Building a better tomorrow: The Gala for Impact
New York City is the city that never sleeps. At any given moment, there are endless possibilities of events to choose from, but there are few that speak to the heart of a luxurious traveler who seeks to make a difference in the world. The Gala for Impact gathers change makers, philanthropists and fashionable luminaries for a night of glitz and glamor. Satisfaction hits its peak when gala goers indulge in sumptuous eats and exquisite libations while their mere presence contributes to a better tomorrow.
Impact Network holds the Gala for Impact annually to raise funds for the Zambian educational landscape. // Photo courtesy of Impact Network.
The Gala for Impact attracts wealthy New Yorkers to raise funds for educational programs in Zambia. There is much to relish, but there is no such thing as a guilty pleasure at the Gala for Impact. Offerings include a premium open bar, cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres and a multi-course fine dining meal. The gala blends luxury with altruism for an unforgettable night. Every penny raised goes to Impact Network, a non-profit organization whose mission is to transform children’s lives in rural Zambia.
Like New York City, Impact Network won’t sleep until it reshapes the Zambian educational landscape by combining innovation, technology and a commitment to community. Dan Sutera, the founder of Impact Network, traveled to Zambia in 2008. During that trip, he met David Seidenfeld, who was in Zambia with the Peace Corps and building a school with the help of his colleague, Mike Weiss. Sutera spent 10 years building startup companies, two of which were featured in the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in America. Sutera and Seidenfeld teamed up to form Impact Network, proving that travel and humanitarianism can go hand in hand.
Guests enjoy fine dining at the Gala for Impact. // Photo courtesy of Impact Network.
Perhaps one of the most tantalizing parts of the evening is the exhilarating live auction. Priceless items from luxury getaways to exclusive experiences and celebrity memorabilia are auctioned off. The silent auction raised over $25 thousand with a five-night stay at a beautiful house in the Catskills, preferred tickets to a Madonna concert, Taylor Swift’s guitar and Mohammad Ali’s boxing glove. Amongst the most popular items were tickets to “Sleep No More,” an award-winning theatrical experience that tells Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy through a film noir lens at The McKittrick Hotel, chocolate donated by Beyond Good and a blanket from Anthropologie.
Current at Chelsea Piers, where the gala took place, combines unique design elements to generate a contemporary, innovative and modern setting. Outdoor waterfront access and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the charming view of the Hudson River are at the forefront of what makes the venue special. The visual stimulation contributes to the ambiance of the event. The name of the venue only adds to the message of the gala: if you want to remain current, you have to make a difference.
As the sun sets on the Hudson River, guests will find a sophisticated cocktail hour underway. It sets the tone for an evening of elegance and meaning. The premium bar offers a selection of delightful beverages for guests to enjoy while taking in the exquisite canapés being served. Delectable adobe beef short ribs in a smokey chipotle glaze and tuna poke taro crisps with wakame, spicy mayo and scallions are passed around by nattily dressed waiters. The minimalist start to the night sparks purposeful conversations with influencers, entrepreneurs and investors who are changing the landscape in finance, technology and fashion.
Gala goers bid on items during a silent auction. // Photo courtesy of Impact Network.
The lavish sit-down dinner brings everyone together for a carefully curated meal. Guests will find mouth-watering dishes such as the Tournedos of Beef Champignon to be the epitome of New York’s haute gastronomy. Every sip and every bite quenched a hunger. Not hunger necessarily associated with food, but an insatiable desire to make the world a better place.
When you travel the world, it becomes evident that life is bigger than you. It is bigger than your needs and your wants. When a yearning for an opulent lifestyle and a longing to create change overlap, it is an extraordinary thing because you can have it both ways. The Gala for Impact proves just that.
