How Kadeema Shows Up for Clients + Community
A Beautiful Event Was Only the Beginning
Some installations end when the event does.
This one didn’t.
This fall, Kristen, Nancy, Katie and Caley headed to New York City for 24 hours to support A Sense of Home’s inaugural New York City Gala at the IAC Building.
We spent the day watching the installation come together, returned that evening as guests, and left feeling like this partnership was only beginning.
A Sense of Home is an after-foster-care community helping prevent homelessness by creating fully furnished homes and a sense of belonging for young people moving forward from foster care. After more than a decade in Los Angeles, the organization expanded to New York in 2026.
Kadeema was honored to support that new chapter with approximately $40,000 in sponsored event rentals for the gala, followed by more than $20,000 in donated furnishings intended to continue their story through future Home Creations.
Georgie Smith of A Sense of Home later shared words that meant so much to our team:
“It wouldn’t have been what it was if not for your profound generosity, style, kindness, and talent. Thank you for your profound sense of care, your compassion, and desire to build and grow community in the spirit of service.”
— Georgie Smith, A Sense of Home
The evening honored Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris with the Vanguard Angel Award and included contributions from Laverne Cox, Orfeh, Jermaine Crawford, Alexandra Richards and DJ Mars.
The evening also brought a few unexpected personal moments. Laverne Cox connected with Kristen during the gala and, admiring the Kadeema pieces, said, “It’s gorgeous furniture. It’s so chic. The beautiful bouclé.”
She even asked Kristen for advice on caring for and cleaning furniture — a small, funny design moment in the middle of a much bigger evening.
But what stayed with us most wasn’t simply who was in the room.
It was why everyone was there.
But what stayed with us most was why everyone was there.
The stories of home, possibility and belonging changed the way we thought about what could happen after the event ended.
Then the Furniture Got Another Chapter
Following the gala, Kadeema also donated gently used furniture to A Sense of Home, including sofas, chairs, sectionals, lounge seating and tables.Those pieces weren’t simply leaving our inventory.
They were going into real homes.
Through A Sense of Home’s Home Creation work, volunteers and community partners turn empty spaces into fully furnished homes for young people transitioning out of foster care. In fall 2026, donated Kadeema pieces began moving into the homes they were intended for.
And the story is already continuing.
Pieces originally featured at the A Sense of Home gala have now begun their next chapter inside a New York Home Creation. Kadeema’s Coyote Chairs and Celeste Cloud Nesting Coffee Table are now part of a space designed not for a single evening, but for everyday life — a place to gather, rest and truly feel at home.
And this is only the beginning. As additional donated Kadeema furnishings make their way into future Home Creations, the impact of that night will continue far beyond the event itself.
A sofa becomes somewhere to land at the end of the day.
A chair becomes a place for a friend.
A table becomes part of everyday life.
An event can create a moment.
A home can create belonging.
Sometimes the same piece gets to be part of both.
More Than One Partnership
A Sense of Home is the story closest to our hearts this season, but it is one part of a much larger year of giving.
In 2026, Kadeema has contributed more than $140,000 through sponsorships, donated rentals and community support.
Those partnerships have looked very different from one another — and many have grown through years of showing up together.
We’ve continued to support industry communities through ILEA and WIPA, local organizations like Westwood Living, creative and editorial work through Boston Art Review, and meaningful annual partnerships including Hitched Heroes.
Some are about community
Some are about creativity.
Some are about health.
Some are about remembrance.
The common thread is simply having the opportunity to show up.
Coming This November: Alex’s Team Spirit Ball
On November 21, Kadeema will also support the 11th Annual Alex’s Team Spirit Ball at Citizens House of Blues Boston, an event dedicated to fighting childhood cancer and supporting pediatric oncology research and care.
Kadeema is proud to support the evening by furnishing lounge and gathering spaces throughout the event.
Our team has been invited to attend, and we’ll share more from the evening later this month.
Photography by Daniel Hales (@dr.hales) and Kaemon Jiraki (@kaemonhirakimedia), courtesy of Alex’s Team Foundation.
About Alex’s Team Foundation
Alex’s Team Foundation was established in 2002 in memory of Alexandra Jane Milliotis, who died from leukemia at the age of 16. For nearly 25 years, Alex’s Team has been dedicated to improving the lives of children and families facing childhood cancer while honoring Alex’s courage, compassion and spirit.
Through partnerships with leading institutions including Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School and Riley Hospital for Children, the Foundation supports pediatric oncology nursing, research and career pathways, patient and family support programs, and awareness and education.
Their goal is simple: to ensure no child faces cancer alone.
About the 2026 Spirit Ball
Alex’s Team’s signature annual fundraiser, the Spirit Ball, returns on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at House of Blues Boston.
Bringing together more than 500 supporters, healthcare professionals and community partners, the Spirit Ball is an evening of music, celebration and fundraising in support of children and families impacted by childhood cancer.
Funds raised help Alex’s Team continue and expand its programs, from supporting the nurses who care for children battling cancer and investing in the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals, to providing direct support for patients and families through initiatives like Alex’s Care Kits, the Laundry Project and moments of joy during treatment.
Want to be part of the evening?
Join Alex’s Team on November 21 at House of Blues Boston for the 2026 Spirit Ball, or support their mission through a donation.
→ Learn More About Alex’s Team
Photography by Daniel Hales (@dr.hales) and Kaemon Jiraki (@kaemonhirakimedia), courtesy of Alex’s Team Foundation.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have Kadeema returning as a partner for this year’s Spirit Ball. Kadeema brings so much more than beautiful furniture and event rentals — their thoughtful design, curated pieces, and attention to detail help transform our events into welcoming, memorable spaces where our community can gather, connect, and celebrate. Their creativity and generosity elevate the Spirit Ball experience, allowing us to create a special evening for our supporters while keeping the focus on what matters most: raising funds and awareness for children and families facing cancer. We truly appreciate Kadeema’s continued partnership and their commitment to using their talents and resources to make a difference in our community.”
Arianna Wilson
Executive Director
Alex’s Team Foundation
The Reasons We Say Yes
We want people to remember the young person walking into a furnished home.
The family surrounded by people fighting alongside them.
The local organization bringing its community together.
The artist given space to create.
The relationships formed at an industry gathering.
The people and stories being honored and remembered.
Different causes. Different communities.
The same reason to show up.
Gratitude that we get to be part of it.
Paying It Forward
This November, we want to do more than talk about giving back.
We want to introduce our community to the organizations doing the work.
If A Sense of Home’s mission speaks to you, learn more about its New York chapter, volunteer, sponsor a Home Creation, donate or simply share the story with someone who may want to help.
And as we look ahead to the Alex’s Team Spirit Ball on November 21, we invite you to learn more about their work and support the fight against childhood cancer.
Because these partnerships may support very different missions, but they share something important:
people showing up for people.
And we’re grateful to be part of it.
