The New Yorkers for Children (NYFC) held their annual gala to benefit the New York City youth in foster care. The event was held on Tuesday, September 20 at Cipriani 42nd Street. NYFC is a  non-profit that aims to better the lives of New York City’s youth’s in foster care. There are over 15,000 children in foster care in the city of New York  and NYFC intends to help them all become self-sufficient adults. Gala co-chairs this year included: Oscar de la Renta, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, Lise and Michael Evans, Ashley and Jeff McDermott, Shirin von Wulffen and FrédéricFekkai.

The event honored Carmelo Anthony and had a glamorously huge turn out including Serena Williams, SelitaEbanks, Melissa George, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Hilary Rhoda, Christian Siriano, Byrdie Bell, Stacy London, Tinsley Mortimer and Georgina Bloomberg among many others.

The evening featured dinner, a live auction by Sotheby’s Jamie Niven, a performance by ELEW  and dancing. Sponsoring the event was St. John and Circa. Co-sponsors included: Hugo Boss, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, BET Networks, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, La Perla, Dior Beauty and FrédéricFekkai. Special guests at the event included Guardian Scholars,the 2011 Spirit Award recipient and  youth leaders in foster care in New Yorkers For Children programs. The theme of the evening was “Launch A Star”, and was designed by David Stark. The gala was an enormous success and raised over 1.7 million for the NYFC.