On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 Housing Works hosted its 4th annual Groundbreaker Awards Design on a Dime Benefit in support of homeless New Yorkers living with and affected by HIV/AIDs.
Hosted by Genevieve Gorder, the night honored activist, author and artist Mary Fisher (presented Barbara Bush); actor, producer, activist Zachary Quinto; and interior designer, receiving the ELLE Decor Heart of Design Award, Jamie Drake (presented by Michael Boodro).
Since its inception, Design on a Dime has grown tremendously every year. This year’s Design in a Dime event incorporates extraordinary support from ELLE Decor and includes the largest number of designers in its 12 years. Designers strive each year to elevate their vignettes with exquisite furnishing and complex ornates. Key pieces are then auctioned off to the highest bidder with proceeds going to charity. The Groundbreaker Awards dinner serves as the kick-off to the Charity Buzz Auction events and packages.
The night began with a preview of the designer vignettes in the beautiful Metropolitan Pavilion with cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres along with live music. Some of the vignette highlights were designed by Robert Stilin and Mark Cunningham, Thad Hayes, and Halycon Design. The creative spaces offered sharp details from the trims to patterns while incorporation classic styles of Parisian and New York apartments. Guests had the chance to mingle and shop the vignettes in person with some of the designers and enjoy the creative and invigorating atmosphere. Following, invitees were ushered into the full pavilion provided with open bars featuring exotic cocktails and music before the main dinner. The Groundbreaker Awards Dinner was served with a delicious full course menu as the night’s speakers were introduced. Standing ovations and rounds of applause were given to honorees who gave heartwarming speeches that resonated throughout the ballroom.
Here are some exclusive words from the night’s attendees:
Mary Fisher
I feel so humbled to be honored tonight and I feel excited but mainly the idea that we can talk about what Housing Works does and how we help people with HIV, to me, that’s an amazing feat and we need more of that. Really what my job here tonight is that we don’t want judgementalism, stigma, or anything when it comes to HIV. As a woman living with HIV, it’s something that I’m well aware of and I fight everyday for that. My personal attachment is to the people that are involved in it and I hope to get more involved in the future.
Yetta Banks
I’m one of the co-chairs for this evening and aside from that I’m also designing for Lowe’s as a fixed sponsor for tonight’s event. I designed the kitchen and living dining rooms, kind of like an open concept space that sort of resembles how New Yorkers live in the tight quarters and I’m here to support Housing Works. As a board member I help fund-raise, bring in sponsors like Lowe’s, who I work with, and they have made a generous donation to Housing Works and are a big part of tonight’s event and also helping securing items for the silent auction, just being here and lending my voice to social media and getting people to come shop.
Jamie Drake
Housing Works is one of the most marvelous organizations, I can remember when they founded this event and it was really just bizarre things on shelves and it has grown, grown, and grown under the founding chair’s leadership and vision and now they’ve added the Groundbreakers Awards Dinner the night before the sale begins and I am honored to be honored tonight as a Groundbreaker from ELLE Decor. I moved to New York in the mid 70’s, I lost lots of friends in the 80’s and 90’s and then I started to get involved in charities and giving back. Housing Works is one that does amazing work and is the largest AIDS service organizations in the United States and they have spanned to a great number of services.
“I didn’t consult any of my representatives or advisors or friends or family. I didn’t worry or care if the move would diminish career opportunities or negatively impact how I was perceived in the entertainment industry,” Quinto said. “I simply stood up. I was a witness in my truth. And while I couldn’t help Jamie, or any of his fallen comrades, I was set free in a way that could potentially benefit thousands of other LBGT youths still struggling to find a purpose and place in an often cruelly and unsupportive circumstances.”
“NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 20: Honoree Zachary Quinto attends the Housing Works Groundbreaker Awards Dinner at Metropolitan Pavilion on April 20, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works)”
“NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 20: Presenter Barbara Bush and honoree Mary Fisher attend the Housing Works Groundbreaker Awards Dinner at Metropolitan Pavilion on April 20, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works)”
“NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 20: Host Genevieve Gorder attends the Housing Works Groundbreaker Awards Dinner at Metropolitan Pavilion on April 20, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works)”
Support for the Groundbreaker Awards is provided by ELLE DECOR, Chateau D’Esclans, Double Cross Vodka, Whispering Angel, Playmates Toys and DRAKE/ANDERSON.
