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.
The fourth annual
fundraising gala event for the Wayúu Tayá
Foundation took place at Manhattan’s
Soho Grand Hotel on May 10, 2007. The nonprofit
organization founded in 2002 by actress and model
Patricia Velasquez, raises funds for Latin American
indigenous communities. The Foundation focuses
its attention on those that are most at risk –
children and young women.
he intimate event
was hosted by supermodel Iman and honored a group
of humanitarians who have contributed to the welfare
of our global community.
CNN American Morning anchor Soledad O’Brien
was the emcee for the event and this year’s
honorees were Eileen Ford, doyen of the modeling
industry; media magnate Earl Jones; and supermodel
Petra Nemcova. (Read
More..)
Every
year, The Wayúu Tayá Foundation
holds a benefit gala in New York City.
This year's fundraiser event took place at the
magnificent Tribecca Grand Hotel on June 20th.
Wayúu
Tayá honored entrepreneur Russell
Simmons, actor and activist Edward
James
Olmos and singer-songwriter Lila
Downs.
The event was hosted by Iman and Patricia Velásquez
and CNN's Soledad O'Brien served as our special
master of ceremony. President of the Borough of
Manhattan, C. Virginia Fields,
The
night began with a cocktail reception and a gift-bag
silent auction for 250 guests in the Church Lounge
of the Hotel. A gala dinner for 120 guests followed
in the Grand Foyer and Studios A&B where a
Live Auction was hosted by Amy Sacco. The night's
festivities ended with an outstanding performance
by Lila Downs.