The couture came out for Casita Maria – one of the city’s oldest charities serving the Latino community. The organization provides after-school programs, meals for seniors, and job assistance.

“I love this event in every way. It’s joyous and people really get dressed – and we love to dance. We may not know all the Latin steps, but we do our best,” said Barbara Tober. She wore a necklace once owned by Eleanor Lambert and her outfit was “part Ungaro, part Zonda Mellis,” a Vancouver designer.

Those who gathered at the Plaza Wednesday night included Casita Maria’s chairwoman, Jacqueline Weld Drake, in Angel Sanchez; the organization’s only Brazilian board member, Sergio Millerman; and board member Patrica Cisneros, who wore a Balmain blouse and Donna Karan skirt and was eager to announce her daughter Patricia’s engagement to Nicholas Griffin.

Gowns by Roberto Cavalli, Carolina Herrera,Valentino, and Tosca were also spotted.

Guests sat below tall centerpieces of magenta and orange feathers in the ballroom. Before they hit the dance floor, there were presentations to financier Lewis Ranieri, who serves as the chairman of American Ballet Theatre; the chief financial officer of Pfizer, David Shedlarz, and Liliana and Federico Sada (Mr. Sada is the chief executive of Vitro).

Even pregnant, Mati Buccini looked gorgeous in pink satin by Oscar de la Renta. Ms. Buccini, who hails from the Dominican Republic, said that raising funds for Casita Maria “is one of the little things I can do to give back to my country.” Her contributions aren’t so little, however. As a junior chairwoman, she started a silent auction that raised $30,000.

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These days, Girl Scouts earn “cookie diva” patches along with their Global Citizens patches and CosmoGirl! Learn to Lead patches. Yesterday, about 300 grown-ups earned “woke up early” patches after attending the annual breakfast of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York.The event, which started at 7:30 a.m., honored Girl Scout Aisha Scott; Citigroup’s vice president of supplier diversity, Diane Ashley; the public relations maven Madeline de Vries; a United Airlines captain, Cholene Espinoza; the gift and home retailer Lillian Vernon, and the editor of Seventeen, Atoosa Rubenstein.

Ms. Rubenstein gave the keynote on “Mean Media,” chastising tabloid magazines for digging up dirt on teenage stars like Britney Spears. “Gossip is a potent weapon that can hurt our children,” she said. She pledged to edit Seventeen with “humanity and honor.”

And now the really important news: Cookie sales start November 11; new this year, folks can purchase cookies to be sent to troops in Iraq.