The Global Hope Coalition hosted their third annual New York City Gala event at 583 Park in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly week. The event honored Heads of State and everyday heroes who have joined Global Hope in their mission to fight against violent extremism, preserve cultural heritage, and build bridges across cultures.

The event kicked off with a cocktail hour in the Arcade where guests could meet and network. The Kenyatta Beasley Jazz Trio provided lively music.

Guests then moved to dinner in the Ballroom where an emotional and inspirational video spotlighted Global Hope’s mission. Special Recognition Awards were presented to H.E. Mahamadou Issouou, President of Niger, H.E. Beji Caid Essebsi, President ofTunisia, H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and H.E. Alexis Tsipras, Prime Minister of Greece, for their efforts to promote peace and fight against extremism and intolerance in their nations.

The real stars of the evening were the everyday heroes:

· Bochra Belhaj Hmida - A member of the Tunisian parliament, she chairs the independent Committee on Individual Freedoms and Equality.

· Sherin Khankan - The first female imam in Europe who has led the foundation of a women-led mosque in Copenhagen called Mariam Mosque.

·  Delphine Horvilleur - France’s best-known woman rabbi, she is a leading voice in the fight against hate, anti-Semitism, and racism in Europe.

·  Omar Elbasheer - Thinker, author, publisher, and essayist who has emerged as a leading Arab voice against extremism and terror.

·  Mamadou Gassama - Famous as the “Paris Spiderman”, he was given the medal of the City of Paris, the highest distinction of the French capital, and was received at Elysee Palace by President Emmanuel Macron.

Empire is honored to produce this moving event in connection with the Global Hope Coalition andGlobal Hope Europe.

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Co-founded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Project Everyone, the annual Goalkeepers event brings together heads of state and international Sustainable Development Goals “Goalkeepers” (those spearheading various missions in their local communities) to chart progress, share best practices, and build active communities to help achieve the Goals. This year’s Goalkeepers focused on the theme of power of youth.

The 2nd annual event, scheduled during the United Nations General Assembly, was set in the iconic Appel room at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The program was set on a unique LED stage which combined both an LED backdrop wall and an LED floor on which extraordinary animated content had been created to illustrate each session.

Goalkeepers opened with keynote remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron, followed by an intimate and inspiring conversation with Bill and Melinda Gates discussing global progress towards the Goals.

Bill and Melinda Gates each presented their own multi-part sessions, covering topics that included the challenges of eradicating extreme poverty, sustainable innovation, and leveraging the power of youth activism in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Among the many other speakers and participants were President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who spoke on his country's vision for human capital development; writer, campaigner, and Co-Founder of Project Everyone and the Goalkeepers event, Richard Curtis; actor & writer, Stephen Fry; international advocate for women and children's rights and Co-Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, Graça Machel; President & CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), David Miliband; Nobel Peace Prize laureate and child rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi; Chief Innovation Officer for the government of Sierra Leone, David Sengeh; and Trisha Shetty, lawyer, social activist, and Founder of SheSays.

The day-long program was hosted by award-winning BBC World News presenter, Nancy Kacungira, and NBC News host, Savannah Sellers.

Energizing musical interstitials were provided by a cappella group, Naturally 7, and Kenyan Rapper King Kaka, along with a moving performance by Broadway star, Nicolette Robinson, to spotlight the plight of child brides. The day opened and ended with energizing performances by 10-year-old DJ Switch Ghana.

Between the informative sessions, the 450 guests enjoyed networking time in the Atrium where they also participated in a variety of experiences and activations that included an art installation made of over 75,000 bottle tops collected and painted by women in Salvador, Brazil, and an interactive photo booth that encouraged guests to select their favorite goal and overlay video data to help spread the word via social media.

The activations were rounded out by the “Goalkeeper’s Library”, where guests were able to select a book from options curated by Bill and Melinda Gates and other Goalkeepers.

Empire was proud to work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Project Everyone, and many other partners to present Goalkeepers 2018.  

To view the livestream of the full program visit here

To learn more about the Goalkeepers event, please visit: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/

Additional information about the Sustainable Development Goals can be found here: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

Empire was honored to serve as the producer of the 17th annual Samsung Charity Gala, which raises funds for a variety of charitable organizations focused on children’s health, education, and sustainability. This year’s Gala took place in the Grand Ballroom and Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York City.

The evening kicked off with a star-studded red carpet, packed with celebrities and athletes including Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves, Jermaine Dupri, Victor Cruz, Jessica Seinfeld, Gus Kentworthy, and more.

