An unforgettable evening at Cipriani Wall Street brought together music, philanthropy, and a deeply moving moment between donor Dallas Wilson and patient Ezra Glass.
Some evenings leave an impression long after the last song has played. On October 15, DKMS, the world’s leading nonprofit dedicated to fighting blood cancer and blood disorders, celebrated its 20th annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, bringing together supporters, advocates, and philanthropists for a night centered on the power of giving.
Nile Rodgers of Nile Rodgers & Chic performs during the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
The milestone celebration paired the glamour of a New York gala with the organization’s ongoing mission to give patients a second chance at life. Music set the tone for the evening, with Nile Rodgers and CHIC delivering a live performance, while Hilaria Baldwin and Scott Adsit of 30 Rock led a live auction in support of the cause.
Hilaria Baldwin speaks onstage during the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
Scott Adsit leads the auction during attend the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
But among the evening’s highlights, one moment stood apart for its emotional weight.
Donor Dallas Wilson took the stage for a heartfelt rendition of “Heart Like a Truck,” the song by Lainey Wilson, his longtime collaborative partner. The performance carried a particularly personal meaning as he dedicated it to patient Ezra Glass, bringing the room’s focus back to the lives and stories behind DKMS’s work.
Dallas Wilson performs onstage during the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
(L-R) Dallas Wilson and Ezra Glass speak onstage during the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
Backstage, the two met in person for the first time. Their introduction ended in a tearful embrace, a quiet but powerful exchange that captured what the evening was ultimately about: the human connections made possible when people come together to support a shared cause.
Katharina Harf speaks onstage during the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
Twenty years into its annual gala tradition, DKMS continues to bring its community together around a mission that reaches far beyond a single night. The celebration at Cipriani Wall Street was a reminder that behind every effort to fight blood cancer and blood disorders are real people, families holding on to hope, and supporters determined to make a difference.
A view of the audience during the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
Susan Lucci attends the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
Amaya Espinal (L) attends the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
Hilaria Baldwin attends the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
As the music faded and the evening drew to a close, this meeting between Wilson and Glass left the most lasting image of the night: a reminder that generosity is not simply about giving, but about the lives touched along the way.
(L-R) Ezra Glass and Dallas Wilson attend the DKMS Gala 2026 at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for DKMS Gala)
