ELYSIAN’s CatWalk FurBaby: When Couture Meets Compassion at Sony Hall.
Karen Floyd is not only a Publisher, icon and mogul but the kindest heart and soul and true angel in this world.
PR Superpower Norah Lawlor invited to the most stunning night of charity during NYFW 2025 and the entire A List showed up. Hollywoor Star Leesa Roland, Society Star Carmen D’Alessio, Top celebrity and super entrepreneur designer and singer Consuelo Vanderbilt and Maribel Lieberman, ms Hot Chocolate who is the finest chocolatier in the country!
The prestigious event brought together an extraordinary guest list that elevated its atmosphere of glamour and impact. Among the distinguished attendees was Kathy Prounis, whose presence highlighted the evening’s caliber and influence. Equally inspiring was Lisa Blanco, the visionary founder of Second Chance, whose dedication to meaningful change added depth and purpose to the celebration. Alongside her, Jennifer Brookes graced the occasion, her presence reinforcing the sense of community, elegance, and commitment to excellence that defined the night.
The runway of New York Fashion Week has always been where fashion tells its boldest stories, but this year inside the glowing heart of Sony Hall, the story stretched far beyond hems and hemlines. It became a symphony of wagging tails, charitable missions, human compassion, and unforgettable glamour. ELYSIAN Impact’s CatWalk FurBaby was not just another runway show—it was a cultural moment that fused luxury fashion with the urgent needs of nonprofits. Twenty-one charities, world-renowned designers, dazzling celebrities, and beloved rescue dogs converged to create an evening that shimmered with sequins and sincerity. Haute couture became a language not only of beauty, but of adoption, fundraising, and second chances.
Animal charities brought the heartbeat of the event into sharp focus. Companion Animal Alliance, based in Louisiana, has tirelessly worked to reduce euthanasia and rehome thousands of pets, and their mission was elevated by Jaime Glas Odom, the sparkling founder of Queen of Sparkles, who walked the runway with irresistible joy. Their pairing earned the People’s Choice Award, a public testament that audiences care as deeply about animals as they do about fashion. Animal Advocates of Barnwell County from South Carolina stood proud as a reminder that rural communities need the same compassion as big cities. Animal Ashram, of Hollywood Star Leesa Rowland, blended spirituality with rescue work, adding a soulful dimension to the evening. Operation Kindness, Texas’s oldest no-kill shelter, was represented with fire and elegance by international actress and model Gia Skova, who stunned in D’Marsh Couture. Their collaboration won the Publisher’s Award, underscoring the timeless link between compassion and glamour. New York’s own Second Chance Rescue, known for saving the most at-risk dogs, triumphed when Rachel Donohue modeled Nicole Miller and Canine Cashmere, winning the Judges’ Choice Award. Their moment was magnified when actress Alexandra Daddario adopted a dog from them during the event, a fairy tale unfolding in real time. Spartanburg Humane Society carried a century of Southern compassion onto the runway, while Rescue Dogs Rock demonstrated resilience by standing for the abused, the abandoned, and the forgotten.
The children’s charities added a tender balance to the night. Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, created in memory of a young artist, reminded the audience of the urgent need for cancer research. The Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County showed the healing power of therapy and trauma support for children and families. Charleston Alternative to Detention offered young people a second chance at life, a striking counterpart to the theme of rescued animals finding new homes. The Original Six Foundation, founded by former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, brought the promise of education to underserved communities, showing that literacy and learning belong on every runway of hope.
The Rahm Foundation represented the environment, reminding guests that fashion’s beauty must also honor the planet that sustains it. Service-based charities stitched valor into the night with Marley’s Mutts and its transformative Pawsitive Change Program, which pairs rescue dogs with incarcerated men for mutual rehabilitation. The Guns Garin Memorial Foundation honored the legacy of a fallen hero, while Honoring America’s Veterans ensured that those who served the nation remained in the spotlight. The American Red Cross carried its global reputation for saving lives onto the catwalk, while the WLS Foundation reminded everyone that resilience and leadership must be nurtured in every community.
Women’s charities carried empowerment at their very core. The New York Women’s Foundation, one of the most visible forces for gender equity, was represented by philanthropist and fashion icon Jean Shafiroff, who walked with her signature grace. Known as one of Manhattan’s leading society figures, Shafiroff has written books, hosted galas, and tirelessly championed causes for both women and animals, and her presence linked high society with heartfelt advocacy. The Nebras Hayek Foundation lifted women through cross-cultural education, while Silent Tears confronted the shadow of domestic violence and gave a voice to survivors. The Silverstein Dream Foundation brought imagination and vision, reminding the audience that dreams are not limited by circumstance.
The roster of celebrities and fashion figures gave the evening its luminous shine. Kristin Thorne, the acclaimed journalist and anchor, brought poise and credibility as she took the stage. Rachel Donohue, in Nicole Miller, embodied elegance while raising awareness for NYC Second Chance Rescue. Gia Skova dazzled in D’Marsh Couture, giving Operation Kindness a fiery presence. Jaime Glas Odom embodied pure sparkle as she championed Companion Animal Alliance. Chloe Jane, goddaughter of Tommy Hilfiger, brought her own star power by not only walking the runway but also DJing the event, weaving music into fashion and activism. Patricia Silverstein delivered one of the night’s most unforgettable moments when she adopted Percy, her dog, directly from the runway, turning the spectacle into a living symbol of hope. And Loretta Swit, Hollywood legend, Emmy-winning actress from MASH*, and lifelong animal rights advocate, stunned in Johnathan Kayne, proving that activism and artistry can coexist in one unforgettable presence.
At the helm of the evening was Fern Mallis, the visionary creator of New York Fashion Week, who emceed with wit and gravitas, reminding everyone that she remains the soul of fashion’s biggest stage. The judges’ panel added another level of brilliance. Consuelo Vanderbilt, heir to one of America’s most iconic families, lent aristocratic glamour. Carol Alt, supermodel and actress, added the weight of her legendary career. Maribel Lieberman, chocolatier and cultural icon, reminded everyone that artistry comes in many forms. Their decisions carried weight, because the awards were not symbolic—they were tied directly to funds for the winning charities.
What elevated CatWalk FurBaby above any other benefit was ELYSIAN’s foresight. Beyond the sparkle of gowns and the applause of the audience, the organizers produced a documentary, CatWalk FurBaby 2, gifted to each of the twenty-one charities. This ensured that shelters, foundations, and service groups could take the glamour of Sony Hall back to their own communities, host screenings, raise funds, and continue telling the story long after the lights went out. The runway became a lifeline, and the couture a fundraising tool, ensuring the impact would ripple for months and years to come.
This was not just fashion. This was fashion as philanthropy, couture as conscience, and beauty as a call to action. When Jean Shafiroff’s gown swept the stage, when Chloe Jane’s music pulsed, when Rachel Donohue, Gia Skova, Jaime Glas Odom, Kristin Thorne, Patricia Silverstein, and Loretta Swit each stepped forward with their dogs, they were not simply modeling clothes. They were modeling compassion, courage, and hope. And when Alexandra Daddario quietly adopted her rescue that night, it was the perfect proof that lives were saved and futures rewritten.
At Sony Hall, under the bright lights of New York Fashion Week, ELYSIAN Impact’s CatWalk FurBaby proved that glamour can be generous, celebrity can be conscience, and the runway itself can become a sanctuary. It was a cover-worthy moment in the history of fashion, philanthropy, and love—for animals, for people, and for the world we share.
