The benefit held at Dawnridge Estate raised close to a quarter of a million dollars for pediatric cancer research
Words by DAVID NASH
What could have easily been mistaken for the set of a theatrical Baz Luhrmann production had guests feeling incredibly cinematic — and philanthropic — on Wednesday, September 10, for the Children’s Oncology Support Fund’s (COSF) inaugural Garden Ball held at Tony Duquette’s otherworldly Dawnridge Estate in Beverly Hills.
Hosted by Thomas Pierce, the organization’s founder and an executive producer of last year’s Academy Award–winning film The Brutalist — and of the forthcoming flick The Wizard in the Kremlin — the maharaja-themed evening was kept illuminated by flocks of colorful frocks, piles of Mughal-style jewelry, and a deep desire to advance pediatric cancer research that raised nearly $250,000 for development, grants, and donor-dependent patient programs across the country.
Upon arrival, caftaned, tuxedoed, and bejeweled guests meandered down a winding garden staircase to the home’s lagoon terrace (known as Fiddler’s Ditch) to be met by a pair of macaws and themed cocktails courtesy of top-shelf spirits like Hendricks Gin, Desolas Mezcal, and You & Me Vodka. Following the reception, everyone headed up for an alfresco dinner catered by Mr. Chow and a live auction (with Jamie McDonald serving as auctioneer) that included a nine-night trip to Antarctica curated by Insider Expeditions, a curated trip to Mallorca for ten guests, a stunning pair of diamond and ruby earrings from Van Cleef & Arpels, and an original work of surrealist art by Dutch artist Marcel van Luit, in addition to a silent auction comprising luxury packages from the likes of Hermès, Brioni, and Versace. It was also the moment for Pierce to announce Brooke Burke as COSF’s official U.S. ambassador in honor of her dedication to the organization over the past three years. Afterward guests convened indoors to sip, mingle, and dance throughout the fabled Beverly Hills estate (now owned by the late Duquette’s business partner, Hutton Wilkinson).
In addition, the festively lucrative evening served as a prelude to COSF’s largest fundraising event, Aspen Snow Ball Weekend, which will take place March 19–21, 2026. Guests included actor Joshua Jackson, singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, Princess Natalya Obolensky Davis (her paternal great-grandparents were Russian Prince Sergei Obolensky and American heiress Ava Astor) and Aaron Davis, Forbes 30 Under 30 alum Luca Castellani, real estate agent turned Bravolebrity Jesse Lally and Lacy Nicole, actor Caylee Cowan, indie pop artist Bence Taylor, fashion-designing twin sisters McKinley and McKaelyn Guidry, Swedish photographer Oskar Bakke, DJ Jennifer Sunnfors, Scott Weber, Pia Mehta, Max Kondziolka, and Taylor Willis.
September 23, 2025.
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