December 17th, 2007 Annual Charity Ball
Text, Images by J.Ecochard
What does it take to get swarms of swank A-listers to stop checking their addictive Blackberries?
-A pumping belt-em out set by the soulful, ageless Chaka Kahn?
-A rockin’ 20 minutes of heart pounding music by “it” hipster Cat Power ?
-A live auction of drool inducing KWIAT jewels, a Saks Fifth Avenue shopping spree, a private airplane flight for a luxe weekend jaunt…?
-Open bars with Grey Goose Vodka confections, bubbling Champagne, and yummy eats proffered by cater waiters who were genuinely happy to be there?
Yeah, and then some.
We don’t know the full back-story on founder Scott Harrison. Yes, he was a club promoter/event planner (what?) back in the day, volunteered in Liberia, takes amazing photos etc. But better - this guy pulled in a stunning crowd of dapper financiers, chic socialites, a healthy dose of the celebufabulous, and amazing silent auction items courtesy of fashion bigwigs like Marc Jacobs, YSL, David Yurman, Be&D, Marni, Kenneth Cole- plus meals at top gourmand haunts CRU and Eleven Madison Park, weekends at Miami’s hip Standard Hotel, rare wines destined for oenophiles’ dream cellars, and artwork …for his 2nd NYC charity event benefiting CharityWater.org.
And 100% of every cent dropped in the till went towards providing safe, clean drinking water in Africa. That’s right, Metropolitan Pavilion donated the glorious space, the state of the art media technology came gratis, and even the outgoing B lister that plays an A lister on HBO’s Entourage (his words) Adrian Grenier, who like Justin Timberlake-makes the ladies and gay guys swoon while still managing to ‘hang’ like one of the regular guys (if only) -all contributed to a memorable night in the usually partied out Big Apple.
Highlights were numerous. Taking center stage was a runway set-up where everyone who strutted to the tunes spun by DJ David Katz-lugging the 80 lbs yellow water containers, earned CharityWater a $120 donation (from someone?). Even the model-phobic walked the walk to raise scores of $20 bottles of Charity:Water that each generates the equivalent of 545,000 bottles in a developing nation.
During the short presentation, Terry George- director of the remarkable movie Hotel Rwanda, debuted a short clip featuring the un-credited but easily recognizable stunning Jennifer Connelly serving tainted drinking water from the Central Park Pond, hauled by hundreds of extras through NYC’s byways, to dejected school kids…to illustrate the realities of what most of Africa’s population goes through everyday.
Better yet were the videos shot in Africa, showing birthday boy Scott Harrison celebrating the big 32 (!!!) by opening a health clinic in Mogotia, funded by Charity. Amazingly the documentaries really showed how little it takes (like one fresh water well) to change the way of life for so many- when there are not government officials to bribe and shareholders to answer to.
We’ve volunteered for several charitable organizations, and never have we seen less peacock poseurs at a hot ticket NY event. REALLY. The security guards were cordial and the public relations teams efficient and professional (Brand Building and State Pr). No wonder Mr. Harrison seems to be the kind of guy one wants to wrap up and take home to meet the family for the holidays. A sincere do-gooder who gets it done…and with a phenomenal rolodex to help him do it.
Don’t miss next year’s event or better yet, volunteer. After all, to paraphrase one speaker, we are all on a journey in life…what will you be remembered for?