Details

Join us at Kota’s annual fundraising event to enjoy a five-course meal prepared by renowned Harlem chef Lana Lagomarsini, mentoring female students from the Culinary Institute of America. The dinner will be followed by an exclusive auction of works from our ROOTED exhibition.

The Kota Alliance

Kota’s mission is to create more equitable communities for marginalized women and girls through arts & community programs.

Our annual fundraising dinner is an evening that celebrates the power of mentorship and the arts. Featuring a five-course meal by celebrated chef Lana Lagomarsini and rising women of color from The Culinary Institute of America, this benefit directly funds our programs in Arts & Culture. This year features an art auction with works by women artists 2026 "ROOTED" exhibition series and our community events.

Tickets:

Your ticket $175 includes the full dinner experience.

If you are unable to attend, you can purchase a ticket to sponsor a community member to join the event.

We welcome corporate sponsorships!

Sponsorship opportunities:

$1,000 - Partner: Sponsor acknowledgement in Kota's newsletter & social media. Two tickets to attend the dinner.

$2,500 - Silver: All of the benefits of Partner sponsorship package. Permanent sponsor placement on website. Three tickets to attend the dinner.

$5,000 - Gold: All of the benefits of Silver sponsorship package. Customised corporate volunteer engagement for 2 at Kota. Five tickets to attend the dinner.


Additional Information:

Dress Code: Casual Chic.

How to get there: Kota Alliance is located in the Sugar Hill neighborhood, at 43 St Nicholas Place near 152nd St. between the A/B/C/D 145th Station and C 155th Station, along the M3 bus line. Parking is very limited, with few street spots; the nearest paid lots are at 414 W 155th St and 457 W 150th St.

Accessibility: Kota Alliance occupies a historic building, without wheelchair accessibility, with 4 wide steps inside to the first floor. Steps up to the second floor are wide and have a railing for assistance.

Photographics: By attending this event you consent to photographs of you being potentially used in Kota online and print marketing.

You're invited to join us for our annual Destination Dining fundraiser—an evening that brings people together over amazing food and a shared mission to uplift women in our community.

Destination Dining event is designed to foster impact across generations, bringing together female culinary students for mentoring by accomplished local female Chef Lana Lagomarsini, Top Chef 2025 competitor. Together they create an event of culinary excellence which our guests will enjoy in an intimate setting in our historic Sugar Hill building.

The evening kicks off at 6:30 PM with cocktails and small bites, followed by a sit-down dinner in our cozy, historic Sugar Hill space. Your ticket ($250) includes the full dinner experience. If you are unable to attend, you can purchace a ticket for $150 to sponsor a community member to join the event. Please let us know about any possible dietary restrictions and/or allergies at least one week before the dinner by emailing us at info@kota-alliance.org.

If you're part of an organization, we welcome corporate sponsorships starting at $1,000 - just reach out to jaana@kota-alliance.org for details.

Every dollar raised supports Kota’s programs in Health & Wellness and Arts & Culture to support Women's empowerment across Harlem and beyond.

Let’s come together to enjoy great food and help create real change in our community. We can’t wait to share this special evening with you.



Additional Information:

Dress Code: Casual Chic.

How to get there: Kota Alliance is located in the Sugar Hill neighborhood, at 43 St Nicholas Place near 152nd St. between the A/B/C/D 145th Station and C 155th Station, along the M3 bus line. Parking is very limited, with few street spots; the nearest paid lots are at 414 W 155th St and 457 W 150th St.

Accessibility: Kota Alliance occupies a historic building, without wheelchair accessibility, with 4 wide steps inside to the first floor. Steps up to the second floor are wide and have a railing for assistance.

Photographics: By attending this event you consent to photographs of you being potentially used in Kota online and print marketing.

CELEBRATING HARLEM WOMEN – December 5, 2024

Please join Kota’s founder and board of directors at an end of year fundraising reception on December 5, from 6pm-8pm, at the Kota Nest when we host Celebrating Harlem Women! Our goal is to raise money to support the expansion of our programs and to meet more needs in the Harlem community and beyond. The evening will honor two champions who have been building a vision for a better future in Harlem and across New York throughout their careers, artist Ruthy Valdez and healer DeenaLynn Dockery-Collins.

Tickets are $95 each. The evening will feature cocktails, delicious hors d'oeuvres, live music, and more during the closing night of The Meaning of Place Exhibit!

Corporate sponsorships and in-kind contributions to our silent auction are also welcome. We hope you can join us for this celebration and investment in the present and future of Harlem!

Meet the Honorees

Ruthy Valdez is a surrealist artist from Harlem and Washington Heights. She creates imaginative pieces imbued with symbolic meaning by skillfully blending colors and intricate patterns. Through her thought-provoking and dynamic paintings, Ruthy unravels life’s deeper mysteries and meanings. Growing up in a culturally diverse environment and influenced by Dominican and Turkish traditions, Ruthy’s art is infused with a unique cultural perspective that is both timeless and universal.

In Ruthy’s world, the simple flutter of a butterfly becomes a symbol of a more intricate relationship. Every brushstroke in her paintings celebrates life’s endless variety and experience.

DeenaLynn Dockery-Collins holds a Master’s in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, an A.O.S. degree and licensure in Massage Therapy and is a Certified Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master and Teacher. Her holistic approach focuses on building curricula and partnerships that promote well-being, particularly within disenfranchised communities, including BIPOC/QTBIPOC+. With over 20 years of experience as a healer and trauma healing facilitator, DeenaLynn combines mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, movement, breath-work, and bodywork to help clients reset and achieve balance in their lives.

Her journey as a healer began over 35 years ago, inspired by personal trauma and a deep desire for inner peace. This led her to spiritual healing, African spirituality, and alternative medicine. Today, her mission is to guide others toward conscious, joyful, and balanced living through natural healing techniques.