Whenever I hear the words “art philanthropy,” I immediately think of a bunch of rich people wearing pajamas and discussing something they read in the Sunday New York Times “Styles” section at 21c Museum. And, wouldn’t ye know it, that’s exactly what happened!

From a press release:

The International Contemporary Art Foundation’s (ICAF) 4th Annual Pajama Party on June 12 featured a new format where guests made donations of their choice to one of six local nonprofit arts organizations selected by Foundation co-founder Laura Lee Brown. The beneficiaries of the event include: Blue Apple Players, Bunbury Theatre, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Louisville Youth Orchestra, Walden Theatre and West Louisville Performing Arts Academy.

Barbara Sexton Smith, Chairwoman of this year’s event, believes the new format invigorated the event, now in its fourth year. “This year’s Pajama Party is a fantastic example of true community partnering where everyone is welcome and everyone benefits!”

OMFG! The event raised $130,000! And it will help children young and old appreciate the value of an oboe or a Cézanne even as they slowly starve to death in this economy! No, really, this is a good thing, we mean it.

Generous sponsorships from Bays Boutique, Brown-Forman, and Yum! Brands made it possible for the beneficiaries to receive 100% of the charitable contributions designated to their organization.  ICAF will present the checks to each organization on Tuesday July 14 at 21c Museum Hotel.

You see? Sometimes even The KFC can do something right… sometimes.