The Campfire 2024
On a warm October evening, the autumn foliage was nearly at its peak in Central Park. As the sun faded from the sky, the lights of Christodora’s annual benefit, The Campfire, began to shine through the terrace of the iconic venue, Tavern on the Green. Every autumn for nearly two decades, Christodora supporters, old and new, gather together in community, celebration, and support of nature, learning, and leadership programs that serve young New Yorkers.
The Decor & Silent Auction
Some ask - what’s this year’s theme of The Campfire? Well, the theme is “The Campfire!” The Campfire means warmth, gathering together, with a flourish or two from flames and sparks. This aesthetic was particularly reflected in this year’s gala decor, the linens imparting the night sky's colors and the flowers representing a comforting glow shining out through the darkness. The naturalistic flower arrangements were by Molly Oliver Flowers, who uses local and seasonal flowers from the Hudson River Valley. She is committed to sustainability and supporting the local economy. In addition to being beautiful, the choice of flowers and grasses in the arrangements were also meant to represent the kind of plants our students might find growing along the trail on one of their hikes.
Original artwork by Genevieve Irwin Goelet.
The silent auction was lively, and there were several bidding wars! A beautiful silver turtle purse by GoGo Jewelry caused quite a stir, as did a Japanese snacks advent calendar by Kokoro Care. For the past several years, artist and Christodora board member Genevieve Irwin Goelet has created custom nature illustrations exclusively for the gala! This year, the theme was birds of prey, and it was no surprise that these were hot items that induced several bidding wars, too!
Award Ceremony
The highlight of the evening was our gala program, which included an award ceremony for the Spirit of Christodora Award, the Mighty Oak Award, and the Living Legacy Award. This year, the Spirit of Christodora Award went to Christodora board member James S. R. Rose for his commitment to Christodora, which spanned over three decades and most recently included gifting the Manice Education Center an heirloom orchard. As his daughter Julia Rose shared in her opening remarks, “James has left the world better than he has found it.”
The Mighty Oak Award honors a corporation that shares Christodora’s belief that experiences with nature are transformative and critical to empowering the next generation of leaders in the vibrant landscape of New York City. This year, A&O Shearman received this honor for its over thirty-year support of Christodora and commitment to UN Sustainability Goals. Anna Salek, Partner at A&O Shearman, accepted the award on the organization’s behalf.
The final award of the evening — the Living Legacy Award — went to a longtime member of the Christodora alumni family, Jevaun Chambers. Jevaun has been with Christodora since he was 13, first as a camper and then as an educator. Now, Jevaun is participating in the Christodora Alumni Advisory and lending a hand or a foot at our Manice Grounds and Garden Day or biking for Christodoa in the 5 Boro Bike Tour. As longtime friend and Manice Education Center director Anna Hernandez-Krol said in her opening remarks, “We’re celebrating the way you lead with heart.”
And heart is what The Campfire is all about!
