The connection between romance and charity in 2007 has gone uptown.
It's not that my Valentine's Day suggestion last year that charity is the key to marrying rich was wrong, but in light of the break-up of Heather Mills and Paul McCartney, I need to come up with a different plan for finding true love in the charity industry.
Fortunately, I noticed in Entertainment Week that actor Liev Schreiber met his current companion Naomi Watts at a charity ball sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (EIN 13-1624086 Form 990). From the time frame mentioned in the article, my guess is that the reference is to the 2004 Costume Institute Gala (with the inauspicious theme of "Dangerous Liaisons"). (Here's a picture of Ms. Watts at that event and a more recent photo from Perez Hilton which commenters say show her pregnant.) This approach to finding romance fits well with this year's emphasis on the importance of charity galas (When Bad Gowns Happen to Good Galas, January 26).
There may still be time to pick up one of the seven hundred or so tickets for this year's gala, scheduled for May 7. It will probably have a theme based on the work of early twentieth century designer Paul Poiret. If this prior year report from New York Magazine is any indication, they will run you from $5,000 to $15,000, or your corporation can buy a table for $150,000. The gala grosses over $3 million (per the 2004 Form 990), and the $1 million cost (2004's figure) is covered by the sponsors, which are Vogue magazine and a couture house (Balenciega this year). It's the only fundraising done by the Costume Institute.
If you aren't looking to be fed before you hunt, maybe you can wrangle yourself an invite to the after party (limited to four hundred additional guests) in the great hall of the museum, specially made up for the occasion according to this article in BizBash, a publication that covers the special events business.
Good luck to you, and let me know how it works out.
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