Casita Maria Celebrates a Record-Breaking Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza in New York City (+ Photos!)
Celebrating its 92nd anniversary, Casita Maria honored Hunt Slonem, Sonia Gutt de Haime, and Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas with a bash at The Plaza in New York City. We documented the fiesta with our all-new Holo Digital Camera from Manual.
Editor’s Note
This story features images shot entirely with the Holo Digital Camera ($95 at Manual).
Exclusive Photos inside Casita Maria Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza
Casita Maria Fiesta! 2026 cocktail party at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Arrival moment: Casita Maria is the first nonprofit in the United States established specifically to serve Latino youth and families. While it started in East Harlem, it moved to the South Bronx in 1961, where it remains based today. Casita Maria was founded in 1934 by sisters Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan with Sister Mary Imelda.
Guest arrive at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
No whispering here: Casita Maria’s Fiesta! is one known as one of the more boisterous galas in the city, earning a reputation for having warm hospitality, familiar faces, and lots of dancing.
Jackie Weld Drake (center) and Fiesta! 2026 Honoree Ben Rodriguez-Cubeña (center left). Jackie wears Moschino. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Recognition and commitment: Jacqueline “Jackie” Weld Drake has served as Chairwoman of Casita Maria since 1992. This year, Casita Maria honored artist Hunt Slonem and philanthropist Sonia Gutt de Haime, along with Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas, who received the Jackie Weld Drake Living Legend Award.
Avalon Bellos at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Famous faces: Casita Maria has honored or has been supported by the likes of actor Audrey Hepburn, designers Oscar de la Renta and Paloma Picasso, musician Gloria Estefan, film director Baz Luhrmann, and many more.
Cocktails at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Guest at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Sip slowly: The evening began with a sold-out cocktail party, with supporters from all industries in attendance. The chair committee for Fiesta! 2026 included Jackie Weld Drake, Jean Shafiroff, and HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia.
Guests at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Here to party: Guests in attendance included Casita Maria’s operating staff such as Nicholas Giglia, Development Manager, Felix A. Urrutia Jr., Executive Director (whom was also celebrating his birthday), and Ramon Spence, Director of Education & Programming.
Guests lock arms at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Additional supporters included developer and MET board member Daniel Brodsky, Sharon Bush, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, critic and advisor Avalon Bellos, Fe and Alessandro Fendi, Gloria and Carey Fieldcamp, interior designer Juan Montoya, and many more.
Drink service at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Dinner service at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Wine and dine: Gala attendees enjoy a multi-course dinner. The funding from the dinner represents a vast majority of Casita Maria’s yearly income.
Paddle at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Paddles up: After honoree Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas announced the Rockefeller Brothers Fund would commit $100,000 to Casita Maria, Paul Florez presented a lively paddle raise, altogether resulting in a record-breaking funding round for Casita Maria.
Guests at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Jackie Weld Drake at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Floor-fillers: Guests took to the dance floor almost immediately after Cuban American actress Sissi Fleitas opened the gala and presented awards to the honorees.
Bob Hardwick Sound performs at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
With a beautiful ballroom filled with familiar faces, this gala is light on speeches and heavy on dancing, with Bob Hardwick Sound’s live entertainment offered a range of music from iconic salsa to modern classics.
Guests dance at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Guests dance at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Mission: Honoree Hunt Slonem, who has supported the organization for over 35 years, spoke candidly: “As a child, I wanted to be an artist due to the support I received in school. Casita Maria provides that same support, opening windows into the arts for many students in New York.” Slonem reported that his time in Nicaragua and Mexico deeply impacted his artistic practice.
Jackie Weld Drake in Moschino F/W 2019. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Guests at Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2026 at The Plaza. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Caio, Adios: As the evening came to a close, guests received a gift bag featuring a notepad from Hunt Slonem’s Hop Up Shop.
Going Outside: Leaving the embrace of Casita Maria’s gorgeous party is never easy. Fortunately, there’s always next year.
The Plaza Hotel in New York City. Image: Ben Schmidt.
Casita Maria is where generations of local residents have found a home away from home. With the power of the arts and a grounding in education, Casita Maria celebrates the strength of a community.
Welcome Mat at The Plaza Hotel. Image: Ben Schmidt.
The view from The Plaza Hotel entrance toward Fifth Avenue. Image: Ben Schmidt.
To support Casita Maria's longstanding commitment to arts education and community development in the South Bronx and East Harlem, you can make a donation, contribute goods or services, or participate in the organization's annual Fiesta! benefit. More information is available here.
More Photo Journals
Celebrating its 92nd anniversary, Casita Maria honored Hunt Slonem, Sonia Gutt de Haime, and Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas with a bash at The Plaza in New York City. We documented the fiesta with our all-new Holo Digital Camera from Manual.