Yellowstone Park Foundation's 2nd Annual Young Patrons Benefit

Yellowstone Park Foundation held it’s second annual young patron’s benefit at Avenue this past Thursday. I had the pleasure of being invited again by my lovely friend, and trailblazing young philanthropist, Arielle Patrick. The benefit also marked the launch of Yellowstone National Park’s Young Patron program as part of a broader effort to engage millennial communities in its conservation efforts.

Jacqueline Rooney, a longtime member of YPF’s Advisory Council and corporate communications manager at Facebook, Inc. spearheaded the initiative to create a Young Patrons Board.

Rooney, along with new board members Arielle Patrick, a Group Manager at Weber Shandwick, and Alice Ryan, a Director at KBS (kirshenbaum bond senecal + partners) hosted the gala.

“It is so fitting that we announce this exciting new initiative just as the National Park Service turned 100 last month,” said Heather White, President and CEO of the merged Yellowstone Park Foundation and Yellowstone Association. “This group of accomplished young professionals will bring their corporate and nonprofit expertise to our team to propel the organization’s mission to protect the park for future generations. Our Board would like to thank them in advance for donating their time and energy to preserving the world’s first national park and engaging new stewards.”

I wore an Italian vintage yellow gown which included built in shorts in the front. This was one of my chosen looks from New York Fashion Week that I didn’t have a chance to wear, so it was really nice to finally get the opportunity to wear this baby. Looking back now I realize how befitting this ‘yellow’ gown was for the Yellowstone National Park theme! I usually match my looks to the theme of a gala, but this time was a completely unintentional coincidence.

The evening’s sponsors included: TAO Group, Stella Artois, Punzoné Organic Vodka, Archer Roose, Dorrian’s, Wyoming Whiskey, Whispering Angel and Lenny Emery. 

About the Yellowstone Park Foundation

The Yellowstone Park Foundation (YPF) has served as Yellowstone National Park's official fundraising partner since 1996. Its mission is to fund projects and programs that protect, preserve, and enhance the natural and cultural resources, and the visitor experience of the Park. YPF has raised more than $100 million, and funded more than 325 important projects and initiatives since 1996 that include wildlife research, cutthroat trout restoration, trail maintenance, and youth education. For more information, please go to www.ypf.org.

Yellowstone Park Foundation's 1st Annual Young Patrons Benefit

Photo credit: PatrickMcMullan.com

Young, beautiful and charitable was the scene at Yellowstone Park Foundation's 1st Annual Young Patrons Benefit at the Bowery Hotel rooftop. I was thrilled to have a chance to attend and cover every exciting moment of this highly anticipated charity event, which ended up raising a grand total of $42,957.

I wore one of my favorite flower dresses from Teri Jon in the spirit of the evening’s nature conservancy theme. I loved everything about this dress, from its stunning jeweled neckline to its gorgeous painted flowers.  

Co-Chairs included: Arielle Patrick, Alice Ryan McCormack and Jackie Rooney.

Host Committee: Martin Ambrose, Eric Bicknese, Liz Bourgeois, Ben Bronfman, Alexander Cook, Kipton Cronkite, Peter Davis, Nell Diamond, Savannah Engel, Alexandra Fairweather, Juliet Falchi, Isabela Garcez, Sarah Hansen, Lizzy Harris, Patricia Ruiz Healy, Chance Tileston Heath, Michael Jaconi, Fifi Knott, Sims Lansing, Scott Manniello, Lansing Moore, Chelsea Mouta, Magan Munson, Maude Navarre, Philip Piro, Stephen Powers, Steve Read, Hilary Stingley, Curtis Young, Spencer Zakarin.

Sponsors: Punzoné Vodka, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Archer Roose, Wyoming Whiskey, American Juice Company and Luzzo's BK.

The Yellowstone Park Foundation is the official fundraising partner of Yellowstone National Park, and is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. In 1996, a group of concerned citizens, working with the National Park Service, started the Foundation in order to protect, preserve, and enhance Yellowstone National Park.

The Yellowstone Park Foundation works to fund important projects and programs, many of which are beyond the financial capacity of the National Park Service. The Foundation receives no annual government funding; it relies instead upon the generous support of private citizens, foundations, and corporations to ensure that Yellowstone's great gifts to the world will never diminish.Since its inception, the Yellowstone Park Foundation has raised more than $85 million for Yellowstone National Park, and has successfully funded more than 300 Park projects.

You can find more information on the Yellowstone Park Foundation on the website: www.ypf.org