Gala 2022 – Onward & Upward Looks to the Future
With Lycée Français de New York’s Gala 2022 – Onward and Upward: Célébrons la vie ! our Gala co-chairs, Cécile Andrau-Martel, Nannette LaFond-Dufour, Elisabeth Holder Raberin, and Olga Rusakova-Rozé, have set a compass that points decidedly to the future for our Lycée.
We sat down with them to talk about what to expect. (Interview edited and condensed to fit this format.)
This gala will be our first in-person one in two years! No pressure…
It is great to participate in the life of the school! Between us we have six children at the Lycée, who have been at the school for many years. We felt it was so important to give back.
The past two years were tough on everyone. We lived them day by day, and our kids lived them remarkably well, thanks to the Lycée. The community is compassionate and strong, and from many countries. Our extended families aren’t necessarily close by. There was a sense during the pandemic that we were part of shaping a cocoon for all of us.
After all that, it is time to lift us up, to be positive, and to rebuild. The fact that we are all here, together, in person is something in itself to celebrate.
What were your priorities in planning the event?
From the beginning, our top priorities have been to make this a successful fundraiser for the school and a celebration of the Lycée community coming together in person after two years.
Last year, the Lycée awarded over $4.5 million in financial support to Lycée families. That shows real commitment to preserving the socio-economic diversity of our community. To be in classrooms with students of many different backgrounds is a unique part of Lycée life, and it is essential preparation for the future. We see it in our own working lives and encourage everyone to support that.
Thinking sustainably and digitally have also been important to this event. How so?
Sustainability and digital go hand in hand this year. Our guests can expect amazing food, but also know that any food that isn’t served will be donated to our partner, City Harvest. We have almost no printed pieces to reduce paper and packaging waste. The auction catalog and even gift bags will be digital. In lieu of fresh flowers, student and parent volunteers have created hand-made centerpieces for every table, with the guidance of parent and artist Inma Barrero.
Most of all, this year is about celebration, conviviality, and being together. A sense of community and connectedness has been essential throughout. We’re launching an interactive, experiential tool for the live auction. No more paddles…We won’t say much more here…it’ll be a joyful, collective moment of cheer for all as the bidding gets underway !
We’re doing a lot to promote the evening, including our silent auction with items at every price point, on social media. We definitely encourage people to follow our instagram feed @lyceenewyorkgala to get an early glimpse of what to expect.
Student participation in the gala is always a highlight. What can we expect this year?
All guests will feel the presence of our students this year, in a most beautiful, artistic way. We don’t wish to give it all away, but suffice it say there will be a stunning student performance and artwork, the vision of parent and artist Inma Barrero, and brought to life by the Secondary Student Art Club.
The school will honor three great chefs, with considerable philanthropic chops.
Watching the impact of the pandemic on New York City, we started to think about New Yorkers who have played an important role in less obvious ways. We found three, who happen to have strong connections to the Lycée !
Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten are among the top chefs in the world and with all they do, they have carved out time to make a difference in the way they know best: nourishing people.
Daniel is co-president of the Board of Citymeals on Wheels, which serves homebound elderly New Yorkers. Eric is Vice Chairman of the Board of City Harvest, a Lycée partner, that feeds New Yorkers struggling with hunger. He will be back at the Lycée Primary School in May for an artist-in-residence with our CE1 students in the art of cooking! Jean-Georges’ work with the nonprofit foundation Food Dreams supports access to culinary education and career opportunities in the restaurant industry that might otherwise be out of reach.
Each of them is also a Lycée community member. Both Eric Ripert and Daniel Boulud are alumni parents, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten will soon become a Lycée grandparent!
It sounds like it is going to be a fantastic night, warm and joyful, in a beautiful space Cipriani. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
The Lycée has been our North Star over the past two years, because of our friends, families, and also our children’s teachers. Lycée staff and faculty have been absolutely amazing and helped us all get through it. Thank you!
And we must also thank everyone who has already helped support making this gala a success. Gifts in-kind, corporate sponsorships, table and ticket purchases make it possible for all funds raised during the gala to go directly to the school.
Even for those who aren’t able to attend the gala itself, there are ways to give, whether through the silent auction, live auction or direct gifts to the Lycée for scholarships and other activities.
We are grateful to all who take part in whatever way they can!
Lycée Gala 2022 – Onward and Upward: Célébrons la vie !
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Cipriani’s Wall Street
lfnygala.org
Tickets here.
Follow @lyceegalanewyork, for all you need to know, stay tuned for events and more.
For questions on tickets and ways to participate, contact May Bayer, mbayer@lfny.org.
About the Author :
Nicole started at the Lycée as the Associate Director of Annual Giving in March of 2019. A graduate of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Nicole received a J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School. She began her career in development almost ten years ago and has successfully grown Annual Fund programs, managed special events, and supported capital campaigns in schools, such as the Dwight School Foundation, Brooklyn Prospect Charter School and the Genesis School, to name a few.