What is the MPIA, and why are they hosting this fundraiser?

What is the MPIA, and why are they hosting this fundraiser?
My job, as the executive director of the Meatpacking District Improvement Association is to promote and elevate the brand of the Meatpacking District. I said to myself, 'There's a depth of business here: fashion, culture, food, galleries. It runs the gamut.' It's a very small area, to have all of that happening, and we're proud of that. This event became a springboard for that. As a non-profit, we do services that are similar to business improvement districts, like Union Square. Everything is on donation. Through our board process, we meet four times a year, and think of how we can expand services to the Meatpacking District. How can we find money to do the good work we do? One of the reasons we decided to do an event is that the Meatpacking District has a reputation as being a nightlife zone; it's part of who we are, but of course, it's not everything. We're an area that's known as dynamic, cutting edge, fun, and lively, so hosting events is a good representation of that. [Photo via]
1 of 6