Gala at The Met Raises Over $3M in Celebration of Posse’s 30th Anniversary
The Posse Foundation’s annual gala this past May welcomed more than 500 guests to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, raising over $3 million to support the program and Scholars. Emceed by 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl and featuring a special performance by Chaka Khan, the evening celebrated Posse’s 30th anniversary in grand fashion.
The event honored the thousands of Scholars who have been selected since the program began in 1989. Following a reception in the museum’s Great Hall, dinner was held in the famed Temple of Dendur, with remarks from esteemed guests including Scholars, alumni, community partners and colleges presidents.
Alberto Carvalho, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent and a member of the Posse National Board of Directors, welcomed a group of new Scholars to the stage, calling Posse “without a doubt the most transformative power in my community.”
Further presenters included Posse board members Daniel Weiss, CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Charles Phillips, CEO of Infor. Middlebury College President Laurie Patton introduced Posse alumni speakers: Koby Altman (Middlebury College), now general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers; Kadia Tubman (Babson College), a journalist with Yahoo News; and Derron Wallace (Wheaton College), assistant professor of education and sociology at Brandeis University.
Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial took the stage to a standing ovation and was surprised with a presentation honoring her for launching and developing the program.
The event honored the thousands of Scholars selected since Posse began in 1989.
A concert by Grammy Award-winning Chaka Khan closed out the evening, inspiring the crowd to dance to hits such as “I’m Every Woman” and “Tell Me Something Good.”
Gala supporters spanned major corporate and philanthropic leaders, Posse Scholars and alumni, partner school representatives, friends and extended community members. Posse thanks all of the generous gala sponsors who joined in celebrating 30 years of Scholar success.
