Girls Just Want to Have Fun! The Lower East Side Girls Club Hosted Its Annual Spring Fling Benefit Gala

Since 1996, the Lower East Side Girls Club has empowered young women, nurtured their talents, and fostered their ambitions. Within the club’s walls, members have access to diverse workshops, mentorship programs, and cutting-edge facilities. Among these resources is a mesmerizing 64-seat planetarium, where members can embark on a journey through the cosmos, as well as a state-of-the-art digital media lab, which serves as a creative hub to hone their digital skills (with mentors like Stephen Colbert lending his expertise to the girls)—all at no cost.

To keep up the good work, the Lower East Side Girls Club hosted its annual Spring Fling fundraising gala at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. The space, originally built as a synagogue in 1849, was magically transformed into a fairytale utopia; enlivened with Y2K anthems by Destiny’s Child and Missy Elliot and scalloped clouds which hung delicately from the ceiling.

The evening’s festivities started with a dance number from the LESGC members, moving briskly to the beat of Kendrick Lamar. After the performance, awards were presented by Rosario Dawson and Alia Tejeda to this year’s honorees: Ariel Patrick, chief communications officer of Ariel Investments, and Paola Ramos, author and Emmy-winning journalist. Patrick ended her heartfelt speech by imparting invaluable words of wisdom: “When you have a seat at the table, make sure to bring a folding chair with you for a sister.”

As the night went on, the fundraising festivities commenced. Aurora James, the evening’s co-chair and last year’s LESGC honoree, fought fiercely over a bidding war to secure a six-night tropical getaway to Costa Rica, and phone-in bidders battled over a fashion package, which included two tickets to Prabal Gurung’s New York Fashion Week presentation, custom-made Dapper Dan apparel, and an exclusive tour of the Kith Headquarters. Ultimately, the evening raised a total of $685,000.

Luminaries across the spheres of fashion, art, business, and film were out in full force, with the likes of CaSandra Diggs, Zac Posen, Molly Howard, Carmen Rita Wong, and Maggie Rogers in attendance. Before the evening came to a close (with a riveting performance by House of Yes), Jenny Dembrow and Ebonie Simpson, co-executive directors of the LESGC, thanked guests for their steadfast support. Simpson, who announced that she will be stepping down as the LESGC co-executive director this year to pursue her Masters, received a standing ovation from the audience for her unwavering dedication to the cause, with the crowd cheering, “It’s Jenbie forever!”