This national nonprofit with an amazing cause turned to the State Room to make their signature fundraising event as impactful as it is magical.
At Glance
- Custom floor plan | Double the original guest count
- Distinct black, white & red color scheme | Notable speakers
At its core, Camp Kesem’s gala is a huge fundraiser for the organization that supports children through and beyond their parent’s battle with cancer. But the event that helps fund the organization’s 100-plus camps across the country has also become famous for its impressive entertainment, high-style decor elements, and unparalleled food. In 2017, the State Room was honored to be chosen as the venue for the gala’s Boston chapter. The sleek, metropolitan space was framed with a dramatic black, white, and red color scheme that imbued the evening with a sense of glamour set against the backdrop of floor-to-ceiling glass walls looking out on Boston’s iconic city skyline.
The Big Little Things
Adapting to Double the Attendees
There are two marks of a successful fundraiser: the money earned and the number of guests who participate. This event originally accounted for 150 guests, but by the time the event took place, the headcount had grown to 300! That meant great news for the organization, and a great challenge for Longwood staff adapting on the fly to accommodate an event that doubled in size through the planning process. Staff worked to get creative and adjust different elements of the event, including last-minute additions like adding the VIP section to the mezzanine cocktail hour and finding ways to make comfortable seating for all.
Seeing the Stage from All Angles
The main component of the event were the three giant projection screens that displayed everything from insider videos of kids at Camp Kesem, Katie Couric introducing the paddle raise, announcing when goals were hit, and projecting live speeches. It was essential to the client that the screen be easily visible from every table, so Longwood staff built a custom floor plan to allow guests to engage with multiple freestanding plasma screens no matter where they were seated.
Help From Our Friends
Photos & Video | Alyce O’Connell | Boston, MA
Florals & Decor | Stapleton Floral | Boston, MA
Entertainment | C Zone | Beverly, MA
Audio Visual Production | Gemini AV | Cambridge, MA
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