Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education’s annual black tie “Fiesta 2015” honored John Bernbach, Baz Luhrmann, and Veronique and Bob Pittman, at the Plaza Hotel last week.
Actor Jimmy Smits, presented the Gold Medal award to Baz Luhrmann, the award winning directer, screenwriter and producer known for his epic motion pictures including Australia and Moulin Rouge!, with Nicole Kidman, Romeo & Juliet, and The Great Gatsby.
Said Smits, “the relationship between actors and great directors is a very special one. Baz Luhrmann, the next award recipient is the director of such films as The Great Gatsby. We are currently working on a series about the Bronx for Netflix. The series shows the Bronx’s vibrant tapestry of artists and survival, bringing attention to the brilliant mosaic of life there, the very neighborhood of the Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education. I am very proud to present this Gold Metal award to my friend and my director Baz Lurhmann, who has a heart of a gold.”
Also, business magnate Stephen A. Schwarzman presented an award to businessman John Bernbach, and a special presentation of the award was given to Veronique and Bob Pittman. Mr. Pittman who was founder of MTV Networks, is currently Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. formerly Clear Channel.
As is their tradition, the gala co-chairs were Jacqueline Weld Drake, Aileen Mehle, and H. R. H. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, an Honorary Chairs were Violaine Bernbach, France Chrétien Desmarais, Bertha Fonzalez and Mishele Wells, Nicole Kidman, John Leguizamo, and Sting and Trudie Styler. Pachanga Chairman were Carolina Alverez, Stephanie Bilet, Alexandre Levant, and Peter Levin.
Guests attending included Fabiola Arias, Coromoto Atencio, Peter Bacanovic, Candace and Rick Beinecke, Stephanie Bilet, Martha Bograd Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Brodsky, Amy Fine Collins, Robert Couturier, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Cullman Jr., Arlene Dahl, France Desmarais, Brian and Joanna Fisher, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Mai Hallingby, Marlene Hess, Michèle Gerber Klein, Margo Langenberg, Nina Lawrence, Mercedes Levin, Kamie Lightburn, William Ivey Long, Catherine Martin, Izhar Patkin, Liz and Jeff Peek, Peter and Judy Price, Ann Rapp, Susan and David Rockefeller, Ben Rodrigues-Cubenas, Patti Ruiz- Healy, Stephen and Christine Schwarzman, Hunt Slonem, Vernon and Naomi Taylor, Barbara and Donald Tober, Evelyn Tompkins, Jose Maria and Alexandra Trullols and Tanya and David Tisch.
The mission of the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is to empower youth and their families by creating a culture of learning through high quality social, cultural, and educational opportunities.
Pictures:
Smits, Luhrmann
Pittman’s, Drake