FIT ANNUAL GALA
APR | 14 | 26
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine
About Our Honoree
Richard Dickson
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GAP INC.
His career embodies the values, vision, and future of FIT.
Richard has built a career transforming companies and reinvigorating brands by understanding what made them special in the first place, then evolving them to new relevance with story-led products and experiences that both reflect and shape culture — including bringing the global phenomenon movie Barbie to life as an executive producer.
Under his leadership, Gap Inc. is progressing as one of the most celebrated companies in fashion, where purpose and profit coexist, creating positive impacts for people and the planet.
Guided by Gap Inc.'s purpose to bridge gaps to create a better world — and inspired by Doris and Don Fisher’s legacy and belief in people, creativity, and opportunity — Gap Inc. has always believed in not just doing business, but in mattering more. A reflection of the profound connection between creativity and meaningful change that FIT stands for.
Supporting the FIT Annual Gala
Supporting the FIT Annual Gala helps:
Funds scholarships that allow diverse, talented students to attend and thrive at FIT.
Strengthens the Museum at FIT, preserving fashion history and producing world-class exhibitions.
Supports a top public fashion institution with cutting-edge labs, technology, and faculty.
Powers NYC’s creative economy by developing the next generation of designers, artists, and industry leaders.
Fuels innovation in sustainability, materials research, digital fashion, and beauty.
Expands access, equity, and industry opportunities for underrepresented creatives.
A Measure of Our Threads of Impact
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Calvin Klein
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Michael Kors
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Norma Kamali
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Nina García
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Laverne Cox
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David Chu
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Ralph Rucci
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Bibhu Mohapatra
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Tony Chi
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Leslie Blodgett
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Suzanne Tick
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Daniel Roseberry
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Randy Fenoli
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Ivy Ross
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Dorothy Cosonas
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Zaldy Goco
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Jesse Carrier & Mara Miller
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William Frake
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Stephen A. Smith
Together, these FIT alumni have shaped global fashion, beauty, media, and design industries—building multibillion-dollar brands, driving cultural trends, and powering major segments of the creative economy.
By supporting the FIT Annual Gala,
you are building tomorrow’s important leaders.
Previous FIT Annual Gala Honorees:
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Dr. Joyce F. Brown
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Rebecca Hessel Cohen
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Kenneth Cole
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Norma Kamali
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Victor Glemaud
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Karlie Kloss
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Ashley Graham
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Debra Martin Chase
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Brandice Daniel
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Serena Williams
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Eileen Fisher
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Nadja Swarovski
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Aerin Lauder
Creative Partnership Opportunities
Brand Visibility & Recognition
(Short & Long Term)
Includes:
Recognition as title sponsor of the London Live Auction experience
Small paver inscription at The Walk at FIT Academic Building
Social media amplification across FIT channels highlighting the collaboration and the students
Student Impact
Includes:
McLaren to choose winning design from three (3) student entries
Funding for cash prize award ($5,000) for the winning student (recognition presented in McLaren’s name)
VIP seats for 2 at the Future of Fashion runway show, and cocktail reception, which highlights 2026 graduates of FIT's Fashion Design BFA program
On-Site Gala Specific Presence
Includes:
Opportunity to showcase a FIT student-designed car wrap on a McLaren vehicle at the venue
FIT would secure required NYC permits
McLaren to manage creation and application of car wrap, delivery of the car to/from venue, along with any security and insurance needed
Dedicated signage alongside vehicle display
Digital ad
On-site brand recognition throughout the evening
One table for 10 guests + after party acces
London Live Auction Package
Includes:
Coordinating a private McLaren factory tour for two (2)
Facilitating a Silverstone track experience for two (2)
Supporting branded elements to elevate the package’s prestige and market value at the Gala
TBD – Partnership with Stephen A. Smith for the live auction item
We are confident this London experience, anchored by McLaren, will be one of the most anticipated and competitive moments of the evening.
This partnership brings together innovation, design excellence, and performance, values that define both McLaren and FIT.
This partnership is bold, unexpected, and intergenerational, an exciting collaboration that will energize our community and inspire the next generation.
Creative Concept
ACTIVATION
Gala Car-Wrap
FIT proposes a creative partnership to create a custom student-designed vehicle wrap for a McLaren car, showcased prominently outside the venue on the night of the Gala.
