Ten Years: An Evening of Joy and Vision for Healthy Design

On September 9, 2025, Healthy Materials Lab marked a major milestone: our 10th anniversary with a garden gala at Carroll Hall in Brooklyn. What unfolded was more than an ordinary party: it was a night filled with joy, music, promise, and the presence of friends old and new, gathered to celebrate ten years of movement toward healthier design.

The garden itself seemed to glow, its lush greenery setting a vibrant backdrop for the celebration. Handcrafted paper flowers and cocktail tables made from corrugated cardboard rolls (made to be disassembled or reused) set the stage. Healthy materials displays surrounded the space, sparking conversation as music, laughter, fresh air, and seasonal food wove together into an atmosphere that was as nourishing as it was celebratory. The professional photographs of the evening (thanks to The New School’s Christabelle Tan and videographer Juan Sebastian Vargas Saad) are sprinkled throughout this article. To see more of the story and joy of the night, see our guests’ candid photos here. 

In addition to celebrating our past and present, this event helped lay the foundation for what comes next. Healthy Materials Lab has set a fundraising goal of $400,000 to sustain and expand our work, and we are happy to share that this evening raised 25% of that goal. This momentum reflects the extraordinary generosity of supporters that believe that healthier design is possible, that it should be the norm, and that it can be accessible to all. 

From the first notes of live performances by students and faculty from The New School’s College of Performing Arts to the last dance under the night sky, the evening radiated warmth. Guests explored an exhibition of one-of-a-kind works crafted by leading material innovators - both manufacturers of biobased materials and artists using natural or recycled materials. Celebrating the honorees of the night, Kay Unger and Jamie Drake, guests mingled over seasonal food and drinks. Kay and Jamie, both graduates of Parsons School of Design and trailblazers in their fields of fashion and interior design, were honored for their vision and enduring support of material health.

Co-founders and directors of the Lab, Alison Mears and Jonsara Ruth, also thanked Joel Towers and Dana Bourland pointing that their commitment to HML has been unwavering, that their leadership has facilitated new pathways for equitable, healthy, climate positive design and that they have held HML co-founders to their convictions. 

The evening’s exhibitors and donors, including Duracryl, Heechan Kim, Claudy Jongstra, Hempitecture, MushLume, Other Matter, Ziqi Chen, Alkemis Paint, Jamel Robinson, MycoWorks, and Salty Labs, brought imagination and artistry that made the celebration shine even brighter.

This anniversary celebration was made possible by the generosity of donors and sponsors whose commitment ensures that healthier design is not just an aspiration, but a reality taking shape every day.

• HML Maecenas ($75,000): The Frank Family
• HML Patrons ($25,000): The Paci Family-Stefano Paci
• HML Leadership Circle ($10,000): Benjamin Moore, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Geller, Joe and Gail Gromek, Jamie Drake, Kay Unger Family Foundation
• HML Heroes ($5,000): Beth R. DeWoody, HOK, Ingui Architecture, Katharine Kovner, Keim Mineral Paints, LTL Architects, Marks and Tavano Workroom, The Durst Organization
• HML Champions ($2000+): Dominique Bluhdorn, Uberto Construction, James LaForce, Kravet
• HML Advocates ($1,000): Dattner Architects, Nancye Green and Michael Donovan, James Druckman Household, M.FISHER, Kimberly Flores, Jeanette Friedman and Peter Menderson Household, Kelly Graham, Highline Construction Group LLC, Michael J. Hirschhorn, INC, Jonathan Kutzin, Alix Lerman, Sean and Amy Lyons, Dennis Miller, Matthew Moss, New York Design Center, Peter Nowogrodzki, Christopher Paci Household, Alkemis Paint, Jonathan Raiola Household, David Rubin, David Ruth, Laurie Rubin, Linda Ruth, Spacesmith, Peter Speliopoulos Household, STARK, Think Construction LLC, and others.

The anniversary marked a decade of progress: creating education, building tools, resources, and networks to advance healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable design. But it also pointed to the work still ahead.

We raised the first 25% of our $400,000 year-end campaign - an achievement that exceeded expectations for our first fundraising event. Now, we turn to you. To continue our critical work at the intersection of environmental and social justice into the next year, our goal is to raise $400,000 by December 31st. This funding will allow HML to:

• Partner with architects and developers to replace harmful materials in affordable housing.
• Work with manufacturers to pioneer non-toxic, sustainable alternatives.
• Expand our advocacy and education platforms to reach more communities nationwide.

The joy of this gathering was a reminder of what is possible when vision and generosity come together. The promise of the future rests on that same spirit of support and shared purpose. With continued commitment, healthier materials can become the standard, shaping lives and spaces for generations to come.

Please consider making a contribution to help close the gap and carry this promise forward.