Attending the 25th Anniversary Gala of the Rainforest Alliance
On Wednesday of last week, I attended the 25th Anniversary Gala of the Rainforest Alliance held at the incredible American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit whose mission is sustainability. For the last 25 years, the Rainforest Alliance has worked tirelessly transforming land, lives, and livelihoods all around the world. They believe that the best way to keep the disappearing forest standing is by ensuring that it’s profitable for businesses and communities to do so. They work hard to ensure that millions of acres of working forests, farms, ranchlands, and hotel properties are managed according to rigorous sustainability standards. Once those businesses meet certain environmental and social standards, the Rainforest Alliance links them up to the global marketplace, where demand for these sustainable goods and services is, fortunately, on the rise. At the Gala, companies that have worked with the Rainforest Alliance, promoting environmental and social responsibility, are recognized for their efforts. I had been invited to the Gala as a special guest and an award presenter. I was very honored to take part in this evening, sharing in this celebration of 25 years of sustainability.
1 Here I am with Tensie Whelan, the President of the Rainforest Alliance. - Photography by Silk Studio
2 Daniel R. Katz, Founder and Board Chair, Rainforest Alliance; Tensie Whelan; Zoe Katz; Chris Noth, Awards Host for the Gala; and Ana Paula Tavares, Executive Vice President, Rainforest Alliance - Photography by Silk Studio
3 On the Rainforest Alliance's green carpet with Tensie Whelan and Alanna Stang, the Editor-in-Chief of Whole Living
4 With Kerri Smith, Board Member, Rainforest Alliance; Tensie Whelan; Amaury de Poret, Board Member, Rainforest Alliance; and Lawrence Lunt, Board Member, Rainforest Alliance.
5 The Museum is home to the world's largest collection of vertebrate fossils and this is one of many fabulous dinosaur skeletons on display.
6 Posing with Raina Brett Russo, Co-Founder and President of EcoOutfitters.net, an online portal that connects homeowners and businesses with qualified solar energy installers.
7 With Tensie Whelan and Eric Ponçon, ECOM Board Member, who strive to make a better life for the producers of coffee, cotton, cocoa, and other soft commodities.
8 We were joined by Eric's wife, Carolina Ponçon.
9 With Wendy and Larry Rockefeller and Alanna Stang
10 Peruvian actress and dancer Talia Castro-Pozo led the event with dance partner Lee van Bradley and her dance troupe. http://taliacastro-pozo.com/showdance/home
11 Talia Castro-Pozo and Lee van Bradley have been dancing together for several years and travel all around the globe. It was an exciting performance.
12 The dancers rallied the guests from the cocktail reception, beckoning them to be seated for dinner.
13 Lovely and fragrant arrangements
14 A very interesting animal dispaly
15 All of these models are so life-like.
16 Projections on the ceiling noted the 25th Anniversary of Rainforest Alliance.
17 Dinner was held in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, where the great 94-foot blue whale model is suspended from the ceiling.
18 Andy Adcock, Trading Director for Foods at Marks & Spencer. Marks & Spencer was honored for its efforts to source their products from responsible sources and to make the store shelves themselves from FSC certified wood.
19 Chris Noth, our host, at the podium
20 Here I am presenting the Sustainable Standard-Setter Award to Monique Barbut, the CEO and Chairperson of Global Environment Facility, the largest public funder of projects designed to improve the environment, with projects in over 182 countries. - Photography by Silk Studio
21 Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico, SEMARNAT
22 I liked his colorful tie patterned with wildlife creatures.
23 We also heard from Daniel R. Katz, the Founder and Board Chair of the Rainforest Alliance.
24 Here I am with Chris Noth. It was a very nice and friendly evening.
25 Back Row - Alanna Stang; Andy Adcock; Michael O'Keeffe, Restaurateur; and Enrique Lendo, Head of the International Affairs Unit, SEMARNAT. Front Row - Mike Barry, Head of Sustainable Business, Marks and Spencer Group plc, Sustainable Standard-Setter; me; Tensie Whelan; and Juan Rafael Elvira - Photography by Silk Studio
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
unfair, you get to smooch with chris noth!
Posted by: liisamarja | May 24th, 2012 at 2:11 am
You look wonderful at this museum event. Thanx for great pictures of this event, Some years ago, our plance made an emergency landing in Manaus, Brazil. Rainforest is very interesting to me and met a man who married a princess from native tribe who has done much ensuring land transformation continues perserving culture.
Posted by: ann | May 24th, 2012 at 3:25 am
Thank you for sharing this evening with us Martha. The American Museum of Natural History looked like the perfect location to hold the 25th anniversary gala of the Rainforest Alliance. I admire the work that they do and I wish them continued success. You looked very lovely in your trendy lace dress Martha and it was nice seeing Alanna from Whole Living!
Posted by: Cindy F | May 24th, 2012 at 8:47 am
Hi Martha, You are one busy gal who does so many wonderful things and I love how you share so many of them with us on your blog! This was another terrific event where you were asked to present awards at the 25th Anniversary Gala Of the Rainforest Alliance! Thanks for sharing their website and these photos are so much fun to see and read about! These photos are fabulous and you look so lovely and happy to be there with all of those nice people! You were wearing another beautiful dress and your legs look fantastic! I love photo #24 of you and Chris Noth!! Was so nice to see you again on The Today Show and I love your 77th new book Martha's American Food and I have my copy! Was also fun to hear you live again on SiriusXM 110 especially with Bette Midler 'At Martha's Table'!! Thanks for all you do for us, Martha! Hope you have another great day and hope F,S,&GK continue to get much better!!!! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 24th, 2012 at 9:51 am
Martha,
Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | May 24th, 2012 at 11:29 am
Hi Martha,
No one lasts for 25 years at something unless they are doing things right! Kudos to the Rainforest Alliance and I like their phrase “Take a Small Action That Leads to Big Change”. I’ll try to be more aware and look for products with their green frog logo from now on.
~
Congrats to you for being elected non-executive chairman of the Board at Martha Stewart Living! I’m happy for you and for MSLO! Also, I caught your appearance on Piers Morgan last night and I think you kind of got talked into making him a lemon tart or pie! Better than the ‘lemon cobbler’ he asked for. Haha. I would say he liked your book “Martha’s American Food” but what’s not to like! Have a great day. Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 24th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Hi Martha,
Can you share with us who is the designer of the lovely black lace dress you wore at the Rainforest event.
Thank you
Posted by: ann | May 28th, 2012 at 8:40 am