New York Governor David Paterson with MacDella Cooper

MacDella Cooper with Barry and Dolly Segal of the Segal Family Foundation

Barry and Dolly Segal & Kristen and Martin Segal

Winka Dubbeldam, designer of the MCF Academy, MacDella Cooper, and keynote speaker Lauren Brody of Glamour magazine

The gala hosts, Cali Carlin and Lonnie Quinn

Singer Rachel Fine and Project Runway finalist Irina Shabayeva

Singer Zelma Davis, Cali Carlin, MacDella Cooper, Lonnie Quinn, Rachel Fine, and Irina Shebayeva

MacDella Cooper and guests, including Liberian Ambassador to the United Nations Nathaniel Barnes (center) and Hans Humes, owner of Greylock Capital (fourth from right)

Liberian Ambassador to the United Nations Nathaniel Barnes and Bisila Bokoko, executive director of the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce

Devorah Rose, editor of Social Life magazine

Cali Carlin, Samantha Fennell, executive sales director at The Huffington Post, model Heidi Albertsen, MacDella Cooper, and Devorah Rose

Members of the MCF volunteer staff

Rimma Doubinskaia and Nowell Ashford

Peter Jallah and Ella Gorgla

A portion of the silent auction items

Gala guests make their way to the dinner tables at the Four Seasons Restaurant

MacDella and Governor David Paterson

Alex von Bidder, co-owner of the Four Seasons Restaurant, welcomes guests

Hosts Cali Carlin and Lonnie Quinn, both of CBS News, share their connection to MCF's cause.

Singer Rachel Fine sings the U.S. national anthem

Singer Zelma Davis performs the Liberian national anthem

Winka Dubbeldam of Archi-Tectonics, NYC, and designer of the MCF Academy presents her plans for the school, which opens in Fall 2010

Lauren Brody, deputy editor of Glamour magazine, delivers the keynote speech on the importance of education for all children

MacDella Cooper shares her refugee-turned-philanthropist story and thanks her supporters

Liberian Ambassador to the United Nations Nathaniel Barnes speaks to guests

MacDella Cooper Juliane Segal, who had the winning bid on a live auction item

Hans Humes, owner of Greylock Capital, stands after winning one of the live auction items

Zelma Davis' After-School Pop Stars perform an uplifting song