Spring in New York is stylish. It brings a splash of color and warmth after the winter blahs. This year’s spring galas and fashion-forward events had on-trend gowns in hues of lilac pastel, peach and emerald, with touches of gold jewelry, bright pink and sequins. This year’s spring galas and events were busy, boisterous and lively. With style out on the streets and red carpets across the city, here were some highlights.

Paws NY Spring Benefit: Barks & Blooms

If there is one place in New York to see puppy fashion, it must be the annual fundraiser for Paws NY. This year’s event was held on May 20 at the Monarch Rooftop, with dazzling views of the Manhattan skyline. The organization works to support vulnerable New Yorkers who need support caring for their pets, mainly due to physical and financial obstacles.

This sparkling event had cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction hosted by Annie Phaosawasdi of Hunt Auctioneers. This year, the honoree was Klick Health, and their volunteer Jennifer Berman. The highlight was the dogs who attended with their honors, some of which had fashions statements of their own. Definitely a must-see event.

AMREF Health Africa ArtBall 2024

Amref Health Africa (Amref), a prominent African healthcare organization, honored African-American artist Kehinde Wiley at their event ArtBall 2024. The artist was granted their Rees Visionary Award, named after their founder Dr. Thomas Rees, to honor individuals who have changed the conversation around African art. “Amref’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s health infrastructure is crucial and I particularly want to acknowledge their programs in Senegal and Nigeria, two countries that are of significant importance to my journey,” said Wiley in a statement. “I am grateful to be recognized with the Rees Visionary Award for my artistic practice and my founding of Black Rock Global Arts Foundation, which is on a mission to support new artistic creation and to incite change in the global discourse about what Africa means today.”

2024 URI Celebration

The Urban Resource Institute celebrates their 10th anniversary of People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) with a gala at Cipriani. The event featured a performance by singer and songwriter Danielia Cotton, and honored New York City Council member Adrienne E. Adams, the Banfield Foundation, Elizabeth Rose and Jean Shafiroff with awards for their work to help URI, who are the largest provider of domestic violence shelters in the USA. They are one of the few shelters who allow survivors to be accompanied by their pets.

NYC Second Chance Rescue 4th Annual Rescue Ball

On April 17, Second Chance’s annual rescue ball was held at Sony Hall. It had their fair share of stylish attendees abiding by the Great Gatsby dress code, with women in flapper dresses, men in tuxedos, and overall, with a 1920s vibe. The gala honored actor Jason Biggs, author Jenny Mollen and philanthropist Wayne Schumer, and was hosted by Orfeh. This gala brings the dogs onto the red carpet, making the fundraising for the paws cause real.

Leesa Rowland celebrates Park Magazine Cover at Populares

Actor, philanthropist, and model Leesa Rowland celebrated the launch of her Park Magazine cover at Populares, a new Mexican restaurant in the East Village, on April 3. The event was co-hosted by vegan fashion designer, Marc Bouwer. Notable attendees included Nikki Haskell, Guisseppe Eanoca, Charlii Sebunya, Christopher Pape and more.

Martha Madigan x Lafayette 148

Lafayette 148 hosted a Martha Madigan exhibition opening at their store location at 59 Greene Street in SoHo. The event marked Women’s History Month by paying tribute to the trailblazing photographer who passed away in 2022. The brand collaborated with the artist’s daughters Claire Khodara and Grace Fuller Marroquin to launch an exclusive capsule collection and exhibition featuring the artist’s artworks, which combine the beauty of nature with photography. Attendees included Beanie Feldstein, Dasha Zhukova Emily Smith, Claire Khodara and Grace Fuller

Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation 10th Annual Luncheon 2024

The 10th Annual Waxman Luncheon, benefiting the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation was held on May 15 at Riverpark. The fundraiser featured a fashion show by Josie Natori, who showcased her Spring 2024 collection. This year’s honoree was Barney Cohen, Managing Director and Wealth Partner at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, who was recognized for his commitment to supporting collaborative cancer research. Over 150 guests attended the lunch and helped raise nearly $175,000 to support crucial cancer research.

2024 Public Art Fund Party

On May 15, the city’s Public Art Fund had their annual party. This spring benefit brought pink and orange center stage as the step and repeat colors to represent a bright return to spring—and the artsy attendees came out in full bloom. The event celebrated the contemporary artists who transform the urban landscape with their public art. The silent auction featured artwork by over 35 artists, while a 350-person seated dinner by Canard raised just over $1 million to support the Public Art Fund’s mission.

Animal Haven’s 2024 Benefit for the Animals

The downtown animal shelter Animal Haven had their gala on May 15 with stars like Jon Stewart, Carolyn Murphy, Edie Falco, Chris Redd, Joe Gatto, and more, gracing the dog-friendly red carpet. Donations were made to the shelter’s efforts to provide care, medical attention and adoption services for homeless dogs and cats. The shelter brought animals that are currently up for adoption to the party, as Scott Kilgallen received the Leonard Simon Award for his work helping homeless animals. Blackstone received the Corporate Responsibility Award for helping animals in need.