151 guests attended the gala dinner and charity auction to benefit surgeons of hope (SOH) and to honor Philip Glass, one of the 20th century’s most influential composers.
The evening began with a tribute to Jimmy Kimmel’s newborn son, William, who underwent a successful heart surgery for a congenital heart defect. Throughout the evening, we celebrated the fashion forward thinking and elegant designs of Henry Picado, the legacy of music from Philip Glass and the life-saving work of doctors who travel on behalf of our organization and mission. The evening also included comments from SoH’s President Dr. Da Cruz; SoH’s Board Member Dr. Ushay; SoH’s Executive Director Charles-Edouard Catherine; graceful transitions by our emcee and CNN Entertainment Reporter Chloe Melas, and Live and Dutch auctions led by Jennifer Wright from Christie’s.
The ornate chandeliers and artwork at Central Park South’s Essex House brightened the evening for our guests, who were welcomed with hors d’oeuvres and champagne donated by Mario Rinaldi. A three-course meal followed, each course paired with wine to accentuate one’s dining experience. Witty and charming bidding during the live auction rewarded several guests with vacations to Burgundy and the South of France, including business-class tickets donated by Air France; a custom-made dress by designer Henry Picado; and scores signed by Philip Glass.
Organizing an event such as this one wouldn’t be possible without the key contribution of our close friends Orly Beigel and Henry Picado, and the great work of our staff. Thank you all for making this possible!
You can view the best pictures of the Gala HERE.
A special thank you to: Air France, Publicis Health, Vendome, Mr. & Mrs. Altier, Karine Anidjar, Vih Augusto, Orly Beigel, Patricia Cartin, Paul Chaffard, Mr. and Mrs. Chitayat, Yann Coatanlem, Jules Coulaud, Arnaud de Vienne, Mina Deutsch, Mr. & Mrs. Fox, Adeline Granerau, Wilfrid Groizard, Thierry Huck, Joel Isaacs, Mr. & Mrs. Katz, Mr. & Mrs. Longchampt, Mr. & Mrs. Maisonrouge, Jose Manuel Cruz, Henry Picado, Mr. & Mrs. Pine, Matthieu Salvignol, Sophie Schyler, Barbara Sibley, Peace Simon, Alexandra Spirer, Dr. & Mrs. Ushay, Mr. and Mrs. Walentas and Wen Zhou!