Star-Studded Gucci – UN Fundraiser also brings controversy

As part of Fashion Week,  a star-studded benefit was held at the United Nations sponsored by Gucci Wednesday night.  Madonna, Chris Rock and many other celebrities raised $3.7 million to help poor and sick children around the world. 

The $2,500-a-plate dinner and live auction hosted by Chris Rock was an unusual blend of charity and commercial promotion for the U.N.. It made some of its officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, uneasy, because the U.N. had never before granted permission to a company to erect tents on the north lawn of the U.N. for such a lavish event with a commercial tie-in.

Gucci, paid the costs, and more or less dedicated the event to the Friday opening of its Manhattan flagship store on Fifth Avenue and put its logo and UNICEF’s behind the walkway where celebrities were photographed.

Alicia Barcena Ibarra, Ban’s undersecretary general for administration and management, said her office “should have investigated more fully” before it approved UNICEF’S request to hold the event. Barcena Ibarra said she did not believe it was correct for Gucci to publicize the event in conjunction with the opening of a new store “and I think we have to look into that.”

Ban nonetheless told reporters Tuesday he was confident there would be no problems.

Despite the commercial promotion tensions, Gucci lured some of the biggest celebrities in the world to their party. The red-carpet reception drew stars such as Drew Barrymore, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Amy Adams, Brooke Shields, Salma Hayek, Djimon Hounsou, Dita Von Teese and UNICEF Ambassadors Tea Leoni and Lucy Liu, followed by a cocktail party with the likes of Donald Trump and media mogul Barry Diller.

And the Celebrities paid $2,500 to $10,000 each to dine on grappa-cured salmon, wild striped bass, tart of goat cheese, foraged mushrooms, truffled mashed potatoes and sticky toffee pudding with creme fraiche.

Madonna played videos of Malawi and introduced children from the southern African country. Rihanna, Timbaland and Alicia Keys played music afterward.

The celebrity auction was a big success.

Tom Cruise bid $100,000 for a sports package that included the privilege of hanging out at Yankee Stadium with Alex Rodriguez and a private hour playing soccer with David Beckham, but lost out to a bidder who stepped up with $350,000.
A trip to Paris with a tour of a vineyard and lunch with Francois-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek went for $120,000. The priciest auction item was a tour with Madonna and take a dance class with her and Gwyneth Paltrow, which brought in a winning bid of $600,000.

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