BETTE MIDLER’S NEW YORK RESTORATION PROJECT’S
 ANNUAL HULAWEEN GALA

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL:  HULAWEEN IN THE BIG EASY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31^STAT THEWALDORF=ASTORIA

Featuring Performance by Harry Connick, Jr.

Master of Ceremonies Judy Gold, Costume Judge
&“Wind Beneath My Wings” Award Honoree Michael Kors

For one night, the Waldorf=Astoria on Park Avenue was turned into a voodoo-infused bayoufor guests attending the star-studded-always-sold-out annual Hulaween Gala Benefit for Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project (NYRP). Guests were invited to unleash their ghastly, ghostly and ghoulish imaginations in the evening’s New Orleans-inspired festivities, hosted by Judy Gold, with a costume contest judged by Michael Kors, a performance by Harry Connick, Jr., and a world-class menudesigned by Chef John Besh.

Joining Ms. Midler and Martin von Haselberg,Harry Connick, Jr. and Jill Goodacre,Judy Gold,Michael Kors and Lance LePere, wereMayor Michael Bloomberg, Billy Crystal, Katie Couric, Questlove, Nina Garcia, Glenn Close and David Shaw, Kate Pierson and Monica Coleman (B52’s), Carole Radziwill,John Heilemann, Kate Lear and Jon LaPook, John Demsey, Clifford Ross, Linda Allard, JurateKazickas and Roger Altman, Margo and Jimmy Nederlander, David Conrad, Tonne Goodman, Tim DiSalvo, Paul Cavaco, Behnaz Sarafpour, Lauren Buccellati, Kathy and Ben Needell,Dick and Ellen Levine, Todd DeGarmo, Amy Freitag – Executive Director of NYRP, and legions of other generous donors.

NYRP is a non-profit organization dedicated to reclaiming and restoring New York City parks, community gardens and open space in under-resourced communities. Unlike traditional conservancies that care for a specific place, NYRP works citywide, bringing private resources to spaces that lack adequate municipal support. In partnership with the City of New York, NYRPis also leading MillionTreesNYC – an initiative to plant and care for one million new trees throughout the five boroughs; nearly 800,000 trees have been planted, with the 1 millionth tree slated to go in the ground by fall 2015, two years ahead of schedule.

Since the organization’s founding by Bette Midler in 1995, NYRP has achieved dramatic results by investing in the greening and beautification of communities in need throughout New York City.  NYRPstaff, AmeriCorps members, and community and corporate volunteers have planted hundreds of thousands of trees, shrubs and flowers to support the restoration of public parks and community gardens; restored and revitalized four city parks in Northern Manhattan, and currently maintain Sherman Creek Park and Highbridge Park; and removed over 2,150 tons of garbage from the City’s green spaces.

To protect community gardens from commercial development, NYRPacquired 52 lots in 1999, mostly in neighborhoods like East Harlem, Central Brooklyn, and the South Bronx, where green space remains in short supply. Midler led the charge to transform these lots into verdant gardens serving local communities. NYRP has launched a campaign to finish the remaining 24 gardens in time for its 20th anniversary in 2015. 

At Swindler Cove and in NYRP’s community gardens, New Yorkers are being introduced every day to the importance of having green space and nature in urban neighborhoods.  In fact, NYRP’s environmental educational programs and community events currently serve thousands of New York City youth, families
and educators.

A native of New Orleans, Harry Connick, Jr. is a rarity in the realm of entertainment, exemplifying excellence in every aspect of his multi-faceted career. He has won three Grammy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and is a multiple-Tony Award nominee.  Connick has also used his influence as an entertainer to further his charitable work.  Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, he created, along with fellow musician Branford Marsalis, the Musicians' Village in the Upper Ninth Ward.  The village provides homes for musicians and other displaced citizens, a community center with a performance hall, recording studio, and after school facility for kids.

Ms. Midler presented Michael Kors with the “Wind Beneath My Wings” Award for Leadership. Since the beginning of NYRP, the fashion iconhas been one of the organization’s top supporters. Since joining the NYRP Board of Directors, Kors has demonstrated an even deeper commitment to NYRP, recognized by the “Wind Beneath My Wings” award this evening. His creative involvement in Hulaween as the Costume Judge, scrutinizing the always- colorful crowd for “Best Costume” winners ,has made Hulaween a memorable occasion each year.

As a master of visual communication and storytelling, Douglas Little Creative transformed the Waldorf Ballroom and stage into a steaming French Quarter nightspot by way of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” with a few Vampires thrown in for good measure.  Added to the mix were the requisite Hula Dancers and non-traditional “traditional” Halloween objectsthat summoned the spirits to
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.

Co-Chairs for the evening were: Linda Allard; The Coca-Cola Company; Todd DeGarmo; The Durst Organization; Vernon Evenson; and Ignatius J. Reilly.

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