Frankie Ballard, Kris Allen, Bob Guiney and Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. perform at the third annual Unbridled Eve Gala, hosted by co-founders and sisters Tammy York-Day and Tonya York-Dees, at the Galt House Hotel & Suites Grand Ballroom.
Proceeds Benefit Children’s Charity, Blessings in a Backpack, Among other Organizations
The Gala, an Official Kentucky Derby Event® by Churchill Downs, included a celebrity-studded red carpet, a custom-crafted cocktail reception curated by Southern Wine & Spirits and award-winning mixologist Gary Gruver and live musical performances from chart-topping country singer-songwriter Frankie Ballard, Kris Allen (winner, “American Idol” season 8) and Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. (winner, “America’s Got Talent”) entertained guests including The Bachelorette’s Bob Guiney and newscaster Robin Meade.
Attending the Unbridled Eve Gala included local, national business leaders, horse racing industry professionals and entertainment celebrities and professional athletes. Guests included Ben Jackey and Julie Smith served as hosts on the red carpet, which included appearances by: Jason Patric (Actor- “Speed 2: Cruise Control”), Beth Behrs (Actress, “2 Broke Girls”), Michael Gladis (Actor, “Mad Men”), Jonathan Kite (Actor, “2 Broke Girls”), Bob Guiney (Host & TV/Radio Personality, “The Bachelor”), Christian Kane (Actor, “50 to 1”), Todd Lowe (Actor, “50 to 1”), Nora Roberts (American Best-Selling Author), Phil Hellmuth (13 Time World Series of Poker Champion), Rick Dees (Comedian/Radio Personality “Weekly Top 40”), Warren Moon (NFL Hall of Famer; Seattle Seahawks Announcer), Chris Canty (NFL Player, Baltimore Ravens), Jean Cruguet (Triple-Crown Winning Jockey- Seattle Slew), Robin Meade (Co-Emcee of Unbridled Eve Gala, CNN News Anchor “Morning Express with Robin Meade”), Mark Sanchez (NFL Quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles), Kenny Walker (University of Kentucky Star, Former NBA Player), Luke Hancock (2013 NCAA Champion/Captain of Univ of Louisville Basketball Team), Miguel Ferrer (Actor, “NCIS: Los Angeles”), Bruce McGill (Actor, “Rizzoli & Isles”), Bonnie-Jill Laflin (NBA Scout, Radio Personality), Billy Lopa (Renowned Sports Artist), Julie Smith (Red Carpet Host), Nick Ferrara (Co-Emcee of Unbridled Eve Gala), Fred Noe (Jim Beam’s Grandson; Bourbon Ambassador), Jo Dee Messina (Top Country Music Artist), Bonnie Bernstein (Major Sportscaster, CBS Sports), Angela Zapotek (Actress/TV Host), Ben Jackey (Red Carpet Host), Bruce Wilder (Renowned Photographer), Donald Driver (Retired NFL Player, Best-Selling Author), Dallas Robinson (Olympic Bobsled Athlete), Susanne Blackinton (Primary Artisan of the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Gold Cup), Joey Wagner (Owner of the J Wagner Group, Biggest Events in the City of Louisville), Jack Givens (University of Kentucky NCAA Basketball Champion), Mike Mills (Member of R.E.M.), Eric Wood (NFL Player, Buffalo Bills), E. J. Manuel (NFL Player, Buffalo Bills), Kyle Rudolph (NFL Player, Minnesota Vikings), Victor Espinoza (Jockey, Riding the favorite: “California Chrome”), Mike Smith (Jockey, Riding “Hoppertunity”), Angel Cordero (Jockey, Winner of all three America Classic Races) and Ricardo Santana (Jockey, Riding “Tapiture”).
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Renowned mixologist Gary Gruve created a variety of festive concoctions including the “Pendennis Club Old Fashioned,” “Get Lucky Tonight Julep” and the “Southern Manhattan” at the cocktail reception featuring ten spectacular Southern Wine & Spirits specialty bars including Belvedere, Sidney Frank, Four Roses, Constellation, Diageo Captain, Campari, Jim Beam, and a special Champagne bar serving fine wines, champagne, and custom cocktails created especially for the event. While guests mingled and noshed on hors d’oeuvres they also bid on silent auction items before being seated at a gourmet dinner created by Chef Brian Riddle in the stunning Galt House Hotel & Suites Grand Ballroom.
Unbridled Eve hosts and co-founders Tammy York-Day and Tonya York-Dees gave opening remarks to thank sponsors and guests for their support of the gala and were happy at the success of the event which will donate proceeds to the primary beneficiary Blessings in a Backpack, a 501 C (3) non-profit organization that currently feeds nearly 65,000 children in 680 schools in 45 states. Proceeds from the Gala will also benefit other philanthropic organizations including Trooper Island, Stand Up For Gus, Winter HAYven, Neighborhood House, The Les Turner ALS Foundation in honor of Jacquie Conniff Fort, Pediatric Therapy Center, Neighborhood House, and Operation Homefront.
For more information on Unbridled Eve, please visit http://www.unbridledeve.com or like on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnbridledEve
Photo Credit: Mike Coppola, Getty Images
