The Wayuu children were the focus of the sixth annual Wayuu Taya Foundation Gala held on June 17th at the Stephen Weiss Studio in New York City.

Throughout the event, images taken by photographer Jenny Woodman and videographer Gabriella Nunez were displayed on the walls and stage of the location. In addition, paintings created by Wayuu children, together with local artists, were displayed and sold both in silent and live auctions - to the delight and admiration of the audience.

The event was co-hosted by legendary fashion icon and Urban Zen founder Donna Karan and the emcee was model and television personality Padma Lakshmi. This year, four humanitarians were honored for their outstanding charitable work. First on stage was New York philanthropist Henry Buhl,founder of the Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless. He was introduced by Countess LuAnn de Lesseps. The next honoree was Khaled Al Muhairy,
the Dubai based entrepreneur and philanthropist who has built an
international school in his community. He was introduced by actor
Olivier Martinez. The evening's third honoree was businessman and philanthropist Stewart Rahr, President and CEO of Kinray Inc. He was introduced on stage by Padma Lakshmi and Russell Simmons. He stunned the crowd with a surprise donation to the foundation, which will be used to build more schoolrooms.

The final honoree was supermodel Christie Brinkley. She was
introduced on stage by her singer songwriter daughter Alexa Ray Joel - who then played out the evening with some of her excellent music. The evening's other musical performer was singer Billie Myers - who performed her smash hit "Kiss The Rain".

Almost 200 guests attended this year's event - the largest so far -
and vowed to join Wayuu Taya founder Patricia Velasquez in
continuing to support the indigenous Wayuu community. Due to the overwhelming support of attendees, the Wayuu Taya Foundation will be able to build a creative center - for music and the arts - as well as provide nutrition and welfare for many more children in the community.

Well known artist gave their time ,creativity and generosity to the
Wayuu children. It was a day filled with smiles ,colors and happiness at the Wayuu Taya School "Tepishi Talashi". The 6 artists worked together with the children on 6 pieces that will be auction at the Wayuu Taya event on June 17th in New York to raise funds for the educational programs and to better the lives of indigenous communities .

"What's important is to discover what's behind the eyes of these
children... but it is not easy, because at first they fill you with their light"

Artists:
Elvis Rosendo
Johan Galue
Jose Enrique Gonzalez
Enrique Colina
Manuel Hernandez
Luis Gomez

The Wayuu Taya Foundation opens new schoolrooms at the Tepishi Talashi Education Center to enable primary education for
indigenous children in Mara, Zulia State. Venezuela

Record Breaking Gala For Fifth annual Wayuu Taya Event in New York City

More than 300 people joined celebrities for cocktails and dinner at the fifth annual Wayuu Taya Gala at the Bowery Hotel, in New York City.

A star studded line-up lent their support to the Foundation and helped make this our biggest ever fund raising event. The money raised includes donations to build 6 new school rooms and help provide education and welfare to hundreds of women and children.

Among those who attended the Gala were CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who opened the evening with a tribute to the work done by the Wayuu Taya Foundation; and Rosie O Donnell who closed the evening and pledged to continue to give help and assistance to the foundation.

Rafael Amargo surprised everyone with an amazing performance with members of his company  from Spain

Honorees at the event included five very special women:

Long time Wayuu Taya Foundation friend and  supporter IMAN received her award from designer Isaac Mizrahi, who talked about her commitment to humanitarian causes around the globe.

Dany Garcia received a surprise video message prior to receiving her award – from her ex-husband actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto was presented with her award by designer and friend Narciso Rodriguez and later performed live at the event.

Rosie O Donnell made a special detour from her “True Colors” Tour to be at the event and present the award to Kathy Eldon – founder of the Creative Visions Foundation. Rosie told how Kathy’s unique breed of creative activism had helped change her life and called her a “spiritual mentor”.

To close the evening, hotelier Andre Balazs presented the final award to a fashion industry icon – Donna Karan. Donna received the award on behalf of her work with Urban Zen, and paid tribute to the work done on the ground by the Wayuu Taya Foundation.

