2017 Changemaker Honoree Gala Highlights

On June 1st, the Greenwich International Film Festival hosted the Third Annual Changemaker Honoree Gala. This year, we were honored to present humanitarians Renée Zellweger and Christy Turlington Burns with the Changemaker Award, as well as the first ever Community Changemaker Award to Andrew Niblock, local community hero and Head of the Greenwich Country Day Lower School.

The night began with a Cocktail Reception at Betteridge, co-presented by Cartier. Surrounded by stunning jeweled watches, guests sipped on Moet & Chandon while mingling with the night’s honorees. Guests then moved down to L’Escale Restaurant & Bar for the Gala, where our honorees were presented with their awards.

Thank you to our incredibly gracious honorees for speaking about their passions with such poise. Although Andrew Niblock could not join us for the Gala, we were honored to have his wife, Eliza, accept his award on his behalf. Thank you to the extremely talented Jenna Bush Hager for acting as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor for the evening: CuinsinArt Resorts & Residences, as well as to Betteridge, Cartier, Moffly Media, Moet & Chandon, Simon Pearce, Evian and Joseph Richard Florals.

To learn more about our Charity Partners, please visit their websites below.

ALS Finding A Cure – www.alsfindingacure.org

Every Mother Counts – www.everymothercounts.org

The SIMS Foundation – www.simsfoundation.org

Below are some of the highlights from the night. Thank you to everyone who participated in the event and made the gorgeous evening possible.

Posing for photos before the Changemaker Honoree Gala. (Left to right) Eliza Niblock, Ginger Stickel, Colleen deVeer, Renée Zellweger, Christy Turlington Burns, Jenna Bush Hager, and Wendy Reyes. Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Greenwich International Film Festival

 

Renée Zellweger posing with the Cartier greeters at the Changemaker Cocktail Reception at Betteridge. Photo by Jenna Hascher for the Greenwich International Film Festival.

 

Dr. Merit Cudcowitz, CMO of ALS Finding A Cure, Chris Collins, ALS Finding A Cure, and Leandro Rizzuto, CEO of Conair and Cuisinart, with their guests enjoying the Changemaker Cocktail Reception at Betteridge before the Gala. Photo by ChiChi Ubiña/Fairfield County LOOK.

 

Renée Zellweger, Christy Turlington Burns, and Jenna Bush Hager posing on the red carpet at the Changemaker Cocktail Reception at Betteridge. Photo by ChiChi Ubiña/Fairfield County LOOK.

 

Guests trying on watches at the Changemaker Cocktail reception at Betteridge before the Gala. Photo by ChiChi Ubiña/Fairfield County LOOK.

 

Renée Zellweger arriving at the Changemaker Cocktail Reception at Betteridge. Photo by Jenna Hascher for the Greenwich International Film Festival

 

Moet & Chandon served along the Greenwich Harbor. Photo by Jenna Hascher for the Greenwich International Film Festival

 

Blessing Offor performing at the Changemaker Honoree Gala. Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Greenwich International Film Festival

 

Jenna Bush Hager presenting Christy Turlington Burns with the Changemaker Award by Simon Pearce. Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Greenwich International Film Festival

 

Renée Zellweger speaking at the Changemaker Honoree Gala.  Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Greenwich International Film Festival

 

Jenna Bush Hager and Renée Zellweger present the 2017 Community Changemaker Award to Andrew Niblock. Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Greenwich International Film Festival

 

Eliza Niblock accepting the 2017 Community Changemaker Award on behalf of her husband, Andrew Niblock. Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Greenwich International Film Festival

 

Thank you to our presenting sponsor for the evening: CuinsinArt Resorts & Residences, as well as to Betteridge, Cartier, Moffly Media, Moet & Chandon, Simon Pearce, Evian and Joseph Richard Florals.

To see a full list of our 2017 Festival Sponsors, please visit our website at www.greenwichfilm.org.

About the author

Lindsey Hascher has spent her whole life in Fairfield County. After spending 8 years at Convent of the Sacred Heart on King Street, Greenwich has been her home away from home. She is currently a senior at Quinnipiac University studying Mass Communications with a minor in Computer Science and Digital Media. After volunteering for the inaugural festival in 2015, she wanted to get more involved with the year-long process surrounding the festival. In her spare time, she works part-time at SoulCycle Greenwich and tries to see as many films as possible.

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