Tuesday, May 15, 2007, The Museum of Modern Art,11 West 53 Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues,New York City, New York. The annual Party in the Garden is a benefit gala for The Museum of Modern Art that includes a black-tie dinner in the Museum (with tickets beginning at $2,000) and an after-dinner dance in the Sculpture Garden (tickets $250 in advance; $275 at the door). This year's honorees were Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese and New York philanthropists Leon and Debra Black. Co-Chairs: Jo Carole Lauder, Marie-Josée Kravis, Agnes Gund. Junior Co-Chairs: Hillary and Peter Hatch, Jane Lauder, Aerin and Eric Zinterhofer. ABOUT LEON AND DEBRA BLACK: New Yorkers Leon and Debra Black are important philanthropists and pioneers in culture and business, and they serve as board members of major organizations. Leon D. Black is a founding partner of Apollo Management, L.P. and co-founder of Apollo Real Estate Advisors, L.P. He is a director of United Rentals, Inc., and Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. He is a trustee of The Museum of Modern Art, as well as of Dartmouth College, Mt. Sinai Hospital, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Prep for Prep, and The Asia Society. He is a member of The Council on Foreign Relations, the Partnership for New York City, the National Advisory Board of JPMorganChase, the board of FasterCures, and the Port Authority Task Force. Debra Ressler Black has been a producer on Broadway for such notable shows as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The History Boys. One of her many current projects includes The Year of Magical Thinking. She serves on the boards of The Public Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, The American Associates of the Royal National Theatre, The Living Room for Artists, Inc./Summer Play Festival, and Trinity School. In addition, she is Vice Chairman of the New York State Council on the Arts and chairs its Performing Arts Committee. The after-dinner dance at MoMA's annual black-tie bash The Party in the Garden, included a live performance by Def Jam Records recording artist Chrisette Michele, whose debut album I Am will be released on June 19. The rising 24-year-old singer, songwriter, and composer who was recently featured on hit songs from JAY-Z and NAS, has toured with such artists as Kem and India.Arie and will soon embark on a nationwide tour with Musiq. Def Jam Records' President & CEO, and entrepreneur, Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter was on hand to introduce Chrisette Michele's performance in The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. On view in the Sculpture Garden are two works by Richard Serra that are part of Richard Serra Sculpture: Forty Years, a major retrospective exhibition opening on June 3rd. The Party in the Garden is supported by The Wall Street Journal (which hopefully will continue to remain independently owned by the Bancroft Family and not be sold to Rupert Murdoch). Wine and spirits generously provided by Moët Hennessy USA. PHOTO CREDIT: ©Manhattan Society.com 2007 by Steve Mack (**Steve Mack is Manhattan Society.com's Celebrity Photographer. If your celebrity packed or red carpet event requires coverage, contact us or Steve directly**) | tel:Private |e-mail: ChrisLondon@manhattansociety.com