Robin Hood Foundation

Last night I attended the Robin Hood Foundation's annual gala at the Javits Center (they have supported our work in Red Hook, Midtown and Harlem). According to the New York Times, in deference to these troubled times, Robin Hood has downshifted on the glitz and glamour of the event, which draws thousands of Wall Street types each year. Still, the event didn't lack for star power: the host was Jon Stewart and Aretha Franklin and Black Eyed Peas provided musical entertainment. I'm not generally a huge fan of these kinds of events, but you've got to hand it to Robin Hood: not only did they pull off an enormous and complicated event without any discernible hitch, but they also raised a truly staggering amount of money (a reported $72 million, including a challenge grant from George Soros) to support efforts to fight poverty.