Sag Harbor, NY: Hamptons Happenings: I had the pleasure to attend the 4th annual Diversity Affluence Brunch & Awards on Sunday, July 28th, 2013 to a packed room at B. Smith’s Restaurant in Sag Harbor, NY. The by invitation only Brunch & Awards recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of people from diverse backgrounds who have achieved success within their respective industries and yet take their success to the next level by progressing and influencing diversity and multicultural business agendas and positive social impact in the world.
The Hamptons event was a hit as Marriott International, Barclays, Baume & Mercier and Estée Lauder celebrated the 4th annual Diversity Affluence Brunch & awards honoring supermodel Alek Wek and other leaders, achievers and pioneers for their social impact work.
Over 125 hand selected affluent African American guests including Valentino Carlotti, John Utendahl, Anthony Spikes, Erana Stennett, actress Tichina Arnold, Booz Allen VP Reginald Van Lee, Jocelyn Allen, Michael Robinson, Susan Akkad, Emil Wilbekin, Earl Graves and other venture capitalists, investment bankers, entertainment, media and tech industry executives attended the brunch to honor four prominent leaders, achievers and pioneers of diversity including Robert F. Smith, Chairman & CEO of Vista Equity Partners, Alek Wek, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Author & Supermodel, and Aaron P. Dworkin, Founder & President of the Sphinx Organization.
This year a corporate honoree, M• A• C Cosmetics was added. “M•A•C Cosmetics is richly deserving of this award for their unwavering commitment in celebrating “the beauty of everyone.” Their philanthropic & social impact passions influence positive change & positive outcomes. They make the world take notice”, says Andrea Hoffman, Founder and CEO of Diversity Affluence. John Demsey, Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc attended on behalf of M•A•C Cosmetics, “diversity is very important to MAC and our motto is all ages, all races all sexes“…
This year’s event began with an intimate Moet & Chandon Champagne toast given by Andrea Hoffman aboard the 42 ft Wider Yacht moored alongside B. Smith’s for the honorees and sponsors Marriott International, Barclays, The Estée Lauder Companies, Baume & Mercier, Belvedere Vodka, Black Gives Back and Collective.
The cocktail hour featured passed assorted hors d’oeurve and specialty libations by Belvedere Vodka. Each guest was gifted with a stunning signature black M•A•C Cosmetics box filled with goodies. After the opening welcome by Diversity Affluence partner Noel Hankin, award- winning actor Malik Yoba hosted the afternoon with both humor & serious introductions of the sponsors & honorees. Tom Lee, Head of Global Banking for Barclays spoke to the Barclays commitment in support of Diversity Affluence & delight in celebrating the honorees. Kristine Friend, Senior Director, Segment Marketing for Marriott International spoke of their pride of partnership with Diversity Affluence & presented each guest with a gift of Platinum Elite Status in their award winning Marriott Rewards program, for one year.
As the honorees were introduced by the Host of the afternoon actor Malik Yoba, they were given a special Baume & Mercier watch presented by Rudy Chavez, North American President of the luxury watch brand
Each honoree addressed the crowd giving thanks in their own voices to Andrea Hoffman & Diversity Affluence for the recognition and honors and speaking of their true & personal commitments to diversity & social impact. Two incredible surprise highlights of the Brunch were personal & warm notes sent by Mrs. Ethel Kennedy on behalf of the Robert F Kennedy Center to Robert F. Smith and by iconic fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg to Alek Wek.
Diversity Affluence Founder & CEO Andrea Hoffman thanked the honorees, sponsors & guests with heartfelt words, which included “Affluence provides the means for influence and influence provides the means for impact. She continued that “Progress in multicultural initiatives and social impact” is everyone’s business.” She then closed the afternoon by wowing the crowd with a video from President William J. Clinton who acknowledged the honorees for their philanthropic endeavors & non wavering commitment to social change, culminating in thunderous applause from the crowd.
Andrea Hoffman founded Diversity Affluence in 2006. It is a boutique marketing and management consultancy specializing in connecting brands and businesses to affluent, aspirational and influential ethnic consumers a group that they have coined as RoyaltonsTM. Andrea says “Diversity Affluence is committed to raising awareness of affluent and influential ethnic consumers and related executives and brands that acknowledge them”. Andrea says the brunch celebrates the far-reaching contributions of the incredible honorees and gives guests the opportunity to engage with affluent ethnic influencers, business and community leaders, upscale sponsors and multicultural taste makers.”4th Annual Diversity Affluence Brunch and Awards in Sag Harbor ended with Tichina Arnold’s beautiful rendition of “The Impossible Dream” .……her message to young people is: In Life we have obstacles, we have hurdles, you need to get over them, go around them, knock them down…Life is simple, we make it more complicated…. How true these words are…
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