Guests entered the foyer which had been transformed into an ethereal registration space surrounded by a star curtain with floral chandeliers hanging overhead. Guests then proceeded to the Promenade in the Hammerstein Ballroom and upstairs to the Grand Ballroom to enjoy cocktails. The starry theme continued into the Promenade, as guests walked into a navy-colored room with a twinkling ceiling installation and florals cascading down the columns. In the Grand Ballroom, guests’ attention was immediately drawn to a 22-foot high ‘Flornado’ (a tornado-shaped floral installation) that served as the main focal point behind the central bar, while DJ Irie kept the energy pumping.

After cocktails, guests made their way into the Hammerstein Ballroom in wonder as the cavernous, historic opera house had been transformed into an elegant banquet hall. At the front of the seating stood an awe-inspiring stage over which stood a 33’ wide X 19’ tall LED screen which showcased animated content and logos of Samsung’s donors and charity partners.

The evening’s program included live “Voice of God” announcements by celebrities Mark Messier and Daymond John, a lively performance by students from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton Education Program, remarks by Ryan Seacrest and President and CEO of Samsung North America, Tim Baxter, the presentation of this year’s Champion of Hope award by Peter Hermann to his wife, Mariska Hargirtay, and a performance by indie band, Fitz and the Tantrums, who performed their hits “Hand Clap,” and “Walker.”  

If that wasn’t enough excitement, auctioneer Charles Antin took the stage along with Matthew McConaughey and Victor Cruz to auction various packages including a trip to Texas for ‘Austin’s Biggest Party’, the Mack, Jack & McConaughey annual charity event, a VIP experience with Victor Cruz at a New York Giants game, and the opportunity to fly to Puerto Rico to see Lin-Manuel Miranda reprise his title role in Hamilton.

The evening was closed out by the one and only Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull, who delivered a high-energy, 45-minute non-stop hit song performance including, “Give Me Everything,” “Don’t Stop The Party,” “Hotel Room Service,” and which concluded with confetti raining down over the audience.

The Samsung Gala raised more than $3 million for its Charity Partners, who included The Boomer Esiason Foundation; City of Hope; Mark Messier Foundation; Gilder Lehrman Institute; Irie Foundation; Lollipop Theater Network; SLAM; Together Rising; Sidewalk Angels; Joyful Heart Foundation; City of Hope; Eric and Jessie Decker Foundation; Christopher and Diana Reeve Foundation; Just Keep Livin; and more.

Empire was proud to work once again with the Samsung team to design and deliver a flawless and memorable evening benefitting these worthy causes.

For more information on Samsung’s charitable initiatives, please visit https://www.samsung.com/us/careers/giving-back/

Every Fall, Hearst publication Harper’s BAZAAR and Fashion Director Carine Roitfeld release the September ICONS issue and host a star-studded, exclusive mega-party that serves as the unofficial kickoff to New York Fashion Week. Attended by the who’s-who of the fashion, beauty, and luxury worlds, the must-attend ICONS event hosts over 1,000 celebrities and VIP guests and literally takes over all of the spaces of New York’ Citys storied Plaza Hotel.

This year celebrated Carine's fifth ICONS portfolio, which appears in the September issues of all 32 editions of Harper’s BAZAAR worldwide. ‘The First Families of Music’ portfolio, photographed by Mario Sorrenti, features music royalty and their offsprings including Kanye, North and Saint West, Bruce and Jessica Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Lionel and Nicole Richie, Erykah Badu, Theodora and Alexandra Richards, Steven and Liv Tyler, Mariah Carey, Billy and Bonnie Idol, and Paris Jackson.

The entire event experience was designed based on Roitfeld’s art direction to create a decadent but opulent, rock dynasty downtown chic look. Red florals and sexy black furniture accents were mixed with disruptive, rock-inspired elements like smashed mirrors, lipstick graffiti covered mirrors, and overflowing champagne buckets. ICONS began with a grand VIP entrance before thousands of onlookers and flashing paparazzi cameras on Fifth Avenue, continued into a multi-floor red carpet and photo gallery of the September editorial, and then into the elegant Plaza Grand Ballroom where guests lounged on ottomans, sipped champagne, and danced to a special headline performance by Icon Christina Aguilera.

Among the many celebrity and VIP attendees were Carine Roitfeld, Christina Aguilera, Adriana Lima, Alexander Wang, Ashlee Simpson, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Caitlyn Jenner, Coco Rocha, Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, Christie Brinkley, David Copperfield, Devon Windsor, DJ Cassidy, Heidi Klum, Justin Theroux, Kaia Gerber, Karlie Kloss, Kendall Jenner, Kelly Rowland, Mila Jovovich, Nicki Minaj, Paris Hilton, Paris Jackson, Presley Gerber, Rachel Zoe, Tiffany Haddish, Victor Cruz, Victoria Justice, Winnie Harlow, and 21 Savage.

