YMA in the News

Giving & Receiving
Honoring fashion's mentors at YMA Geoffrey Beene scholarship dinner
Thursday, January 10, 2008

(NEW YORK) Though it wasn't Fashion Avenue, Times Square's Marriot Marquis certainly felt like it Wednesday night as the hotel hosted the YMA Geoffrey Beene Fashion Scholarship Dinner to celebrate the eight nominees and announce the four scholarship winners, as well as to honor Kenneth Cole and Rick Leto with AMY Awards, and Patty and Jay Baker for their outstanding philanthropy and lifetime achievements.

Fashion guru and eternal mentor Tim Gunn (also an AMY award winner) served as Master of Ceremonies, thrilled for many reasons to be involved in the evening. "Kenneth has such incredible staying power in this industry, so that alone is enough for an award, but the fact that he's really blazed new trails for accessories and has raised the bar in terms of accessibility and design--hats off to him! I really get excited because of the young people that are here and the incredible financial support. It really helps them conquer their education. This organization doesn't just give a little bit--the Geoffrey Beene Foundation gives $25,000 each!"

While DJ Donna D'Cruz spun tunes, revelers dined and were made aware of the new aspects of the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund: there are currently 26 schools participating, $1 million in donations were raised for the fourth year in a row, and this year would be the first for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Cole and Leto (who declined the award for the past 10 years, until he retired) accepted their honors with pleasure from presenters Terry Lundgren and Roger Farah. Cole enthused, "You know it's always an honor to be recognized and acknowledged by your peers and those that you work side by side with every day, but this is special because YMA perpetuates and supports the next generation of fashion people, which is vital to any entity. I've always sought out opportunities to connect with young people."

Executive Director of the CFDA, Steven Kolb, offered his congratulations to Cole. "Kenneth is a real example of somebody that puts action behind their words. He's a very genuine person and that social marketing he does is not just about marketing--it's about change."

As the evening drew to a close, Cole eloquently summed up his role as a designer. "As children we were taught to draw within the lines, but in fashion, the further outside the lines, the better off it is."
BIANCA POSTERLI