Annette Bening, Ted Danson, Hill Harper and more stars beam in for virtual benefit helping to raise funds for Urban Tech

Ted Danson, Hill Harper and Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening were just some of the A-List names that supported The National Urban Technology Center (Urban Tech) for a virtual fundraiser on Thursday evening. 

The live broadcast also featured special appearances by Edward Norton, Vanessa Williams, Jason Mraz, Cynthia Nixon and Romeo Miller, who all appeared via Zoom. 

Harper, 54, - known for his roles on CSI: NY, Limitless, and The Good Doctor - looked dapper for the evening of fundraising, while Bening, 62, and Danson, 73, appeared in more casual attire as they beamed in from their homes. 

The event proceeds are said to benefit the organization's new Parents Care initiative that provides a 'smart classroom' in the homes of disadvantaged youth in New York City, who do not have the technological tools to learn at-home during the pandemic. 

Founder and President Patricia Bransford said in a statement following the event: 'This fundraising event enables Urban Tech to generate new opportunities for youth and reconfigure access to education and economic opportunities in spaces outside of the classroom to better match the realities of the pandemic.'

The event included a virtual cocktail reception, silent auction, musical entertainment by jazz band Pink Martini and the Christian Cultural Center choir, and celebrated the extraordinary work of this year's honorees.

Those honored included Bruce Mosler, Chairman of Global Brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield and Kathryn Zukerman, Managing Director of US Equity Sales Trading at BTIG.

Also receiving mentions were Kabir Nath, President & CEO at Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Vivian Scott Chew, Founder and Principal of TimeZone International, and Music Director/Producer/Composer Ray Chew.  

Urban Tech is a not-for-profit educational corporation founded in 1995 by former IBM executive, Patricia Bransford, to build innovative technology training programs and provide academic and financial literacy skills in underserved communities.