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Kiki for a Cause, a fundraising gala to benefit Hetrick-Martin Institute, took place on Tuesday, with the Oratia Award being given to Ms. Courtney B. Vance, the first solo black performer to be nominated for an Emmy for his role in the critically acclaimed miniseries American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson. With guest speaker Wendell Pierce, Mr. Vance, who announced his decision to end his decade-long stint on The Wire at the show’s final season, spoke about his experience in the process of researching and bringing to life a troubled black, American criminal. As Mr. Vance, who won an Emmy for the role, told the audience, the subject matter of American Crime Story compelled him and other actors who were playing inmates to do their best research and to go to prison, such as the actual Offis Conner, who appeared alongside former football star O.J. Simpson in the series.
The evening was co-chaired by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, executive producers of the popular HBO drama Game of Thrones. Additional co-chairs included Mr. Pierce, Tory Burch, and Glamour magazine’s founding editor-in-chief Cindi Leive.