Party Benefits

"My friends on Wall Street are always searching for new ways to entertain their clients, and when I was at a fight, it hit me. I came up with the idea of taking boxing and making it high-end and exclusive so that these big guys on the Street can feel comfortable entertaining their clients," says Jed Weinstein, 30, founder of the event and owner of Jed Weinstein Presents.

Just like the real Vegas, this event will cost you. Tables start at $2,000 for eight -- which includes a four-course gourmet dinner, top-shelf open bar and cigar bar -- and run up to $8,000 for a 10-guest platinum table with ringside seats. For any scragglers, upper-level seats can be purchased for $50.

However, this money goes to a good cause. A portion of the proceeds goes to The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which uses sports as way to effect change, such as giving inner-city children an opportunity to play sports five days a week to build skills of discipline and teamwork. In addition, Box NYC is presenting the organization with a check for $25,000.

There's some guaranteed celebrity presence as well: Past guest have included music industry executive Damon Dash and "The Gastineau Girls" -- Lisa and Brittny Gastineau. This year, actor Billy Crudup and legendary tennis player John McEnroe have already RSVPed.

What else draws people to Box NYC? "It's a great networking event. We have people from [age] 25 all the way up to 55 coming [to the event]," says Weinstein.

Tickets are selling quickly. "The first year we sold 58 tables, last year, we maxed out 64 and this year we increased the [number of] tables to 85," Weinstein adds.

If you're not in New York, stay tuned: Weinstein hopes to bring the successful formula to San Francisco, Boston and Chicago next.

Smile Time

Events for Operation Smile contribute to "giving children the opportunity to be integrated and live a normal life," says Dee Dee Sides, Northeast regional development director of the nonprofit organization.

Operation Smile's volunteer doctors perform life-altering reconstructive surgery on children afflicted with facial deformities such as cleft palate and cleft lip, and have changed the lives of more than 100,000 children around the world.

	In the Ring at Box NYC

In May, the organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a black-tie event at a new premier event space in downtown Manhattan. The committee members include big names -- presidential niece Lauren Bush, Lauren Davis, Matt Dillon and Lydia Hearst, among others. The master of ceremonies is Billy Bush, host of "Access Hollywood."

The event is $10,000 for a table, $1000 for an individual ticket and $250 for just the cocktail hour. Previous years' festivities have attracted celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey and Donald and Melania Trump. Big-name sponsors are also drawn to the organization, such as UBS (UBS), Wachovia (WB), Citigroup (C) and Sephora.

For those on the West Coast, check the Web site for details on another star-studded fund-raising dinner in October.

Think about it: these events will not only help others out, but will also give you an opportunity to rub elbows with your favorite celebrity or listen to an intimate acoustic show by a Grammy-award winning band. Consider it money well spent.

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