The ICONS event featured interactive activations by eight different partners starting with a red Genesis G70 photo arrival tableau parked in front of The Plaza. Blacked-out revolving doors turned to reveal an elaborate dark red floral structure in the lobby foyer and a gold and silver confetti Instagram wall.

The star-studded red carpet ended with an award-winning FIT x Infor design collaboration and led into a sculptural installation of spinning gold lipstick columns. Other activations included a Fujifilm Instax camera wall, a spinning boudoir photo moment, a Saks Fifth Avenue projected music video stage, Stella Artois rock & roll-inspired bars, a Moët & Chandon bar backed with an amazing champagne tower, a Saks Fifth Avenue Limitless Client Lounge, and two Belvedere Vodka bars with guitar ice sculptures and customized cocktails.

Empire served as overall producer of the evening and was responsible for event design, talent management, staging and technical production, venue and catering logistics coordination, stage management, staffing, front of house logistics, and all Partner activations.

As one of the fashion’s most influential events, BAZAAR ICONS garnered unrivaled press attention with over 12.2 billion impressions. ICONS was featured worldwide by top broadcast, newspapers, magazines, social media platforms, and every major website. Check out #BazaarICONS

Empire was proud to work closely with the Harper’s BAZAAR ICONS team to deliver a flawless and extraordinary evening.

Co-founded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Project Everyone, the Goalkeepers event takes place during the annual United Nations General Assembly and brings together heads of state and international Sustainable Development Goals “Goalkeepers” (those spearheading various missions in their local communities) alike. This year’s Goalkeepers focused on the theme of power of youth.

The 2018 Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards were presented at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Participants included Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, UNICEF’s Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore, Bill and Melinda Gates, and British singer songwriter Ed Sheeran.

In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF, the Goalkeepers Awards program celebrated outstanding youth-focused work around the world that is directly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (the SDGs).

This year’s Campaign Award was presented to Amika George, Founder of #FreePeriods, a campaign that works to ensure no girl in the United Kingdom suffers from period poverty.

The Progress Award was presented to Dysmus Kisilu, Founder of Solar Freeze, which provides renewable energy solutions to small holder farmers in Kenya to increase agricultural productivity.

And the Changemaker Award was presented to Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman who advocates on behalf of her community and survivors of genocide. Just days after the Awards program, Nadia Murad was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Loyiso Madinga, stand-up comedian and South Africa correspondent on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” hosted the awards.

After the powerful program concluded, guests were invited in the Atrium space to enjoy cocktails and custom food bars. Guests explored and interacted with activations including an art installation/social media backdrop consisting of over 75,000 bottle tops, collected and painted by women in Salvador, Brazil, and an interactive photo booth that encouraged guests to select their favorite goal and overlay video data, to spread the word via social media.

To learn more about the Goalkeepers event, please visit: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/

Please see the full press release for additional details.

Additional information about the Sustainable Development Goals can be found here: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

Empire had the privilege to serve as producer of the Barclays Center Cares’ gala Shining a Light on Brooklyn for the 2nd year.

Held again at The Liberty Warehouse, which is situated at Red Hook’s historic Pier 41, guests were treated to cocktails al fresco on the promenade with the New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, and the downtown Manhattan skyline as their backdrop.

When it came time to signal guests to proceed to dinner, the Brooklyn United Drumline, comprised entirely of school kids, marched onto the promenade for a spirited performance before lining the stairs ascending to dinner.

FOX 5 NY’s Rosanna Scotto hosted the evening’s program, which included performances by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and Dmitry Razumov, Chairman of the Board of Directors for both the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center.

BSE Global CEO Brett Yormark honored Brooklyn community icons including Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports & Event Programming Showtime Networks, Inc.; Ben Lovett, Co-founder & CEO of Communion Music and band member of Mumford & Sons; Blue Marble Ice Cream; and National Grid, an electricity, natural gas & clean energy delivery company.

The evening ended with an afterparty DJ’ed by Jon Blak and featuring a green screen video flip book station and a Gif photo booth.

Barclays Center Cares connects all of the community efforts for the franchises affiliated with Barclays Center: the Brooklyn Nets, New York Islanders, Brooklyn Boxing, Brooklyn Hoops, Brooklyn Family, and Brooklyn Show. Its mission is to develop sustainable community programs to improve the lives of kids and families in the areas of culinary arts, sports, sustainability, and music education.

