Last night, the lights were on on the steps of the New York Public Library in Bryant Park. Yes, candlelight lit up the steps, but more importantly, the stars were shining brighter at the third annual Albie charity event. Rooney’s charity is named after anti-apartheid hero Albie Sachs.
The ceremony honors those who, like the award’s name, have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of justice at great personal risk. The star-studded party was attended by organizers as well as Doja Cat, Meryl Streep, Mikaela J. Rodriguez, Gabrielle Union, Cate Blanchett and Donatella Versace. (That night, Donatella Versace dressed Amal in a beautiful black velvet strapless gown.)
After climbing a flight of stairs flanked by famous couplets such as “Patience” and “Perseverance,” guests took their seats for the gala dinner and watched Jon Stewart, Emily Blunt, John Oliver and more compete before 2024 Albies Award winners Luis Carlos Diaz, Nadia Murad, Memory Banda, Brodo Bahat with Yael, Jeb Lyn Alhajara with Dolores Huerta and Rem Saud be called to the stage.
Later in the evening, the palm-tree-lined room in the historic library transformed from a dining room to a dance floor, where Sting and Mumford & Sons gave a special performance. There was much to celebrate, including the tenth wedding anniversary of The Albee’s famous founding couple. Amal Clooney, George Clooney, Donatella Versace, Cate Blanchett, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Gabrielle Union, Dwayne Wade, Shailene Woodley, Jimmy Fallon, Keegan-Michael Key, Ellie Kay, Marley Diaz, Charlotte Tilbury, Leslie Bibb, Betsy Phillips, Lee Chad Kind, Ariana DeBose, Mark Consuelos, Jon Stewart, Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union, Mari Dias, Doha Carter, or Lena DeBose, Meryl Streep, Shailene Woodley, Melinda Francheuze, Carlos Diaz Ona Schrager/Meryl Streep/Hyam Tannous/Ray M Souad Jabrin Alhajara/Yael Brudo-Bahat Marcus Mumford