The 3 hour event was an incredible success and auction items included a one of a kind portrait by the legendary Peter Max – who got on stage to present a surprise portrait to Russell Simmons. It was Russell who opened the auction with an appeal for pledges to build the new school rooms. He sold all of them – and bought one himself.

Our auction got underway with auctioneer Amy Sacco again doing a tremendous job in ensuring all our top items were sold

I thank you all and look forward to next year’s event…

Book early!

Upon conclusion of the 4th Annual Wayúu Tayá Foundation Benefit, Patricia Velasquez took the time before going to bed at 2:46 am to send an email to all of her collaborators in the evenings’ event, thanking them sincerely for their efforts. The event, celebrated at Manhattan’s Soho Grand Hotel, was a huge success and for this reason she wanted to show her gratefulness to each individual who responded to her call to help make this event a reality. The team included everyone from the Wayuu Taya family in Venezuela, Los Angeles and New York; and without the participation from both countries this event would not have been possible.

As a result of this event the Wayúu Tayá Foundation will be able to continue its mission of providing aid to the indigenous inhabitants of the Guajira region of Venezuela, a mission that began in 2002. The central component of their work, the Roof Center, currently provides education and two meals a day to 200 children as well as family planning, parenting classes and employment to 100 women who are given materials to weave “Susu” bags, a typical product of the region that has been transformed into a source of community income. Now, due to the funds raised by the event, they will be able to increase their capacity to welcome more women and children under their roof.

This years’ event was once again graced by the presence of the incomparable Iman, who co-hosted the event along with Wayúu Tayá President and Founder Patricia Velásquez. The evening began with a cocktail hour in the panoramic Penthouse Loft, where nearly 300 guests gathered to celebrate the evening. Many guests, such as Anna Wilding, actress of New Zealand origin, and Padma Lakshmi, Hindu model and presenter of Top Chef (Bravo TV), courteously stopped for a moment on the red carpet in order to have their photo snapped. The guests were then entertained with a riveting performance by Latin Grammy nominated Venezuelan band Los Amigos Invisibles.

The dinner was also hosted in the Penthouse Loft, this time looking north towards the most classic of buildings, the Empire State. Soledad O’Brien, the celebrated journalist from CNN, was the emcee for the evening and after a gracious welcome to the dinner guests, the program for the evening began. The focus of the night served to pay tribute to three individuals of outstanding humanitarian spirit: the model/activist Petra Nemcova; media magnate Earl Jones; and Eileen Ford, co-founder of Ford Models, who was accompanied by her husband, Jerry Ford, her daughter Katie, who is the current CEO of Ford Models, and the famed hotelier André Balasz.

Others in attendance included Zhang Ziyi, the well-known actress from "Memoirs of a Geisha”, who attended the event with her fiancé, Vivi Nevo. They shared a table with Camilla Olsson, a member of the Wayúu Tayá Board, and Candace Bushnell, creator of the acclaimed “Sex and the City” series, who presented the award to Petra Nemcova.

The live auction, hosted by Amy Sacco, was a great success thanks to dresses donated by famed designers Carolina Herrera and Narciso Rodriguez, artwork by Peter Tunney, as well as several travel packages, one of which was donated by Ms. Velásquez herself. There was also a beautiful black and white photo of Patricia Veálsquez photographed and donated by Sante D'Orazio.

As keynote speaker, Michael Thomas, leader of the Mashantucket Pequot Nation, narrated his personal experiences as a native of North America, a history of hope for all the indigenous people of the world. Finally, last but certainly not least, the performances of the evening included singer Marta Redbone, an award winner in contemporary Native American music, along with a final performance by Grammy Award winner Jody Watley who put an appropriate celebratory cap on the evenings event.

Overall it was truly an extraordinary evening full of sincerity and human kindness - no matter that the room was slightly too small for the number of guests. There is something that draws people closer naturally when we are united for a common good. And it is not often that we get to witness people gathering together to celebrate a culture that might seem, to some, far away, and furthermore to protect and make room for this culture in this ever shrinking world. In fact, it is too seldom that this type of event occurs and that is why it is all the more beautiful when it happens.