The School's fourth Gala benefit in New York City honored three of our most distinguished alumni: Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee and Jane Rosenthal. All three were once NYU students of exceptional promise, and all three have had a transformational impact on New York and the world of film.
Over 650 guests celebrated their achievements at Cipriani's on October 28, with the press line snapping alumni celebrities Alec Baldwin, Doug Wright, Jim Taylor, Jessica Hecht, Jillian Manus-Salzman, David Javerbaum, Damon Santostefano and the honorees. Parents and alumni came from LA, Houston, Chicago and San Francisco and the event sold out three weeks in advance. The audience applauded special guest Harvey Keitel, who talked about his time at school with Martin Scorsese, and heard alumnus Billy Crystal call in from his road tour of 700 Sundays. Twenty-four talented drama students from the CAP21 studio sang and danced tributes to the honorees as they received their Big Apple Awards. Special benefactors of the school Maurice Kanbar, who created the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, and the entire Tisch family were applauded for their leadership and generosity.
The entertainment industry on both coasts supported the Gala with significant gifts and celebratory ads in the commemorative journal. A last minute gift of $250,000 from the family of a recent graduate boosted the proceeds to over $1.2 million, destined for scholarships and support for students!
Special thanks to all who worked hard with sterling results and especially our Honorary Chairs:
