June 1, 2012
Steve Hirst, Contributing Editor

A great cause, an assortment of prizes, and (not insignificantly!) an open bar on top shelf gin, whisky and rum led to a full house at the UN Women Metro NY Chapter Young Professionals’ 3rd annual “A Night to Say NO” to Violence Against Women fundraiser.

Over 250 guests packed the bar and poured onto the dance floor of the upscale Lower East Side venue Hotel Chantelle to show their support, buy raffle tickets, and generally raise the roof. “Raging party in a sweet club with a bunch of attractive people,” said attendee and CauseCart founder Michael Geer, while taking in the scene and sipping on a Dark n’ Stormy. “Doing good can be such a drag.”

As the Sailor Jerry Rum, Hendrick’s Gin and Tullamore Dew whiskey kept on flowing, the pictures taken in the Polite and Public photo booth grew progressively more interesting (see gallery).

The final tally? Over ten thousand dollars in cash, which will go directly to the UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women.

The numerous raffle prizes given away by a shouting British man didn’t hurt the bottom line either; with such diverse offerings as tickets to Yankee games and Saturday Night Live dress rehearsals, an UGG Australia leather bag with matching shoes, round trip JetBlue tickets, and an iPad.

This resounding success couldn’t have happened without the cooperation of Hotel Chantelle itself and a host of other generous sponsors, including Sushi Samba, L’Oreal, Baja Fresh, and so many more. And of course, the hardworking members of the UN Women Metro NY Chapter Young Professionals Steering Committee, for making it all happen.

To show your support to end the violence, check out Our Action Page.