New York, June 2 – It was surely something important that kept Mariah Carey from the Fresh Air Fund’s spring gala, because she’s a staunch supporter of the organization, and for the past several years has been a fixture at the annual benefit. Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly, Soprano James Gandolfini and host Carson Daly kept the celeb quotient high. Vin Diesel, fresh off his super-dad Pacifier role, made a rare appearance to support the fund, and the kids, of course.

The stench of horse manure that permeated the Central Park air outside Tavern on the Green had everyone tittering about the irony of a “Fresh Air” gala, but hey, the non-profit sends city kids to the country, so they may as well get used to it, right? Meanwhile, some other kids – arriving at the restaurant for their prom – were stunned to see a red carpet and hordes of reporters waiting.