NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Tuesday, September 15, supporters gathered in the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center for Oceana’s 12th New York Gala to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary and more than 350 policy victories for the oceans. The evening honored Jeff and Emilie Goldblum for their nearly two decades of support, celebrated Martha Stewart as Ocean Champion, and raised more than $1.9 million for Oceana’s global campaigns to protect and restore the world’s oceans.
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“Campaign after campaign…victory after victory…year after year… I’ve had the privilege of watching this organization turn impossible odds into real, lasting change,” said Sam Waterston, Oceana Board Member and master of ceremonies. “Being part of this organization has been the honor of my lifetime.”
Attendees included an esteemed group of speakers and guests, including Waterston; gala chairs Susan Rockefeller, Oceana Board Emeritus Director, and David Rockefeller, Jr., Oceana Board Member; Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies founder Michael R. Bloomberg; and Oceana Board Members Keith Addis, Salla Alfieri, Beto Bedolfe, Patrice Etlin, Loic Gouzer, Sara Lowell, James Sandler, Lex Sant, Matthew Sawyer, Diana Thomson, Jean Weiss, and Antha Williams, among others.
This year’s gala honored Jeff and Emilie Goldblum, who have lent their time, talents, and voices to Oceana for nearly two decades. Jeff has performed at Oceana’s events with his band the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, and the beloved couple have rallied support for the organization’s campaigns with elected officials, and inspired others to join them. Most recently, Jeff and Emilie hosted two Colossal competitions, helping raise more than $2.6 million for Oceana’s work around the world.
“It’s hard to stand beside the ocean and not believe you’re witnessing something miraculous,” said Jeff Goldblum. “For me, that’s what Oceana represents. I always loved the ocean and Oceana showed me there are real ways to protect it. Not just to admire it. Not just to worry about it. But to do something meaningful.”
“The ocean isn’t just a place we love – it’s woven into our family’s story,” added Emilie Goldblum. “Healthy, abundant oceans are every child’s rightful inheritance.”
Mike Bloomberg, whose Bloomberg Ocean Initiative supports organizations and communities working to protect ocean ecosystems, introduced Martha Stewart, who was celebrated as this year’s Ocean Champion. The New York Times-bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning TV host, entrepreneur, lifestyle expert and philanthropist throughout her career has championed a deeper appreciation for the natural world and sustainable practices that protect the resources we depend on. In Hope in the Water, she explored how sustainable aquaculture can help restore ocean ecosystems while producing healthy food, highlighting the connection between healthy oceans, the food we eat, and our everyday lives.
“The more I learn about our ocean, the more convinced I am that appreciating it isn’t enough,” said Stewart. “We have to work together to take care of it. That’s why Oceana is so important.”
Other notable attendees included Jaimie Alexander, Christina Ochoa, Laura Marano, Kara Young, and Bloomberg Philanthropies CEO Patricia E. Harris. The evening concluded with a special musical performance by The Rakiem Walker Project, featuring GLR¥A.
Oceana’s exclusive watch partner, Blancpain, was the presenting partner for this year’s event. Since launching the Fifty Fathoms in 1953, Blancpain has established deep connections with the world’s oceans and the communities dedicated to their preservation. Through its Blancpain Ocean Commitment, the company has supported dozens of major scientific expeditions, including five with Oceana.
To date, Oceana’s New York Gala has raised more than $22.6 million to help deliver policy victories for oceans around the world. For a full list of underwriters and partners, gala co-chairs and vice-chairs, auction items, and more information about Oceana’s 2026 New York Gala, visit OceanaNYgala.org.
BFA photos from the event are available here. Getty images are available at this link. Additional event images are available here.
Join the fight to save our oceans at Oceana.org/join.
Oceana is the largest international organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Our mission is to rebuild abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies that stop overfishing, protect habitats and threatened species, curb oil and plastic pollution, and increase transparency at sea. With more than 350 victories, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results – for the oceans, for coastal communities, and for the planet. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy, climate-smart seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Join us at Oceana.org.
Contact: Gillian Spolarich, gspolarich@oceana.org
