On the second Monday in May, the Empire State Building flashed Robin Hood green, the night New York City's wealthiest people gathered for charity.
Thousands of guests packed into the Javits Center for Robin Hood's annual gala. Robin Hood is an anti-poverty organization that provides millions of dollars in grants each year to organizations across the city and has long been a popular charity among Wall Street executives.
The convention center was transformed into a futuristic landscape with bulging clouds and performers hanging from the rafters on swings. A sign near the entrance invited people into the Robin Hood Matrix, “a vision of New York City limited only by your imagination.”
NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan arrived early in the evening. Like other guests, he walked through a tunnel lit with smoke machines and green lasers, painting images from Keanu Reeves' 1999 iconic sci-fi film.
“I really respect Robin Hood’s work and the way they go out into the community and really measure the effectiveness of things,” said Keenan, who has attended the event before. said.
With a pulsating Abba truck playing in the background, servers circulated yellowfin tuna spring rolls, caviar toast, and blood orange margaritas among the guests, serving them to a room heavily skewed toward men in suits and ties. .
The crowd included a mix of politicians, businessmen, and celebrities. Tickets started at $3,000 and table prices ranged from $35,000 to $250,000. In this room are Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Mike Bezos, Mark Bezos, Alexis Ohanian Sr., NBA great Walt “Clyde” Frazier, and New York City Public Schools. Chief David C. Banks and others were there. “Saturday Night Live” creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels was also in attendance and is credited with helping secure comedians for the gala.
Co-chairs for the evening included Patrick Healy, CEO of Hellman & Friedman; Kristin Lemkau, Chief Executive Officer, JPMorgan Wealth Management. Former New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
Around 7 p.m., roller skaters in silver two-piece outfits gathered for the party to signal dinner time, which opened into a huge dining room surrounded by screens on all sides.
“This is like the Met Ball of the financial world,” said Dustin Yellin, an artist who founded the art center Pioneer Works. “I'm like a lost poet. So when I see all these fancy people and their fancy suits, I get excited to make weird stuff. Every director needs a producer. So this is like a producer’s hall.”
Designer Tory Burch, who attended last week's Met Gala, said the two events couldn't be more similar. “It’s a completely different experience,” she said. “Variety of people-watching and fun people-watching.'' Robin Hood's philanthropic efforts raised more than $68.5 million, far exceeding the $26 million raised at the Met Gala.
Nearby, Moore mingled with other guests as artichoke carpaccio was served followed by campanelle with braised beef.
The night featured ESPN star Stephen A. Smith, and the band Mumford & Sons performed a few songs midway through the evening, followed by a short stand-up routine from comedian Nate Bargatze.
Gov. Kathy Hochul appeared on stage wearing a crisp white dress and encouraged people to keep donating.
“Stick to what you’re doing,” she said. “But keep spending this money the way you have and know that you are making a difference in the lives of others.”
Robinhood CEO Richard R. Bewley Jr. then joined Chancellor Banks to announce a new partnership with the Relay Graduate School of Education. The initiative funds leadership training for superintendents and principals based on research that shows a correlation between strong school leadership and student achievement.
Next, billionaire hedge fund manager and Robinhood co-founder Paul Tudor Jones II took to the stage dressed like Neo from The Matrix: a long black jacket, boots, and sunglasses. . A movie clip plays in the background.
“New York City faces a variety of challenges,” Jones said, citing Robinhood's focus on education and encouraging people to donate. Organizers say $5 million was donated within minutes, followed by several $1 million donations, all of which will provide permanent housing, emergency food and job training to people living in poverty. The money will be used as a grant to support the project.
After his speech, Post Malone prepared to take the stage.
He performed for about 40 minutes while the participants, who filled the venue, quietly sang along to the lyrics and shook their heads. Some people went outside on the balmy night and got into black cars that were waiting to be driven away.
