Doing Art Together honors Alicia Quarles and Umesh Trikha

Award-winning TV host and entrepreneur Alicia Quarles.

On Monday, March 14th 2016 the world-renowned organization 'Doing Art Together' will be hosting their 31st annual benefit. Hosted by Emmy award-winning traffic reporter Lauren Scala, this year's festivities will take place in the heart of the big apple at the Mandarin Oriental restaurant. This year's honorees include television host and entrepreneur Alicia Quarles along with Umesh Trikha, the Senior VP of Wealth management Merrill Lynch Global Wealth management.

Doing Art Together provides a source of enrichment and inspiration for those underprivileged children and youth who are looking to enjoy a more grounded level of intellectual, social and cultural development. Whether it is engaging in visual arts or embracing performance art, this amazing non-profit organization works to restore and enhance the lives of children. Since 1982, Doing Art Together provides kids with hands-on tools to build and strengthen their skills in the arts genre.

“I am humbled and incredibly touched to be honored at this year’s DAT benefit. Truly, it is DAT who should be celebrated. The incredible work the organization does to bring arts education programs to underprivileged students has changed countless young lives for the better. We all have a responsibly to pay it forward. DAT is doing just that, and I am lucky enough to do so as well.” Alicia Quarles said.

Umesh Trikha shares a very similar sentiment. He said “The freedom to express ourselves is precious – not just with the spoken word, but visually. What we achieve through Doing Art Together will have a life-long impact on children’s lives. I am honored to celebrate the importance of art in our culture by inspiring the creativity of youth in our community.”

The silent auction items for this year's benefit include luxury jewelry, fashion handbags from Burberry and Tory Burch, Kenneth Cole luggage, Delta plane tickets, a behind-the-scenes tour at Christie’s, a private tour of the New Whitney Museum, Broadway tickets and much more.

For more information about the 31st annual Doing Art Together benefit, please visit the official site today. #DATBenefit2016