i.am.angel Foundation TRANS4M Gala 2017
For the sixth year, Empire teamed up with visionary artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist will.i.am to produce the annual TRANS4M Gala, benefiting his i.am.angel Foundation. This year’s gala honored Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce, a pioneer of cloud computing and creator of the 1-1-1 model of philanthropy which leverages its resources to improve communities around the world. The evening was co-hosted by Ron Conway, Laurene Powell-Jobs, Sir Richard Branson, Van Jones, Lyn & Norman Lear, Ken Hertz and Polo Molina.
The i.am.angel Foundation supports charitable activities and educational programs providing college scholarships (i.am scholarship), college preparation (i.am College Track), and opportunities in STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), all part of will.i.am’s commitment to TRANS4M-ing his hometown neighborhood of Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles.
On the evening of February 9, 2017, more than 350 supporters gathered at will.i.am’s studio and headquarters known as “The Future” for an intimate evening that showcased the Foundation’s programs and students. i.am.angel Foundation donors enjoyed cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and musical surprises by the Printz Trio as they made their way through The Future’s space, engaging with students in a variety of demonstrations related to i.am.angel Foundation’s STEAM programming.
After cocktails, guests made their way to Milk Studios, which was transformed into an elegant dining room with long rustic wooden tables juxtaposed with the venue’s steel and urban vibe. Flourishes including hanging greenery, pin-spotted tabletop florals, and flickering candlelight for a warm yet forward-looking style.
The program included heartwarming student testimonials, an education and philanthropy conversation between will.i.am and Marc Benioff, and a guest appearance by the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. As the evening progressed, auctioneer Abra Annes took the stage and led guests to bid on VIP experiences that ranged from a safari at Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri Lodge in Kenya to meeting Chris Rock at The Total Blackout Tour.
The evening finished with a high-energy performance by The Original Black Eyed Peas and after party beats provided by DJ Ali Shaheed.
Empire is honored to continue our long-term partnership with the i.am.angel Foundation and to serve as producer of this exclusive event.
For more information on this innovative foundation, please visit iamangelfoundation.org
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
