Jackson Browne is honored at the We Are Family Foundation Gala

On Tuesday night, the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) held a rockin’ shindig at the Hammerstein Ballroom!  Jackson Browne, Nile Rodgers with CHIC and Steven Van Zandt took the stage for show-stopping performances at this year’s We Are Family Foundation 8th Annual Celebration Gala, delighting such guests as iconic photog (and TGATP favorite) Bruce Weber, B52s’ Kate Pierson, actor John Shea, U.S. Senator Mark Warner.  Out hosts for the evening were the always bubbly Rosie Perez and dry-witted Mo RoccaDJ Donna D’Cruz kicked off the festivities, providing music for the cocktail reception.

Before dinner,  the WAFF presented three awards — Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa received the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award for their efforts in promoting peace through interfaith understanding; Norma & Russ Ramsey were honored with the Visionary Award for their philanthropic contributions in education, healthcare, and the arts; and Jackson Browne received the Humanitarian Award for his commitment to spreading peaceful messages through music and improving human welfare on a global basis.   I met the Pastor and the Imam earlier this year at another WAFF event and they are two of my heroes.  These two men embody what all religion should be about – Love and Peace.   Their work is greatly needed here in NY where people are protesting even the building of Muslim places of worship.

Following a delicious three course meal,  the guests generously donated during a fun-filled live auction for such items as a private one-on-one with Jackson Browne and a custom handmade “Jackson Browne” Gibson Acoustic Guitar, Seduction of Spirit Six-Day Deepak Chopra Experience, a Rock ‘n Roll Winter Weekend with Kate Pierson of the B52s, a collaborative portrait with celebrated fashion photographer Bruce Weber and a Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band-Signed Gibson Les Paul 1958 Jr. and tickets to the 2011 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Awards with Nile Rodgers.

After receiving this year’s WAFF Humanitarian Award, Jackson Browne joined Nile Rodgers and Steven Van Zandt on stage, performing a selection of fan-favorites, including “Running on Empty” and “Somebody’s Baby,” bringing delighted guests to their feet.  Afterwards, Nile Rodgers and CHIC took over, performing such iconic tunes as “Le Freak,” “Good Times” and “I’m Coming Out” before the honorees, Foundation team, and guests took the stage together to close the evening with a show-stopping rendition of “We Are Family.”

Sponsors included:   Antoine Amrani Chocolates, Tekserve, uPPstream, Interrobang, GEM Limousines, Fairway Limousines, US Limo, Matilda Cuomo, and Angel Sanchez.

About the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF): The WAFF is a nonprofit organization founded by legendary songwriter/musician/producer Nile Rodgers to inspire, educate and promote the vision of a global family by building bridges between cultures. WAFF creates and supports educational programs that foster mutual respect, understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity that are currently used in more than 20 countries on 5 continents.

TGATP fully supports this organization and suggests that you check out the amazing work they do! For further information go to:  http://wearefamilyfoundation.org/

Check back for a gallery of photos from this amazing evening.

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That Girl At the Party

I am a proud blogger of 11 years, Founder of Canappetit, PR person, Web and Cannabis Entrepreneur, Founder of the LTN Card, the Let Love Festival and the Henley Foundation, aunt to 12 and human to Bodhi and Yoko Rey

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