Jennifer Hudson sang at a swanky benefit at the Plaza Hotel featuring tons of a New York power players

Christian StormMay 9, 2015, 04:04 IST

On Wednesday night, the Plaza Hotel hosted the Boys & Girls Harbor's Annual "Salute to Achievement" Benefit, a first for the organization that usually sticks to its campus on E 104th Street. New York titans of industry like Bill Ackman and Lyor Cohen and came together to honor David R. Weinreb, CEO of the Howard Hughes Corporation, for his contributions to The Harbor, a non-for-profit based in East Harlem that encourages creativity and critical thinking through the performing arts. Each year, The Harbor provides free after-school programming for over a thousand students, from preschool through high school, with a heavy emphasis on the creative arts. Last night was no exception. Students from the Harbor program sang and danced choreographed performances to the delight of the audience, which included both donors and alumni of the program, which was founded 1937. Other guests included CeCe Peniston, Andrew Rosen, Rusty Staub, Rachel Axelrod, Sylvester & Gillian Miniter, Will Carey, Colin & Elizabeth Callender, Bill Pickens, Joseph & Amy Perella, Stephen & Beth Dannhauser, Paul Selver, Jonathan Carver, Ana Laspetkovski, Byron Garrett, Catherine Smith, David Wassong, Paul & Christine Scheele, Kevin Liles, Bill Burrs, Jonathan Canter, Mark & Ronda Axelowitz, Alain & Leah Lebec, and Morgan & Sacha Bale, and many more.

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Jennifer Hudson sang at a swanky benefit at the Plaza Hotel featuring tons of a New York power players