Our Hulaween Gala Made a Splash!

On Friday, October 23, New York Restoration Project’s annual Hulaween gala brought together supporters, performers, and friends at The Glasshouse for an unforgettable evening, raising more than $2 million to support NYRP’s mission of ensuring equitable access to green spaces across all five boroughs.

This year’s celebration, Hulaween on Horror Reef: Monsters of the Deep, transported guests into an immersive underwater world of haunting decor, elaborate costumes, and show-stopping entertainment.

The evening honored NYRP Trustees Sophie von Haselberg and Harry Guinness with the Wind Beneath My Wings Award, presented by NYRP Founder Bette Midler. Recognizing their leadership and commitment to NYRP, the award celebrated Sophie and Harry’s contributions to the organization and its work to make nature accessible to all New Yorkers.

Hosted by Mario Cantone, the evening featured performances by Cyndi Lauper, Jessica Vosk, Sydney James Harcourt, and Will Lee and The Root System, followed by late-night entertainment from House of Yes and DJ Boyyyish. Fashion visionaries Isaac Mizrahi and Rachel Antonoff judged the evening’s annual Costume Contest, with winners including Allie Provost for Best Individual, Jon Recor and Daniel Stewart for Best Duo, SoMad for Best Group, and Tripp Swanhouse for Best Upcycled Costume.

“Sophie von Haselberg, my daughter, and her husband, Harry Guiness, were our Wind Beneath Our Wings honorees this year, and I am thrilled,” said NYRP Founder Bette Midler. “Sophie has been involved with NYRP since she was 8 years old, and her commitment to NYRP is total. She and Harry both joined the Board a few years ago and have done so much work to help us in our recovery from the COVID years; the Board and staff believed they have certainly earned the award. You can imagine how moved I am by their selection. Their commitment will energize NYRP and will bring so many new, young people to our organization, without whom, no organization can continue to thrive.”

“It’s wild to receive an award from an organization that’s been in my life since I was SEVEN,” added NYRP Trustee and Wind Beneath My Wings Honoree Sophie von Haselberg. “NYRP has shaped the way I think about nature in an urban setting—easy access to green space should be a fundamental right, even if we do choose to live in the (world’s greatest) concrete jungle. Harry and I may be receiving this award, but the people who deserve it most are the NYRP staff and volunteers in the field. They work in rain, sleet, snow and blazing heat, to build, restore and share parks, gardens and shorelines for communities across all 5 boroughs of New York City. And they know better than anyone that natural beauty can thrive, even in tiny and unexpected spaces.”

DONATE NOW