Salma Hayek! Kim Kardashian! Lauren Sánchez! At the 3rd Annual Caring For Women Dinner

“Some even say it's become the Met Gala for social causes,” Gayle King said last night at the Park Avenue pool, where the third annual Caring for Women gala was being held with King as mistress of ceremonies. In just a few years, it has become an evening whose guest lists rival the Oscars, whether it's Leo DiCaprio on the dance floor or Oprah on the microphone. This year, the co-chair seats were filled with stars such as Salma Hayek Pinault, François-Henri Pinault, Camila Alves McConaughey, Matthew McConaughey, Carmelo Anthony, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Urs Fischer, Kim Kardashian, Donatella Versace and Naomi Watts.

“Earlier this summer, a simple but powerful question went viral on TikTok,” François-Henri Pinault said on stage. “So take a moment and think about this question for yourself: Would you rather be stuck in a forest with a man or a bear?” he asked the crowd. “Whether it's shocking or not, most women chose the bear.” Viola Davis took the microphone to deliver a powerful message to the audience and survivors. “It's love, active love, radical love, love that is in short supply in this world,” she said. “But my God, we need it like water, the love that protects you, the love that makes you feel safe, that sets you free. A love that can only live if we all live a love that doesn't leave you behind, that can hold you, look you in the eyes and tell you with deep conviction that you are not dirty.”

“Yesterday was the US Open, I saw Matthew and Camila there,” King said. “That's one of those things that just love living in New York; there's so much going on all the time. That's what I like about what we get to do every night. We get invited to do something and you can't do everything. But the fact that you all chose to be in this room that night means something.”

For some, it was still their first time on a red carpet, like Stephanie Love-Patterson, president and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). “We don't often get this much attention, and the fact that so many celebrities and wonderful people fill this space to talk about our organizations is incredible.” She noted that co-chair Salma Hayek Pinault brought “absolutely incredible energy” to the cameras and that speaking with Lenny Kravitz “made my day.” It's a party, after all, and parties have power, she says.