Patricia Velasquez and the Wayúu Tayá Foundation

See who came out to support the Wayúu Tayá Foundation's 6th Annual Fund-Raising Gala in New York City!

Posted in: Charity

In this slideshow: Maggie Rizer, Christie Brinkley

Model Patricia Velasquez has a big heart. She started the Wayuu Taya Foundation to help preserve and protect her heritage, as well as provide aid for the poor area that sits between the Venezuelan and Colombian territories. Here she poses with some of the children of the tribe.

Patricia poses at the community center with some of the kids who benefit from the Roof Project, which ensures each child of the area receives two meals a day and provides the Wayuu women with access to education, family planning, and parenting classes.

A look at the stage before the Wayuu Taya Foundation Gala event started at the Stephen Weiss Studio in New York City.

The event was cohosted by designer Donna Karan, and model Christie Brinkley was honored for her outstanding charitable work. Plus, Christie's daughter, singer/songwriter Alexa Ray Joel, introduced the model to the stage and added her own musical stylings to round out an incredible night.

Patricia poses with fellow model and cohost for the night Padma Lakshmi.

Model Maggie Rizer and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps came out to show their support.

Russell Simmons was also in attendance to present one of the event's honorees, businessman and philanthropist Stewart Rahr, president and CEO of Kinray Inc.

Patricia founded the Wayuu Taya Foundation, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization, back in 2002.

Because of the overwhelming support of attendees for the event, the Wayuu Taya Foundation will be able to build a creative center that focuses on music and the arts, as well as provide nutrition and welfare for many of the kids in the community.