Affectionately known as “Gelman”, longtime Live with Kelly and Ryan Executive Producer Michael Gelman and wife Lauri supported Publicolor 23rd annual gala, Stir Splatter + Roll, at Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.
The evening’s colorful cocktail hour had 13 painting stations for guests to participate with some of NYC’s leading artists, designers, and architects including Nicole Miller, Paul Haigh, Pamela Bell, Marvel Architects, Judy Ross, and Tucker Viemeister. New York based string quartet Ethel played as guests sat for dinner.
Ruth Lande Shuman, founder of Publicolor, marched proudly into the room with her students while We Are Family played in the background. Ruth thanked the guests for their long-time support and commitment to helping Publicolor improve the lives of their students.
Ruth welcomed Board member Gene Kohn to the stage, who graciously introduced his friend and 2019 honoree Tommy Craig. Tommy expressed his gratitude stating, “For those who have grown up with, we have a moral duty to be generous of those who are not.” Trustee Patricia Harris took to the stage to express her admiration and praise for her dear friend and honoree Ed Skyler who spoke about color and expressed, “Color has the power to inspire and transform.” Ruth announced the evening’s final honoree, Dr. David Kirkland, who passionately said “Let your hopes and not your hurts create your future.” As the evening came to an end, dozens of students performed Ain’t No Mountain High Enough .
The closing song is an annual tradition as it symbolizes that there is no limit to what these students can achieve with Publicolor by their side.
Guest included Mickey Ateyeh, Jeffrey Banks, Barbara Flood, Patricia Goldman, Patricia Harris, Gene Kohn, Mark Lebow, Andrew Oshrin, Devin Parekh, Gary Pomerantz, Michael and Alex Shuman, and Nancy Twine.
Publicolor fights poverty by aggressively addressing the alarming dropout rate and low levels of educational attainment in New York City. They do this by engaging high-risk students, ages 12-24, in a long-term continuum of intensive, multi-day, design-based programs to encourage academic achievement, community service, college preparation and job readiness.
Pictured:
Michael & Lauri Gelman
Joshua Lawson, Nicole Miller
Ruth Lande Shuman, David Kirkland