New York, NY – El Museo del Barrio announced today that celebrated fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez will be honored at its annual Gala, to be held on Thursday, May 17th in New York City at Cipriani 42nd Street. During this festive evening, the celebrated fashion visionary will be presented with an award for artistic achievement to honor his career and longtime patronage of the organization. A Cuban descendent and proud member of the Latin American community, Rodriguez’s work frequently draws inspiration from Latino art and culture. A three-time CFDA award winner, Rodriguez is considered one of the “25 Most Influential Hispanics in America.” The annual fundraiser, now in its 19th year, will also pay tribute to philanthropist and El Museo trustee Yaz Hernández and corporate visionary Bacardi USA.
“El Museo strives to keep Latino art and culture alive and Narciso exemplifies that mission with his dedication to incorporating his heritage into every aspect of his work,” said Margarita Aguilar, Executive Director of El Museo del Barrio. “We’re thrilled to be honoring such a prominent figure in the Latino community.”
Along with Rodriguez, El Museo will honor Yaz Hernández with a trustee leadership award. An influential member of the museum’s Executive Committee Board and a former Chair of the Gala, Yaz has been recognized by the New York Post as one of the top Latin movers and shakers in New York. Her leadership has set a new standard of excellence for the Gala, which has recently been called “one of the most glamorous benefits on the annual social calendar” by the New York Social Diary.
The museum will also present Bacardi USA with the 2012 Corporate Excellence in the Arts Award as it celebrates the 150th anniversary of the company’s founding in Santiago de Cuba. Well deserving of acknowledgment by the museum, Bacardi has become a remarkable American corporate success story and a source of pride for both Latinos and non-Latinos alike. Among those honored by El Museo del Barrio in the past include Mario Testino, Plácido Domingo, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mario Vargas-Llosa, Ford Foundation, The Reed Foundation, Jacques and Natasha Gelman Trust, JP Morgan Chase, and Merrill Lynch.
This spectacular event brings together luminaries from the worlds of fashion, entertainment, business, society, politics and the arts in order to raise crucial operating funds for the museum. Previous attendees have included: Estrellita and Daniel Brodsky, Clarissa and Edgar Bronfman, Ambassador Paul and Trudy Cejas, Francisco Costa, President Cesar Gaviria, Marifé Hernández and Joel Bell, Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera, Carlos Picón, Oscar de la Renta, Governor Bill Richardson, Ruben and Isabel Toledo, Carmen Ana and Joe Unanue, Kate Winslet, and Anna Wintour. Over 550 Latino and non-Latino business leaders and philanthropists are projected to attend this year’s gala.
The proceeds of this event will go toward El Museo’s Education programs, which reached 13,000 students from over 150 schools, plus an additional 46,000 children and adults through free cultural celebration and public programs last year. The annual gala has generated nearly $7M for the museum over the past ten years. Corporate sponsorships and table packages can be purchased by contacting gala coordinator, Holly Greenfield, at 917.428.7828 or at holly@greenfieldholly.com. For more information, please visit www.elmuseo.org.
Comments