Pencils Of Promise Returns To The Iconic Ziegfeld Ballroom In NYC To Host Their Annual 'Pop Gala: Dreams Fulfilled' In The Name Of Global Education

Short N Sweet Ent

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Cassidy Maldonado

November 7, 2024 - NEW YORK, NY - This week, Pencils of Promise (PoP), the for-purpose organization founded in 2008 with the goal of increasing access to quality education for children in global south countries, celebrated its annual gala “Dreams Fulfilled” at the iconic Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City hosted by CEO Kailee Scales. The PoP Gala celebrates 16 years of helping to provide quality education across the globe with over 606 schools built and 875,000 students, families, and community members impacted through programming to date. The event envisioned a world of hope, love, and joy where dreams and vision collided helping to create a brighter future for children across the world.

The black-tie event recognized donors and celebrities who have partnered with the organization to fulfill its mission of building schools and helping to remove the barriers to quality education for all children. The evening kicked off with an inspirational message, “Imagine a World Where Dreams Come True,” by CEO Scales, followed by a toast with Ja Rule’s new Amber & Opal Honey Botanical Whiskey, founded by Kelvin Barton and Sandy Sandiford, who were in attendance. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Cassidy Maldonado

During the night, an all-star group of change agents across industries were recognized for their humanitarian work. The first awards of the night were the PoP Dream Maker Awards, which recognizes those who have identified the educational needs of children and in collaboration with PoP, bring sustainable and impactful solutions to fruition. PoP Dream Makers included the Founder of Kwik Learning & New York Times best-selling author Jim Kwik who willadapt his renowned educational curriculum to support the educational achievements of students in PoP-served communities, and LifeStraw the water filtration devices company, who will help provide access to safe water for students in 300 school communities PoP serves.

The Founder of Couture for Cause, Mona Patel, received the Philanthropist Award and offered a heartfelt speech about her childhood education in India and the importance of A Girl’s Promise. Then, Actor and Director Brian Austin Green and Dancing with the Stars Ballroom Dancer and Choreographer Sharna Burgess were honored with the Humanitarian Award as they shared their focus on the PoP initiative, A Student’s Promise. The Audacious Award, which recognizes disruptors and advocates of social change, was presented to Multi-Platinum, 3x Grammy Award-nominated, and Emmy Award-winning Artist Cordae. 

Photo Credit: S. Bola Okoya

In attendance at this year’s gala was a variety of PoP advocates, donors, supporters including last year’s Audacious Award winner, Iconic Rapper and Entrepreneur Ja Rule, the CEO of VaynerMedia and VeeFriends Gary Vee, Miss New York 2023 Rachelle Di Stasio, Supermodel Brandi Quinones, Fashion Designer Nicole Miller, Model Aqua Parios, and more. Woven throughout the program were videos from some famous faces in support of the gala and fulfilling dreams, ranging from Justin Baldoni to Lance Bass, Sunny Hostin, and more. 

As the night continued, the lively auctioneer Harry Santa Olalla, ‘The Fundraising Guy’ filled the room with unmatched energy for PoP’s staple auction segment. The first item of the annual auction that gala attendees bid on featured 4 tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Toronto with a 2-night stay at the One King West Hotel. From there, the auction items included beautiful trips to Tuscany and a Napa Valley Wine Experience. Humanitarian Award winner Sharna Burgess donated the auction item of 2 tickets to the season finale of Dancing with the Stars in addition to 3 private dance lessons with the ballroom dancer herself. A popular auction item of the night was the Mykonos trip for 5 nights, which was auctioned to 3 different attendees each at $20,000. The crowd was enthusiastic to bid on a 16-person dinner at the Flyfish Club with Gary Vee. 

Photo Credit: Janet Mayer

About Pencils of Promise: 

Pencils of Promise is a for-purpose organization founded in 2008 with the goal of increasing access to quality education for children in the global south. PoP works with communities across the globe to build schools and create programs that provide educational opportunities for children. PoP has created high-quality learning environments that have impacted more than 875,000 students, parents, and community members throughout Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos, establishing itself as a leader amongst the innovative global nonprofits working toward sustainable social change. For more information, please visit the website at www.pencilsofpromise.org.

Courtesy of FYI Brand Group

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