Stars Step Out for Fifth Biennial UNICEF Ball

The black-tie UNICEF Ball took place at the palatial Beverly Wilshire—the hotel made famous in Pretty Woman. Before the starry guests had even walked in the door, UNICEF had raised $1.5 million for Syrian refugees. I spotted former secretary of state James Baker and Sly Stallone. “It’s sold out tonight,” said Michael Douglas. “I keep telling Catherine [Zeta-Jones, out east with the kids] how nice the water is out here.” 

Alyssa Milano has done work in the field for UNICEF, “India, six months after the tsunami, and then Kosovo,” she said. And Téa Leoni’s grandmother helped found the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “When I was very young, my grandmother was suffering from terrible asthma, and I used to speak on her behalf,” said Leoni. Matt Damon was also in the house. 

Same night as the UNICEF Ball, one mile down Wilshire, Luxottica and the CFDA celebrated Charlotte Ronson's collection of glasses for Vogue Eyewear. It was a family affair. Mick Jones, Charlotte’s dad, bumped elbows, instead of fists, with Dispatches; Sam Ronson was spinning; and a clean scrubbed Mark Ronson, Charlotte’s hunky brother, talked at length to former fiancé Rashida Jones. 

gotham-magazine.com

• Photos: Téa Leoni at the 2014 UNICEF Ball in Los Angeles
• Video. Interview - Téa Leoni, her role as Unicef Ambassador, at the Unicef Ball in Los Angeles