Linda Fargo Emcees The YMA FSF Geoffrey Beene National Scholars Dinner

by The Daily Front Row

(NEW YORK) The 2014 YMA FSF Geoffrey Beene National Scholars Dinner drew such a sizable crowd that seating for the event spilled into the balconies of the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Attendees including Joanna ColesIris ApfelKarlie KlossBridget FoleyDavid Katz, and Kimberly Ovitz all faced the frigid 20° weather to show their support of the YMA FSF and Geoffrey Beene Foundation scholarship recipients.

Industry heavy hitters mingled with emerging talent over cocktails until Linda Fargo, the evening’s emcee, took to the stage, instantly captivating the crowd with her tux-inspired look and her striking signature bob. As for Fargo’s own foray into fashion? “I moved to New York with a Hefty bag full of clothes because my friend that picked me up didn’t have any room in her car for my suitcase!” Fargo recounted. “I didn’t know if I would be in fashion or not. Personally, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

While promoting education and sustaining the future of fashion remained the focus of the evening, the students weren’t the only reason for celebration. 2013 was a record-breaking fundraising year for the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund thanks to over 200 companies and the very generous support of the Geoffrey Beene Foundation led by CEO Tom Hutton. “Geoffrey Beene was honored by the YMA early in 2004, the year he died. I decided to make a contribution to YMA because he was very, very sincerely flattered by being honored,” Hutton told The Daily. “It was actually one of few times he accepted an honor. I think the real reason he accepted the award is he always believed in supporting young people.” 2014 looks like it will be another record-breaking year for the YMA Fashion Scholarship as last night’s event raised $1.85 million and presented $820,000 in scholarships.

YMA also honored designer Tamara Mellon, Perry Ellis founder and CEO George Feldenkreis, and Sears Apparel SVP and president Lana Cain Krauter for innovation, achievement, and dedication. Each honoree shared words of inspiration, motivation, and wit with the audience. In the room full of youthful students and seasoned executives alike, it was hard to tell who was the most inspired by the truly poignant event. But according to YMA President Jimmy Rosenfeld, the evening could be summed up in one utterly millennial word: #Awesome!
JULIE ZIGOS 

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