Diva gets a breath of fresh air
At the Fresh Air Fund's annual spring gala, Mariah Carey proved that when it comes to the singer, an old adage rings true: She is, indeed, late but worth the wait. Ms. Carey was being "saluted as an American Hero" for her two decades of work with the organization, as well as the 20th Anniversary of Camp Mariah (which is under the umbrella of the Fresh Air Fund and offers a summer vacation and learning program to underprivileged children). But nobody even flinched as she wafted into the ballroom of Pier 60 at 8:47 p.m. on Thursday evening, two hours after the official start of the party.
"I didn't get a chance to touch up before I got here," she explained as she took the stage, pulling out a compact and inspecting her face. The audience, which had already listened to success stories from campers preaching the gospel of Mariah, roared in laughter. Their diva had arrived.
"When I first started out with Camp Mariah, I was basically a kid as well," she said (chiming in with, "No, for real!" when the crowd laughed). "And I thought, this would be a fun project." Ms. Carey continued on, explaining how in the two decades that she has been involved with the Fresh Air Fund, the not-for-profit agency which provides free summer experiences for children in New York, has now touched her life in a multitude of ways, creating relationships with campers and board members.
She also expressed her gratitude for the evening's decor, which was an over-the-top butterfly theme in her honor, including light projections and thousands of different decorations of the colorful insects. "I was involved when we were planning this whole thing," said celebrity stylist June Ambrose, who herself was involved in the Fresh Air Fund program as a child. "I said, 'Butterflies? If she could tattoo 20 of them on her a-, she would. This is perfect!' "
Tiki Barber said he first got involved with the Fresh Air Fund in 2000, and was one of a number of athletes in attendance including dinner-committee member Victor Cruz and Amar'e Stoudemire. Mr. Barber also appreciated the ode to Ms. Carey: "My wife Tracey loves the butterfly see-through umbrellas. When it's all over I'm going to ask for one for her."
Al Roker, who emceed the event, included Mr. Carey in a number of good-natured jokes, shouting back and forth with her in the audience. As for Ms. Carey, she may have arrived late, but she was one of the last to leave. The singer snapped photo after photo with campers and guests before lingering in her car in the parking lot, talking with fans through the window, encouraging them the same thing she had said in her speech earlier in the evening. "Never, ever give up on your dreams." (The Wall Street Journal)
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