Charity: Ball 2008

                                                   Hello!

December being the last month of the year means several events have come and gone, and just when one feels they have attended their very last, another charitable cause comes upon them.  After many stellar events this year, we happily found Charity Water's  Charity: Ball 2008*** to "hands down" be the most well executed, well attended, and meaningful event of the year.  The December 15th charitable fundraiser took place at Chelsea's Metropolitan Pavilion, opening its doors to hundreds if not thousands of dedicated patrons. The evening which offered a live and silent auction, and a live performance by Amos Lee, and other surprise musical guests was a special one.  Charity Water founder Scott Harrison in this his 3rd annual, drove the message home to hundreds of attendees this year on multiple levels.  The evening was hosted by Actor Adrien Grenier (see photo above), who from the red carpet, graciously spoke with us regarding his involvement with Charity Water sharing, "it's just getting bigger and bigger, the great thing about this charity is that all the work we've done in the past year is still working. All the wells we've built are still giving water. We're only building more wells now, there's a real sense of progress."  Others on the carpet included Actress Jenna Elfman, Rocco DiSpirito, Socialite Larissa Bond, Jamison Ernest, etc. as well as this year's Honorable Guest Host Committee.****

Once inside guests were treated to an incredibly rich evening, with lighting by Scharff Weisberg--set building by Tripp/Mixx Productions incorporating photography, video installations, auction items--exquisite food and drink courtesy of Sterling Affair and Thomas Prelli--spirits courtesy of Grey Goose.  The entire evening was an 'experience' not merely a gesture in tough economic times, but a sensory experience touching on visuals and sound in a way that provided an unusual point of reference for attendees.  On one side the room specific sections were set up to introduce viewers by fact and photo  of Charity: Water's heroic works in the countries of Bangladesh, India, Rwanda, Honduras, and Ethiopia.  The left side of the room held the live and silent auction items, which ranged anywhere from large scale paintings to an $11,000 spa get-away package.  At the epicenter of the cavernous space was the simulated "water walk", a ramp lined with  yellow containers filled with water and carried by anyone interested in enacting the experience, the process of how far unclean water is carried by many inhabitants of the aforementioned countries.

Before long Scott Harisson (see photo above second from left) addressed the multitudes front and center sharing the process of bringing the Charity: Water project to fruition and his earliest ties to Ethiopia. How a well is built, is an enlightening process, that involves Charity: Water partnering with local organizations on the ground to build and rehabilitate freshwater wells.  A freshwater well can cost $4,000 to $15,000, depending on the region.  As the night progressed the live auction began with an initial item up for bid -- a luxe Zenith timepiece modeled by Adrien Grenier himself.  Subsequent precious items for auction followed, each time with more and more money being raised.

The evening closed with an incredible performance that left guests pleasantly fulfilled.  VIPs received gift bags upon leaving and heading off to the official party at the Meat Packing District's Kiss n Fly.

***-Charity: Ball plans to raise funds by offering its symbolic $20 water bottles as well as guest participation in the simulated "waterwalk" which will be matched by a private donor.  Donors can also sponsor a fresh water well complete with the project process and GPS coordinates on Google Earth

****-Lauren Bush, Matthew Modine, Kaite Lee Joel, Lydia Hearst, Bar Rafaelli, Nigel Barker, Angie Everhart, Kristy Hinze, Terry George, Fern Mallis, Andrew Saffir, Cat Sadler and Byrdie Bell

*photos by Amy Sussman/Getty Images