Barclays Center Cares supports more than 300 schools, food pantries, homeless shelters, health facilities, and non-profit organizations. Every dollar donated to Barclays Center Cares goes directly to support programs helping New Yorkers in need.

Empire was proud to be selected by Barclays Center to support their work in the Brooklyn Community.

To learn more about Barclays Center Cares, visit http://www.barclayscenter.com/bccares

To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the storied Brooklyn Army Terminal (BAT), New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) chose Empire as their partner to develop and execute a community Block Party for thousands of attendees across the massive 4 million square foot complex to commemorate the occasion.

Originally constructed to facilitate the movement of troops and material for World War I, the Brooklyn Army Terminal came into full use during World War II when more than 20,000 military and civilian personnel were employed there. The terminal was the headquarters for the New York Port of Embarkation, a region-wide operation covering more than a dozen facilities that moved 3.2 million troops and 37 million tons of military supplies to fronts across the globe. Arguably the most famous soldier to deploy from the Brooklyn Army Terminal was Elvis Presley. He greeted fans and dozens of photojournalists in September 1958 when he shipped off from Brooklyn to Germany. BAT was closed as an army base in the 1960s, and was reopened in 1986 under the management of NYCEDC for industrial businesses. Since then, NYCEDC has been transforming BAT into the premier, affordable hub for modern industrial businesses, entrepreneurs, and working families in NYC.

The first-ever BAT Block Party took place on September 15, 2018, a day filled with fun activities for attendees of all ages. The thousands of attendees enjoyed an array of activities including a yoga class by NYC Yoga; an art exhibit by ArtBuilt and ChaShaMa artists; product demos from BAT-based companies like Uncommon Goods and Lowercase NYC; family-friendly activities like kite making, crafts and book-making; an art installation by Harumi Ori; and an interactive and historic augmented reality experience from NYU Tandon and NYC Media Lab partners. There was also a rock-climbing wall with the NYPD and an FDNY fire truck for kids to look inside. BAT tenants, local food vendors, beer companies, and several food trucks from the NYC Food Truck Association provided food and beverages.

Vendors included City Saucery, Momo Dressing, Jamrock Jerk, and more. Attendees were able to sit along the waterfront and enjoy great food and drink and watch a Rooftop Film screening on a massive screen at the end of Pier 4.

In addition to developing the overall site plan for the event and working closely with EDC and BAT staff on logistical coordination for all of the participants, Empire provided turnkey production for a mobile concert stage. The stage provided a full afternoon of performances from local community dance groups, yoga groups, local community leaders, and other local personalities were on hand to help in the celebration.

The day built up to a fabulous evening of entertainment provided by Empire featuring an array of Brooklyn-born and based talent including DJ Natasha Diggs, rising R&B star, and Justine Skye, and culminating with a headline performance by Grammy-nominated rapper, Busta Rhymes.

Empire is proud to work with this New York organization. To learn more about BAT and its facilities visithttps://www.bklynarmyterminal.com

When Henry Street Settlement reached their 125th Anniversary, they chose Empire as their partner to mark this incredible milestone.

“Dinner on Henry Street” was held in Sol Lain Park, which is adjacent to the Settlement’s headquarters. This location was chosen to remain close to home and to serve as a reminder of the humble beginnings that led to the extraordinary legacy of this New York City institution.

The evening began in the cocktails tent, where guests marveled at the “Humans of Henry Street” wall installation, featuring personal stories from people whose lives have been affected and transformed by the Settlement’s remarkable work. During cocktails, guests were treated to the sounds of a jazz band that played music that reflected the cultures and immigrants that have left their mark on the Lower East Side over the past 125 years. Youths from The Chinese Free Masons Athletic Club led the way to the dinner tent with a traditional lion dance, engaging attendees and firing up excitement for the coming program. Guests moved inside a stunning tent and were seated to an elegant dinner beneath the stars. To start the dinner program, Henry Street’s Executive Director, David Garza, presented the Lillian Wald Legacy award to Richard Abrons and the Abrons Aranow Family, whose history with the Settlement dates back 122 of their 125 years. David Garza also presented the Heart of Henry Street Awards to longtime supporters Dale Jones Burch and Pilar Crespi Robert and Stephen Robert. The firehouse adjacent to the Settlement’s headquarters is slated to become the Dale Jones Burch Neighborhood Center at Henry Street in 2020.

