
22 The main course was seared sirloin of beef, sliced breast of chicken marinated in lemongrass and Thai-basil, Cumberland sauce, haricots verts with sesame seeds, and pomme Gaufrettes. A vegetarian option was available upon request. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
23 Dessert was fresh berries and cookies. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
24 Robin Hood cookies
25 And also chocolate cake with caramel cream filling and whipped cream. A coffee and tea service was provided by Starbucks Coffee Company. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
26 One highlight of the evening was the 'Robin Hood 101,' as performed via 'slow jam' by Jimmy Fallon, Brian Williams, and house band, The Roots.
27 And here are Jimmy Fallon and NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams performing.
28 I really enjoyed their very amusing comedy performance, which was filled with important facts about Robin Hood. Credit: Courtesy of Robin Hood
29 Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers and Brian Williams co-hosted the evening.
30 Brian Williams rallied the crowd to pledge.
31 Paul Tudor Jones, Robin Hood founder, stated that, 'Over the years, Robin Hood has done a lot of good for a lot of people, but I believe our partnership with the X PRIZE Foundation could be the most transformative event in our history.'
32 David Saltzman, the executive director of Robin Hood said, 'This prize will bring the greatest and most innovative minds around the globe to helping poor New Yorkers achieve their dreams. The cavalry is coming and we are sounding a clarion call to attack poverty in ways previously unimaginable.'
33 And finally, six-time Grammy winner Rihanna and her band headlined the benefit and gave a rousing performance with hits such as 'Only Girl,' 'Run This Town,' and 'Live Your Life.'
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Thank you Martha for informing us of such a wonderful organization that does so much to fight poverty, Robin Hood. I'm impressed that the Board of Directors fund all fundraising and operating expenses so that any money raised goes to help those in need and to raise 57 million in one evening is astonishing!
And Mr. Cunningham, you're a fashion photographer for the New York Times and have only published one photo of Martha!?! Shame! I venture to say you won't find too many women in New York who are as elegant, refined and fashionable as our Martha Stewart!
Posted by: Cindy F | May 17th, 2012 at 7:52 am
Beautiful event for a great cause. I agree with Cindy F!
Best wishes
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | May 17th, 2012 at 8:55 am
Hi Martha,
What a great cause and a nice haul for an evening of ‘evangelical-like fundraising’. That was a cute way to put it. Thanks for sharing. Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 17th, 2012 at 9:23 am
Martha,
I always like it when to you take Bill's picture he always looks surprised. Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | May 17th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Hi Martha Thank you so much for sharing this outstanding blog post about such a fantastic way to help find solutions and provide for the problems of poverty in places like huge NYC and beyond! I love the name 'Robin Hood' and the organization has certainly provided lots of help since 1988 and is continuing now with $57 million at this newest event! You are so generous to be part of such a great event and I hope Bill Cunningham will post your photo in the great New York Times newspaper-sure would love to see it! Your photos of this event are fabulous and you look so fantastic and happy to be there with all those other great people! I love photos #17,21,&28! The foods looked delicious and the table settings were outstanding! You sure do have fun going to these terrific events and thanks again for sharing! Sure hope all is well at your Bedford farm and that F,S,&GK are improving daily! Hope you have another great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 17th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Didn't know about The Robin Hood organization until now. Thanks.
Posted by: simon | May 17th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I love your posts Martha! It's amazing with all that you accomplish each day that you even have the time to blog. Either way, I am one who certainly appreciates all that you do. I have had no problems whatsoever in getting the pictures to download on my computer. Thank you so much for all you do!
Posted by: Monica White | May 19th, 2012 at 2:48 pm