Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education Celebrates Kick- Off Party

General Pete Dawkins, Jackie Weld, Drake, Ambassador Mary Dawkins

Jacqueline Weld Drake opened her Park Avenue residence to nearly 100 friends to kick off Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education's annual “Fiesta” Gala. This year's honorees, newlyweds Ambassador Mary Dawkins and Brigadier General Peter Dawkins, Edgar Legaspi, as well as interior designer Juan Montoya were all there. Also being honored is the John Hardy jewelry company. 

Guests included Casita Maria Board members Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas, Michèle Gerber Klein, Alberto Mariaca with his wife, Annabelle, Fiesta co-chairs Urban Karlsson, Mary Snow, HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, as well as Steven M.L. Aronson, Yanna Avis, Cathie Black, Merilee and Roy Bostock, Geoffrey Bradfield, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Joan Hardy Clark, Angela Chen, Suzi Cordish, Adiana Echavarria, Camila Mendoza-Echavarria, Nick and Edmée Firth, Susan Gutfreund, Ambassador Brenda Johnson, Alice Kandell, Maria Eugenia Maury and William Haseltine, Christopher Mason, Mary McFadden, Ann and Bill Nitze, Tom Quick, Marc Rosen, and Adrienne and Gianluigi Vittadini. 

On October 15, 2019, Casita Maria will host Fiesta 2019 at The Plaza Hotel. Fiesta attracts a glamorous international crowd for a lively evening that is light on speeches and great fun, all in the service of our serious purpose. Much of the operating budget of the organization is raised at the event. Tickets can be purchased here

The Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is the oldest Latin charity in New York City, providing high-quality, innovative arts programming to over 1,000 students daily both during and after school. Located in our country’s poorest zip code, the South Bronx, the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education creates a safe and welcoming community, enriching and uplifting youth and families towards success, through shared cultural, art and educational experiences and programs and producing participatory, well-rounded individuals who go on to fulfill their dreams.

 Myself, Homero Niño and Karen Klopp 




Photos courtesy of John Sanderson/AnnieWatt.com