Filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, Marchesa co-founder Georgina Chapman, model and actress Karolina Kurkova (wearing Marchesa), schools chancellor Joel Klein and attorney Nicole Seligman, and “American Idol” winner David Cook were among the nearly 4,000 people at the Robin Hood benefit at the Javits Center on Tuesday.

But the stars of the night were the grantees the anti-poverty foundation placed in the spotlight during the event.

And it was some spotlight, targeted on a platform in the center of a circular dining room, with close-ups projected simultaneously on 20 jumbo video screens placed contiguously around the room. On the platform, Diane Sawyer interviewed the founder of the Children’s Health Fund, Dr. Irwin Redlener, and the executive director of the Association to Benefit Children, Gretchen Buchenholz, about her group’s work with impoverished children.

A curtain pulled back to unveil the KIPP Academy’s orchestra performing the Bill Withers song “Lean On Me” — with Sheryl Crow playing piano and singing.

Text and images on the video screens highlighted the Yorkville Common Pantry and Abraham House.

The auction at the event, led by Jamie Niven of Sotheby’s with assistance from Conan O’Brien, brought in $1.6 million, contributing slightly to the total proceeds: $56.5 million. A $500,000 bid — the highest of the auction — bought a package of NBC perks, including breakfast with Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, and access to rehearsals, taping, and the cast party for an episode of Saturday Night Live.

The evening ended with a performance by Shakira, joined briefly by John Legend, but Marie-Josée Kravis and Henry Kravis didn’t stay for that. They departed the benefit to go over to the Museum of Modern Art for the “Sex and the City: The Movie” premiere party.

agordon@nysun.com