The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Bear Awards
The Brady Center / Campaign to prevent Gun Violence works tirelessly to shape strategic policies and conduct public health campaigns in an effort to prevent the over 33,000 annual gun deaths in America. Empire was proud to join with Brady to produce their critical New York Gala to increase the resources dedicated to their public health and safety awareness campaigns.
Together with Brady, Empire worked to secure one of New York City’s newest and oldest venues – the recently-opened Ziegfeld Ballroom where the Ziegfeld Theater once stood. The event kicked off seamlessly when registration partner 501 Auctions quickly checked in guests and registered bidders for the auction. Once inside, donors and supporters enjoyed a cocktail reception featuring a silver and grey color scheme to reflect the building’s art deco heritage. Once seated for dinner, guests were presented an informative and emotional stage program. The program began with a high energy performance by the Gospel Choir of Harlem, a moving victim testimonial, and a live auction pledge experience led by auctioneer Charles Antin. As the evening progressed, guests were inspired by an unforgettable speech delivered by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, a longtime supporter of gun violence prevention legislation whose first-hand knowledge of the gun violence epidemic in his home city of Newark brought the audience to tears. Advertising visionary David Droga was honored for Droga5’s partnership to develop an advertising and social norms campaign that speaks to gun owners, without any judgment, about the dangers of guns in their homes.
The evening concluded with heartfelt and an upbeat performance by founding member of the Goo Goo Dolls, Johnny Rzeznik, who is also committed to this cause.Empire proudly supports the important work of The Brady Center in its effort to end the senseless epidemic of gun violence in America. To learn more about the Brady Campaign and support their mission, please visit https://www.bradycampaign.org/bradycenter. With your help, we can say #ENOUGH to gun violence.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
