new York Restoration Project’s Annual Hulaween Gala Raised Over $2 Million to Ensure Equitable Access to Nature for All New Yorkers
Featuring live performances by Cyndi Lauper, Jessica Vosk, Sydney James Harcourt, and Will Lee and The Root System; plus Mario Cantone as emcee, and Isaac Mizrahi and Rachel Antonoff as Costume Contest Judges
“Hulaween on Horror Reef: Monsters of the Deep” honored New York Restoration Project Trustees Sophie von Haselberg and Harry Guinness with the Wind Beneath My Wings Award Presented by NYRP Founder Bette Midler
On Friday, October 23, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) hosted its annual Hulaween gala, raising over $2 million to support its mission of ensuring equitable access to green spaces across New York City. The themed event, “Hulaween on Horror Reef: Monsters of the Deep,” took place at The Glasshouse and honored NYRP Trustees Sophie von Haselberg and Harry Guinness with the Wind Beneath My Wings Award, presented by award-winning singer, entertainer, actress, activist, NYRP founder, and Sophie’s mother, Bette Midler, in recognition of their leadership and commitment to the organization.
Hulaween is one of New York City’s most eagerly anticipated annual Halloween events. Founded in 1996, the star-studded gala brings together supporters to raise vital funds for NYRP’s work restoring and reviving parks, community gardens, and public green spaces across all five boroughs. These resources empower local communities to activate open spaces year-round through urban agriculture, educational programs, live performances, and food distribution initiatives.
This year, guests stepped into “Hulaween on Horror Reef: Monsters of the Deep,” an immersive underwater world featuring haunting decor, festive cocktails, curated dining, and show-stopping entertainment. Actor and comedian Mario Cantone emceed the festivities, leading guests through a memorable evening of music and philanthropy. The night featured electrifying musical sets by Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning icon Cyndi Lauper, Broadway star Jessica Vosk, Broadway actor and singer Sydney James Harcourt, and Will Lee and The Root System.
fashion visionaries Isaac Mizrahi and Rachel Antonoff served as judges for Hulaween’s iconic Costume Contest. Winners of this year’s contest included:
Best Individual Winner: Allie Provost, Rainbow Fish
Best Duo: Jon Recor & Daniel Stewart, Sunken Treasure
Best Group: SoMad, All Trawled Up
Best Upcycled Costume: Tripp Swanhouse, Out of the Sea
The celebration concluded with guests dancing late into the night with entertainment provided by Brooklyn creative collective House of Yes and DJ Boyyyish. The event’s distinguished co-chairs included Candice Bergen, Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito, Jonah Hill, Julianne Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kristen Wiig.
“Every year, Hulaween reminds us just how much New Yorkers care about the green spaces that make our city home, and this year was no exception,” said Lynn Bodnar Kelly, Executive Director of New York Restoration Project. “The support raised tonight will help sustain the parks, gardens, and green spaces where New Yorkers grow food, learn, gather, and find moments of connection and calm. We’re deeply grateful to Sophie von Haselberg and Harry Guinness for their leadership and commitment to NYRP, to Bette Midler for her vision more than three decades ago, and to everyone who dressed up, showed up, and helped us build a greener, more equitable New York.”
“Sophie von Haselberg, my daughter, and her husband, Harry Guiness, were our Wind Beneath Our Wings honorees this year, and I am thrilled,” said Bette Midler. “Sophie has been involved with NYRP since she was 8 years old, and her commitment to NYRP is total. She and Harry both joined the Board a few years ago and have done so much work to help us in our recovery from the Covid years; the Board and staff believed they have certainly earned the award. You can imagine how moved I am by their selection. Their commitment will energize NYRP and will bring so many new, young people to our organization, without whom, no organization can continue to thrive.”
"It's wild to receive an award from an organization that's been in my life since I was SEVEN,” added NYRP Trustee and Wind Beneath My Wings Honoree Sophie von Haselberg. "NYRP has shaped the way I think about nature in an urban setting—easy access to green space should be a fundamental right, even if we do choose to live in the (world's greatest) concrete jungle. Harry and I may be receiving this award, but the people who deserve it most are the NYRP staff and volunteers in the field. They work in rain, sleet, snow and blazing heat, to build, restore and share parks, gardens and shorelines for communities across all 5 boroughs of New York City. And they know better than anyone that natural beauty can thrive, even in tiny and unexpected spaces."
With the help of over 146,800 volunteers, New York Restoration Project has removed over six million pounds of trash, planted and distributed more than 280,500 trees, and built or restored over 350 public green spaces throughout all five boroughs. Thanks to NYRP’s work, more than 1.6 million New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of a vibrant green space.
More information about the event and how to support NYRP’s mission can be found at nyrp.org/hulaween.
# # #
ABOUT NEW YORK RESTORATION PROJECT
New York Restoration Project (NYRP) believes that access to nature is a fundamental human right. Founded by Bette Midler in 1995, NYRP restores and nurtures parks, community gardens, and other green spaces across all five boroughs, creating healthier, greener neighborhoods where people and nature can thrive. Today, more than 1.6 million New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of an NYRP green space. To learn more, visit nyrp.org