Board Chairman Scott Swid presented the Heart of Henry Street Awards to corporate partners JPMorgan Chase & Co., Credit Suisse, UPS, The Clark Foundation, and Tiger Foundation. Representatives from each partner organization provided signatures to be etched on a Tiffany & Co. sterling silver tray—a replica of the silver tray that Lillian Wald received for her 70th birthday in 1937. The tray was etched with the signatures of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, other social reformers, and friends of Henry Street. The program featured performances by entertainers from the Abrons Arts Center such as the Voices of Henry Street intergenerational choir, Rajé & Rajé Reborn Dance Troops, and an excerpt from the critically-acclaimed production of Jack & The Beanstalk.

The final performance of the night was delivered by legendary actor, recording artist, and activist, Yasiin Bey. Bey closed out the evening with an intimate, yet energetic performance that left the tent buzzing with positivity and gratitude.

Working closely with Henry Street’s team for almost a year, Empire managed every detail of this momentous occasion, which included but was not limited to concept development, programming, permitting, tenting, budgeting, registration, technical production, catering, décor, stage management, and overall guest experience.

Empire is proud to have partnered with Henry Street Settlement to help them celebrate this extraordinary milestone.

To learn more about the Henry Street Settlement and their work, visit https://www.henrystreet.org

Bustle Digital Group held their inaugural RuleBreakers event outdoors in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, featuring performances by Janelle Monae, Sofi Tukker, DJ’s Va$htie, Samantha Ronson, and more. Empire produced the main stage and other entertainment elements at the all-day immersive festival, designed to celebrate women who push boundaries, ignore convention—and of course, break rules—to further women’s rights.

The event was hosted by Sam Jones, who started the day by introducing The Big Quiet, a troupe that creates mass meditations for modern people. Attendees participated in a 30-minute meditation session, which ended with a performance by the Resistance Revival Chorus, a group of dozens of women who join together to sing protest songs celebrating collective joy and resistance. As DJ Va$htie spun, the Miss’ile roller skating dance team performed choreographed and super-fun roller skating dance routines, and guests were also treated to a surprise show by Brooklyn United, a marching band comprised of fifty or so boys and girls ranging in age from 6–17.  The troupe marched into the audience which quickly made space for them in front of the stage where the kids wowed spectators with their high-energy musicianship and dancing.

Empire provided the staging, audio, and lighting for the main stage and also coordinated and managed the various entertainment elements throughout the day.  We are proud to produce some of the most exciting consumer-facing events on the planet, including the Bustle RuleBreakers event.

As part of the 2018 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), UN Women presented their annual HeForShe IMPACT Summit in New York City which convened world leaders, global CEOs, activists and celebrities to introduce the latest groundbreaking solutions to achieve gender equality around the world.

Her Majesty Queen Rania, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson; President of Malawi Arthur Peter Mutharika; President of Finland Sauli Niinistö; award-winning actress and UN Women’s Global Goodwill Ambassador, Anne Hathaway; and actor and activist, Winston Duke, were among those participants who issued a global call to action for gender equality during the daytime program. Musical Artist MILCK also performed.

During this fourth annual event, hosted by Under-Secretary-General of the UN and the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and emceed by Senior Advisor to the Under-Secretary-General & Executive Director of UN Women Elizabeth Nyamayaro, HeForShe focused on three distinct initiatives based on the work of its HeForShe Champions:

• The HeForShe Proven Solution on How to Achieve Parity in Global Leadership: Emerging from the work of HeForShe IMPACT Champion PwC Network, which has moved from 18% female representation on its Global Leadership team to 47% in just 15 months, the solution sets out a roadmap for other organizations to follow.

• The HeForShe Emerging Solutions for Gender Equality Report, containing 34 emerging solutions on how to achieve gender equality. These concrete solutions address a wide range of issues, including closing the gender pay gap, ending gender-based and sexual violence, and achieving parity across society.

• The HeForShe Male Allies Guide for Gender Equality–Tips for Understanding and Managing Your Emotions, built on a program pioneered by the Government of Finland, a HeForShe IMPACT Champion, to enlist army conscripts to prevent violence against women.

One of the highlights of the event was the official announcement of the newest HeForShe Champions, including Chief Executive Standard Bank Group, Sim Tshabalala, and Secretary-General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, Ahmad Alhendawi.  

In the lead-up to the event, HeForShe launched #MorePowerfulTogether, inviting landmarks around the world to turn off half their lights to demonstrate the power lost when women are underrepresented. The IMPACT Summit underlined this message by bringing together champions from all corners of society to demonstrate that we are truly more powerful together.

Empire was once again proud to serve as the overall event producer overseeing and handling the event venue, guest experience, event layout, video and audio, livestreaming, staging, scenic aspects, and stage management of the program.

Created by UN Women in 2014, the HeForShe solidarity movement has so far mobilized 1.7 million men as advocates for gender equality.

For more information and to view the livestream visit http://heforshe.org