Publicolor
celebrated its 20th Anniversary at their annual Stir,
Splatter + Roll 2016 Gala on May 16, 2016 at the
Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, New York City
honoring Michael R. Bloomberg and E. John Rosenwald, Jr. for
their longtime support of Publicolor and its programs. “Both
honorees are catalysts for change who have fearlessly
addressed the most pressing needs of youth development,
education and the arts.
They are inspirational advocates who have had an exceptional
impact on Publicolor and on underserved communities
throughout New York City” said Ruth Lande Shuman, the
Founder+President of Publicolor.
This highly festive and unique evening included 20 stations
where guests enjoyed colorful cocktails while painting totes
alongside some of our city's leading architects, artists,
and designers including Kenneth Cole, Nicole Miller, Cynthia
Rowley, Michelle Smith, and Madeline Weinrib . Cocktails and
painting began at 6PM followed by dinner and the program at
7:30PM. The evening’s master of ceremonies was Jeffrey
Banks.
There was also a wonderful silent auction with unique works
of art -- many specially created for the evening -- by
important designers and artists including Jeffrey Bernett,
Ross Bleckner, Dana Bronfman, Christo, Angela Cummings,
Stephen Doyle, Tom Geismar, Philip Glass, Barbara + Paul
Haigh, Betsey Johnson, Maira Kalman, Milton Glaser, Michael
Kors (a signed bag), Justin Matherly, Takaaki Matsumoto,
Vadis Turner, Gaetano Pesce , Saya Woolfalk, and Gerard
Yosca.
Guests included Georgina Bloomberg, Police Commissioner
Bratton, Sascha Bauer, Paula Cooper, Rudy Crew, Patti
Harris, John Ehrenkranz, David Karp, Betsy Perry, Diana
Taylor, and Shelby White Mr. Bloomberg has been a dedicated
supporter of Publicolor since its earliest days, not only
making annual donations but also painting with Publicolor
students, receiving Publicolor donors in his home for a
cocktail party, and declaring October 8th, 2009
“PublicolorDay” in an official proclamation. A gift from his
foundation is supporting a five-year strategic growth plan.
A champion of employee volunteerism, for 20 years his staff
have volunteered with Publicolor every year since 1996.
E. John Rosenwald is also a longtime supporter of Publicolor
making strategic contributions throughout its 20-year
history. Not surprisingly, The New York Times called him
Philanthropist of the Year in 2016 for his commitment to
many of the city’s leading charities. Said Ms. Shuman, “His
sage counsel has always helped me.” The high-energy fête
drew over 500 dynamic New Yorkers and luminaries from the
worlds of business, fashion, politics, design, education,
and philanthropy, and exceeded its $1.5 million goal by over
$200,000.
The Publicolor guests weren't the only ones who had a
memorable evening, a former staff member Clyde Smith
upstaged Michael Bloomberg, his current boss and the
evening's honoree, by dropping to one knee on stage and
proposing to Publicolor staff member Kayla Porter - SHE SAID
YES! The engaged couple met at Publicolor in 1999 as
students and have both worked for the nonprofit. The Gala’s
Gold Leaf Sponsors included Bloomberg Philanthropies and The
Edward John and Patricia Rosenwald Foundation.
The Gala Co-Chairs included Barbara Shattuck Kohn + A.
Eugene Kohn/ KPF , The Kors Le Pere Foundation, Monika +
Deven Parekh, Alex + Michael Shuman, David L. Shuman, Edward
Skyler/Citi, Lizzie + Jon Tisch, and Willkie Farr +
Gallagher LLP. The Gala Vice Chairs included Cravath Swaine
+ Moore LLP, Jamie Drake, Christine + Andy Hall, Deana
+Stephen Hanson, Edwin B. Hathaway, Dana + William Herrman
II, Alliance Bernstein, The Lauder Foundation – Leonard +
Judy Lauder Fund, Carolyn + Eugene Mercy, Jr., Elissa +
GreatNeck Richman, Julian Robertson, Sarah + Spencer
Robertson, Ruth Lande Shuman, Stanley S. Shuman, Barbara
Slifka, Michelle Smith + Andy Oshrin, STUDIOS
Architecture/Tom Krizmanic, and Nanar + Tony Yoseloff, The
Honorary Team Leaders included Christo, Jamie Drake, Mark di
Suvero, Tom Geismar, Milton Glaser, Philip Glass, Harold
Koda, Takaaki Matsumoto, Meredith Monk, Michele Oka Doner,
Claes Oldenburg, Gaetano Pesce, Hazel + Robert Siegel,
Bernard Tschumi, and David Ziff + Alan Bell Team Leaders
included John Bricker, Alissa Bucher + Rob Rogers, Kenneth
Cole, Laura Day, RaineyDay Erwin, Wendy Evans Joseph, Frank
Lupo, Jonathan Marvel, Nicole Miller, Henry Myerberg,
Cynthia Rowley, Michelle Smith, Peter Stamberg + Paul
Aferiat, Jackie Taub, Tucker Viemeister, Madeline Weinrib,
Gerard Yosca.
ABOUT PUBLICOLOR:
Founded in 1996 by Ruth Lande Shuman, Publicolor fights
poverty by aggressively addressing the alarming dropout rate
and low levels of educational attainment and youth
employment in New York City. They do this by engaging
high-risk low-income students, ages 12-24, in a long-term
continuum of intensive, multiday programs that encourage
academic achievement, community service, college preparation
and job readiness.
Their unique applied learning model uses design and design
thinking as vehicles to engage, stimulate and inspire
at-risk, low-performing students in our city’s struggling
middle and high schools, preparing them for higher
education, successful employment and rewarding lives. Unique
to Publicolor— and central to their mission—is the
beautification and revitalization of public schools,
under-resourced community facilities, and neglected school
playgrounds through the power of color and design, the
affordable medium of paint, and community collaborations
that engage students and the community as a whole. Uniquely,
100% of Publicolor students' work impacts the entire school
community, 100% of students actively participate in
meaningful civic engagement, and 100% of students receive
informal mentoring from corporate volunteers.
Publicolor’s impact in New York over the last 20 years has
been substantial. Publicolor has transformed 215
low-performing schools and 200 under-resourced community
facilities through the dignity and energy of color and
design. Their innovative model was recognized with the 2014
National Arts+Humanies Youth Program Award, presented at The
White House.
Last year 100% of Publicolor students transitioned on time
from 8th to 9th and from 9th to 10th grades – strong
indicators of probable success in high school, college and
beyond. No Publicolor student dropped out of school. 97% of
their 2015 seniors graduated high school on time vs. 55% at
their schools. 100% of those graduates now attend college
vs. 51% of their peers. 80% of their graduates received
Regents or Regents with Honors diplomas.
Persistence from 1st to 2nd year of college was 89%. Among
Publicolor alumni presently enrolled in post-secondary
education and who have declare a major, 33% are pursuing
STEM fields, 18% are in business and 13% are in digital
design and art education. Publicolor’s wider impact has been
significant, with 1,300 corporate, community and college
volunteers engaging in painting with the organization every
year. In total 250,000 students and 3,000,000 residents of
low-income neighborhoods have been affected by Publicolor’s
20 years of school and community facility transformations.
In 2014, Publlicolor was awarded the National
Arts+Humanities Youth Program Award for creative youth
programming. For more information, please visit
www.publicolor.org.
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