Casita Maria Fiesta Honoring Wes Gordon at The Plaza NYC
In New York, NY on October 21st, 2024, Casita Maria, the oldest Latin charity, celebrated their 90th annual Fiesta with Chairs HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia and Jacquline Weld Drake. Jacqueline, has served as Board Chair for many years and was presented with Casita Maria’s first Living Legend Award. She said, “To quote Audrey Hepburn, ‘children are our greatest asset’. That's been my motto. I am extremely proud to be involved in Casita Maria. I'm proud of the work we do, and grateful for our Executive Director Felix Urrutia, for my ever-supportive Board of Directors, and for all of you for continuing to support us.”
PHOTOS BY BFA Danté Crichlow and Matt Borkowski
At The Plaza Hotel, cocktails began in the Terrace Room, before moving up to the Ballroom for dinner. Speeches were short, and guests danced the night away. Artist Gustavo Novoa donated a painting that was auctioned off to benefit Casita Maria. Many attendees - including Jean Shafiroff - wore Carolina Herrera gowns to pay respect to Wes Gordon.
Felix Urrutia
PHOTOS BY BFA Danté Crichlow and Matt Borkowski
Guests included Paul Arnhold, Jody Arnhold, Muffie Potter Aston, Yanna Avis, Alex Badia, Janna Bullock, Sharon Bush, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Layla Diba, Jennifer Fischer, Susan Gutfreund (with Lucky), Michele Gerber Klein, Patricia Herrera Lansing, Elizabeth Meigher, Vanessa Noel, Sana Sabbagh, Jeanette and Alexander Sanger, Hunt Slonem, and Barbara Tober. The 90th Anniversary Committee Chairs included Ben Rodriguez-Cubenas, George Corton, Sissi Isabel Fleitas-Refaie, Darlyn Portes, Jean Shafiroff, and Mary Snow. The 90th Anniversary Committee includes Ana Cristina Alvarado, Peter Bacanovic, Emilia and Pepe Fanjul, Jennifer Fischer, Lydia Forbes, Christopher Mason, Ann Nitze, Sergio Orozco, Thomas C. Quick, Marc Rosen, Christine and Steve Schwarzman, Raul Suarez, Adrienne and Gianluigi Vittadini, Lynne Wheat, and Saunda Whitney.
Jodie Lichtenstein
PHOTOS BY BFA Danté Crichlow and Matt Borkowski
Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education
Casita Maria is a youth, family and community serving arts, culture and education organization in the Hunts Point/Longwood section of the South Bronx. We were established in East Harlem in 1934 by Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan and Sister Mary Imelda who observed waves of Spanish-speaking people pouring in from Puerto Rico in need of essential services.
While settlement houses were in place to address the needs of the poor, this population was made up of predominantly Jewish, Irish, and Italian immigrants. Seeing the disparity and isolation of the newly arriving Spanish-speaking community, Claire, Elizabeth, and Sister Mary provided critical nutrition, housing, childcare, and educational support. What they could not know at the time was that they were championing social justice long before the term was coined for what would become one of America’s most historically marginalized groups.
Lieba Nesis
PHOTOS BY BFA Danté Crichlow and Matt Borkowski
For 90 years, Casita Maria has expanded its population base to serve all people of color and continues to serve as an oasis, safe haven, and gathering place for hope and enrichment through arts, culture, education, and recreation. In 2009, Casita Maria inaugurated a state-of-the-art facility encompassing performance spaces, exhibition gallery, dance and music studios, and more on its Simpson Street campus. This 90,000 square foot, six-story educational and cultural facility in collaboration with the Department of Education has enabled Casita Maria to expand its scope and capacities as a beacon of excellence.
“The world desperately needs more art, more creativity, more joy, more dance, more dreamers dreaming dreams”, said Carolina Herrera Creative Director Wes Gordon at Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education’s 2024 Fiesta benefit. “I'm so enormously grateful for Casita Maria’s amazing work, teaching the next generation to dream and create a better world.” Wes was awarded their Gold Medal of Honor, alongside philanthropist Lucy Doughty, and gallerists James J. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui (Wally Findlay Galleries International).
Lucy Doughty said, “Live a life of community and you'll be surprised that although we consider being of service as helping others, you’ll come to the realization that being of service is actually a gift you give to yourself. I’m grateful to Casita Maria for this honor, but more importantly, I thank you for honoring and encouraging, with so much care, all the children of Casita Maria, and for acknowledging that all of us have potential, but very few have opportunities.”
Alejandra Cicognani, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia
PHOTOS BY BFA Danté Crichlow and Matt Borkowski
James J. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui echoed that sentiment, sharing, “Our first thought tonight as we arrived here at this beautiful event was the children and the families that are served by Casita Maria, and we'd like to thank all of you for supporting them and furthering their education and needs.”
