Thank you Aspen! We had an incredible inaugural New Years Eve celebration with Bovet 1822 at the beautiful St. Regis Aspen Hotel. Co-hosts included Academy Award® winner Susan Sarandon, star polo player and model Nacho Figueras and wife Delfina Blaquier, owner of the St. Regis Aspen Stephane De Baets, owner of Bovet 1822 Pascal Raffy, and Amy Sacco. Event guests included the evening’s performers, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne of Arcade Fire, musician Rufus Wainwright, actress and model Madalina Ghenea, and front man of The National Matt Berninger.

Click here for photos from the celebration.

The spectacular night featured hors d’oeuvres and a four course culinary experience from Chefs Club by Food & Wine Magazine, including Petrossian Caviar, agnolotti with shaved white truffle, and a Waygu beef duo. The open bar featured Billecart-Salmon Champagne, Aspen Brewing Company Beer, and cocktails furnished by Woody Creek Distillery. Guests wore special Masquerade Masks hand painted by Broadway makeup designer Joe Dulude II.

Highlights of the evening included a lively and fun auction, where a Zoolander 2 experience brought home over $50,000, and a special live performance by Arcade Fire’s Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, who played classics such as “Haiti”, “The Suburbs,” and were joined onstage by Matt Berninger from The National for a beautiful version of “Wake Up.” Katharine McPhee, American Idol contestant and star of hit television show ‘Smash’, sang the classic “What Are You Doing New Years” to start off the party.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to start 2016 than with our friend Stephane and the St Regis family. Artists for Peace and Justice has always benefited from our extraordinary, ever-growing, committed friends who are all dedicated to achieving meaningful results for the children of Haiti. The Midnight Masquerade brought together old friends and an opportunity to make new friends and continue to build on our fantastic achievements. In the coming year, we will be prepared for new challenges but also a bright beginning for our first-ever graduating high school class. Because of you, these children will have a chance at a better tomorrow. Because of you, we are beginning to break the cycle of poverty and lack of education in Haiti. And because of you, and your amazing support, we can ring in the New Year with a message of hope and progress for our students. We’re grateful to the Aspen community, our incredible partners and friends Bovet 1822, Stephane De Baets, Chefs Club by Food&Wine and the St. Regis Aspen for the warm welcome to your beautiful town.”

We came to Aspen with our strategic partner, Bovet 1822, as the 2015 New Years Eve gala’s title sponsor, with Owner Pascal Raffy joining the roster of co-hosts for the evening. Bovet 1822 ensures APJ is able to give 100 percent of every dollar raised directly to Haiti.

Guests looking to wear this season’s hottest new looks visited The Armarium Chalet, a luxury pop-up retail styling concept where guests have access to high fashion pieces on a borrowed basis, as well as access to the fashion industry’s top stylists. Esteemed guests of the Midnight Masquerade Susan Sarandon, Delfina Blaquier, APJ COO Kathryn Everett, and more were all dressed by The Armarium Chalet.

The highlight of the evening was the countdown to midnight, with Win Butler and Régine Chassagne taking the stage with Zing Experience (Paul Beaubrun, Morgan Zwerlein and Yves Boyer) to play Arcade Fire’s hit “Here Comes the Night Time” as the fireworks display was above them and the beautiful Aspen mountains. It was a truly special way to ring in the New Year.

All in all, over $500,000 was raised for our programs in Haiti. The Midnight Masquerade was a party for our guests to do good, and have fun!

Natasha Koifman, APJ Canada Board Chair and President of NKPR, has partnered with custom scent experts Aromachology to create a new fragrance, TWENTYSIX, in support of Artists for Peace and Justice.

Crafted from Haitian vetiver, a fragrant grass that grows on the coast of Haiti, TWENTYSIX combines 26 ingredients to inspire and move the heart. Bergamot top notes reveal a floral bouquet of roses and peony, followed by patchouli, earthy sandalwood and noble vetiver. The scent evokes Haiti’s natural charm, timelessness and possibility.

“We are inspired by the work that Artists for Peace and Justice does, and jumped on the chance to be involved in such a meaningful passion project,” says Ashlee Posner, Co-Founder of Aromachology. “Haiti is the largest producer of vetiver in the world and being able to create a product to support Haitians was so important to both Natasha and myself.”

“Collaborating with Aromachology was a natural fit based on our likeminded passion for philanthropy. We both wanted to develop a product timed for holiday that would truly be the gift that gives back,” says Natasha Koifman. “The signature scent was named TWENTYSIX because it is not only a number that holds a lot of meaning in my life, but combines 26 ingredients including one directly sourced from Haiti. Every day I am in awe of the kids of Haiti and their unbreakable spirit and I am so grateful to be able to share what comes from this beautiful country.”

We are very excited for the launch of this product right before the holidays. It is the perfect gift! You can read more about the project and purchase the fragrance at www.26forapj.com.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s most charitable sports star and top scorer for Real Madrid, is teaming up with APJ to help us establish a sports program at the Academy for Peace and Justice by giving one lucky fan their dream day at El Clásico: Real Madrid v. Barcelona!

The campaign launches today through Omaze and offers fans the opportunity to donate for the chance to join Cristiano in Madrid this November. The trip, for two people, will include a pre-game meal with the man himself, a haircut (yes, Cristiano will get his hair cut with the winner), and last but not least, the winner will attend one of the biggest games of the year, El Clásico: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, as Ronaldo’s personal guest.

The funds raised from this campaign will go toward the development and advancement of sports programs and facilities at the Academy for Peace and Justice!

Cristiano Ronaldo says, “Artists for Peace and Justice is a special group. They’re making a difference in the world. They open doors that are closed and they create opportunities for kids to follow their dreams. With this campaign we will create a beautiful football program in Haiti at an Artists for Peace and Justice school.  For me, the more I give back to others, the more I get back. It makes me feel really good to help where I can.”

Thank you Ronaldo!

ENTER TO WIN: omaze.com/ronaldo