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FIT faculty would hand-select three outstanding students from relevant design programs to participate in this collaboration.
These three students would develop concept directions for a bespoke McLaren car wrap inspired by the Gala theme and McLaren’s brand identity.
McLaren would review the three concepts and select a final design to be executed.
Production & Placement
McLaren would provide the vehicle and coordinate production of the wrap with its preferred vendor.
On the night of the Gala, the wrapped car would be positioned outside the main entrance of the Cathedral, creating a high-visibility photo moment for 600+ guests from fashion, media, retail, and philanthropy.
Brand Visibility & Recognition
Co-branded signage at the car “Designed by FIT Students in partnership with McLaren”
Recognition in the
Gala program and digital materials
Social media amplification across FIT channels highlighting the collaboration and the students
Let’s design a custom opportunity that builds an ongoing bridge between your objectives and FIT’s mission.
ABOUT THE NIGHT
The Venue
The Cathedral of
St. John the Divine
Chosen for its breathtaking scale and profound sense of inclusivity, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is more than a venue—it is a living testament to creativity, culture, and community.
Its soaring architecture and longstanding tradition of hosting transformative art, fashion, and humanitarian events mirror the very essence of the FIT Foundation’s mission: where design carries purpose, innovation uplifts humanity, and creativity becomes a force for change.
Beneath its iconic vaulted ceilings, we gather in a space that honors vision, celebrates diversity, and reflects the boundless possibility of the future we are shaping together.
The Guest List:
The guest list brings together leading designers, fashion executives, creatives, and cultural influencers who shape the industry’s direction.
Past attendees reflect a mix of top talent and decision-makers, making the room a powerful hub of innovation.
The event will include:
A live auction of rare, bespoke experiences from top fashion houses and luxury brands
Opportunities to connect with influential leaders and innovators
Exclusive gifts for attendees
Moving tributes that celebrate creativity and purpose
Engaging brand experiences
Access to FIT’s dynamic, emerging student creators
A deeper look into the college’s mission, vision, and plans
Gala Co-Chairs
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Is a seasoned brand and retail leader known for building high-performing teams and driving strong, customer-focused growth across both global corporations and emerging brands.
As a Senior Strategic Advisor for Multimedia Plus, she develops digital training and communication strategies that elevate employee engagement and enhance the customer experience, while also supporting Apple’s brand standards and volunteer initiatives throughout New York City.
Honorary Gala- Co Chairs
Kamie Lightburn
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Creative director, designer, and curator celebrated for her immersive approach to design, hospitality, and cultural programming. She began her career in contemporary art before evolving into a distinctive interior design and hospitality visionary. As the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Palm Heights and Creative Director at WSA, she has built brands blending design, art, fashion, food, wellness, and community into spaces that feel both elevated and deeply connected.
Today, she continues to shape the future of hospitality and design with projects that merge beauty, cultural resonance, and human connection.
Mona Aboelnaga
Gala Host Committee
Desiree Watson
Jackee de Lagarde
Jessica Resler
Mame Annan-Brown
Sarah Bonello
The Power of FIT
FIT helped define New York City as the fashion capital of the U.S.
We created a talent pipeline for 7th Avenue’s garment district, and then for the contemporary luxury, streetwear, and creative tech industries.
The Museum at FIT influences fashion scholarships worldwide through exhibitions that reinterpret style, identity, and culture.
FIT is one of the few institutions that treats fashion as both
art form and industry.
Through the Foundation:
$1.5 MILLION
Awarded in
scholarships in 2026
350+
Scholarships awarded
in 2026
90,000
Total alumni
FIT is a major economic engine for both NYC and the fashion and creative industries, and graduates feed every sector:
Animation & Game Design
Apparel manufacturing
Beauty & Fragrance
Fashion Design
Footwear & Accessories Design
Illustration
Interior Design
Retail leadership
Textile innovation
Toy Design
Trend forecasting
Employers from LVMH to Macy’s actively recruit with FIT—our students are powerhouses of vibrant creative expression, global impact, and predictors whose influence moves markets.
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FIT is the heartbeat of New York’s fashion ecosystem—an engine of talent, innovation, and cultural relevance. I serve on its board because the future of our industry is being built in those classrooms, and I want to help ensure that every brilliant, diverse creative has the chance to shape what comes next.