More than 500 people gathered in the colorfully decorated ballroom of the Greenwich Hyatt for a festive, Caribbean-flavored benefit to support Horizons at New Canaan Country School. Among them were rock star Edie Brickell, who serenaded the group with classics such as “What I Am,” and her husband, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Paul Simon. Simon joined Brickell on stage in a surprise appearance. The couple performed several duets, including the Everly Brothers’ “Dream,” in honor of the event’s theme.
The benefit was a big success as it raised approximately $400,000 for Horizons, which began at New Canaan Country School in 1964 as a summer enrichment program for 20 children from low-income families in Fairfield County. Today it serves about 300 students in grades kindergarten through twelve. The funds raised on this evening will support summer programs and also enable the organization to continue to offer such key elements as academic tutoring, which has proved to help children in the program succeed. In addition to a live auction conducted by Peter Rathbone, the event, which was cochaired by New Canaan residents Sarah Casey and Anne-Lie Kleeman, featured a dance performance by Horizon alumnus Oni Brown.