Desperation Can Spur Innovation: Recap of EE’s First Virtual Event
As planning began for the 5th annual EENY spring event, the world was coming to terms with some stark new realities. The Emily’s Entourage (EE) leadership team quickly determined that the usual in-person fundraiser would not be safe in the new COVID-19 environment. So what did this incredible force of an Entourage do? They kicked into high gear!
The stakes felt higher than ever. The team all agreed on a guiding principle – fatal diseases like CF do not wait for pandemics to pass, and so neither could EE. Canceling was not an option. But there were a lot of open questions. Would people register for a virtual event? Could people still afford to give? In this completely new world, it was hard to know. More than anything, EE wanted to bring the global Entourage together for a captivating but germ-free night of community, hope and connection, the very things people were craving most during the self-quarantine.
The results are still hard to believe. Was it a dream? Did that JUST HAPPEN? What emerged on Wednesday, May 27, after only 4 weeks of around-the-clock planning, was an unforgettable night of empowerment, urgency and inspiration. EENY: LIVE!, a virtual experience reimagined for a global Entourage was born. And it. was. EPIC!!!
WATCH A RECAP OF THE PROGRAM BELOW
Emily’s brother Coby Kramer-Golinkoff and the ebullient team behind Eesho, Judah Levine and Emily Priebe, were the co-chairs once again. The night started off with a powerful film about the stark parallels between the COVID-19 and CF experiences. This film highlighted the voices of the CF community who shared their feelings in a profound, courageous and moving way. We are so grateful to them for their time and participation. It was a gripping way to start the night.
Then we met our hosts! Coby was thrilled to welcome award-winning journalist and author Liz Plank to help get the night going. Coby got to share a little bit about the work that EE is doing with Liz, and run down what was to come on this special night. Thank you to Liz for joining!
Next up, the awe-inspiring 2020 campaign video, which showed a beautifully animated narrative about the strides that have been made for CF and EE’s commitment that no one should be left behind, produced by the talented Storied Stories in collaboration with Adam Kennedy and Andrea Amanda. This video led into Emily’s remarks, which are always the highlight of any EE event. Emily has learned so many lessons living with a rare, life-threatening disease.
That wisdom served as much-needed inspiration for everyone, reminding us of two powerful lessons:
1. Crisis can illuminate clarity and purpose in your life, if you let it.
2. We behold the power to transform “rock bottom” from a place of paralyzing despair into a “blank slate,” a launchpad for action.
“…in this nightmare of a reality, as COVID ravages our world, I encourage you to allow the clarity this crisis brings to descend upon you. And listen. That clarity is a gift.”
Following Emily’s speech, Coby, with help from members of the Entourage and many celebrities and influencers, including Arielle Charnas, Lil Dicky, Kevin Dillon, Erin Foster, Karen Fukuhara, Ron Funches, Brandon Michael Hall, Abbi Jacobson, Ray Lewis, Katie Lowes, Alexander Ludwig, Hayley Joel Osment, Benj Pasek, and Adam Shapiro, shared messages of love and admiration for EE as they encouraged viewers to reach into their pockets and support EE.
“Imagine what we could accomplish if we were all rowing in the same direction…let’s do this!”
And did we EVER!!!
We crushed every goal!
We made magic!
EENY: LIVE! raised over $151,819 (!!!!) with over 5,000 views and generating 10,000 impressions to date! WOW.
The main program wrapped up with a massive mosaic video about gratitude. Hundreds of Entourage members shared intensely powerful messages of gratitude for all that EE is doing to fight for the final 10%. And that is what we feel today. Indescribable amounts of gratitude. Gratitude for everyone who took a leap of faith with EE on this first ever virtual event and contributed time and energy to making it such a smashing success!
WATCH THE GRATITUDE FILM BELOW
But, the show did not end there. Not by a long shot!!! Eesho presented “The EENY: LIVE! After Party,” an after-party to end all after-parties with musical performances by A R I Z O N A, Jon Cleary, Danielle Driscoll, Ezinma, Louis Knight, LeyeT, Lexie Lowell, LUVRS, Axel Mansoor, Kylie Odetta, and Ripe. The talent was so mind-blowing and well received that due to popular request, Eesho created this Spotify playlist here where anyone can continue to feel the EENY: LIVE! vibes whenever the mood strikes.
This night absolutely would not have been possible without the incomparable EENY: LIVE! sponsors. THANK YOU to Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Mylan, Proteostasis Therapeutics, Translate Bio, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Corbus Pharmaceuticals.
This was the 5th annual EENY event. While it did not happen quite as expected, the results were proof that this Entourage is scrappy, resourceful, laser focused and positively unstoppable, even in the face of a global pandemic.
Emily’s Entourage would like to thank everyone who made this dream of an event possible: corporate sponsors, patrons, donors, registrants, in-kind donors, celebrities and influencers, musicians, steering and planning committees, and more! To those who have been with us since the beginning—thank you for your passion, your vision, and your partnership. To those who joined for the first time on May 27, 2020—we welcome you with open arms.
Watch and share the 2020 Campaign Video here.
Watch the full EENY: LIVE! program and donate here.
EENY: LIVE! Program Contributors
Program Co-Hosts
Coby Kramer-Golinkoff
Liz Plank
After Party Co-Hosts
Judah Levine
Emily Priebe
EE 2020 Campaign Video
Production Company
Storied Studios
Directed and Produced
Joanna Rudnick
Animation and Editing
Adam Kennedy, Resolution Workshop
Art Direction and Illustration
Andrea Amanda
Contributing Producer
Lindsey Rosin Passman
Music Courtesy of
Score a Score
EENY: LIVE! Main Program
Production Company
Sherpa Productions
Creative Director
Rick Kaplan
Editor
Eliot Francese
Additional Contributors
Karyn Kaplan
Special Guests
Arielle Charnas
Lil Dicky
Kevin Dillon
Erin Foster
Karen Fukuhara
Ron Funches
Brandon Michael Hall
Abbi Jacobson
Ray Lewis
Katie Lowes
Alexander Ludwig
Hayley Joel Osment
Benj Pasek
Adam Shapiro
Performances
A R I Z O N A
Jon and Trish Cleary
Danielle Driscoll
Ezinma
Louis Knight
LeyeT
Lexie Lowell
LUVRS
Axel Mansoor
Kylie Odetta
Ripe
Voices from the CF Community
Jen Bleecher
Stacy Carmona
Reid D’Amico
Marian and Jason DeMott
Kristin Dunn
Amy Gutierrez
Jarrod Landau
Miguel Angel Rodriguez
Lizi Silver
