Home Is Where the Heart Is: Hollywood Turned Up for the First-Ever Airbnb.org Gala

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Greta Lee and Cynthia ErivoStefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Airbnb’s story began back in 2007 with three air mattresses in a San Francisco living room—prompting then-roommates Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia to conceive clever ways to make rent. Nearly two decades later, things came full circle on Wednesday evening, as a star-studded crowd learned about the company’s humble beginnings while celebrating its ambitious future plans with the launch of Airbnb.org.

The Airbnb-funded nonprofit has pledged $5 million in the next five years toward providing free, temporary housing to people in times of crisis. The initial aim is to provide one million nights of housing annually, for families traveling for medical care, survivors fleeing domestic violence, or those in need of emergency accommodation in the face of natural disasters.

At the inaugural Airbnb.org gala at Milk Studios in Los Angeles, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, countless Hollywood heavyweights came out to support the cause. People We Meet on Vacation star Emily Bader was among the first to arrive, wearing an ethereal floral gown from Elie Saab’s Resort 2027 collection. Joshua Jackson, Jessica Alba, and Elizabeth Banks followed suit, posing for the cameras. Tracee Ellis Ross, meanwhile, happily obliged when photographers asked her to whip her long ponytail for the cameras.

Never one to shy away from a statement-making look, Greta Lee stepped out in a baby blue and turquoise ensemble from newly minted CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Lii’s Spring 2027 collection. The Past Lives actress was particularly moved to attend the event, given Airbnb.org’s relief efforts during the Los Angeles wildfires. “Their efforts have been very meaningful to me, personally, in terms of providing resourcing and housing for my friends and family, and they helped me out too when we had to evacuate our house,” Lee told Vogue. “I’m genuinely so moved by their ongoing efforts to expand globally—and their efforts to include people who are victims of domestic violence, too.”

Around 7:45 p.m., guests began making their way into the main space, eager to see how the evening would unfold. Tables adorned with lush greenery and floral arrangements were set with marinated olives, Marcona almonds, and bread and butter. Madelyn Cline crouched on the floor to chat with a seated Quen Blackwell, while nearby, Zoe Saldaña and Katie Couric were deep in conversation. At another table, Serena Williams pulled out her phone to snap a selfie with her seat mate, La La Anthony.

Once the room was seated, Kimmel took the stage. “Thank you for being here,” he began. “We have a wonderful evening planned for you. We have great food, an excellent musical guest, and a major announcement about the future of this organization.” Naturally, it didn’t take long for the late-night host to crack a joke. “But first, as your Airbnb host, we have some ground rules: quiet hours start at 10 p.m. If you use dishes, please bring them to the sink. No pets are allowed unless they’re service animals, which we know none of them really are. And no sitting naked on the furniture.”

Chesky also addressed the crowd. “People thought this idea was crazy—they literally said strangers are never going to stay in other strangers’ homes, and I said yes, they will, Mom,” he shared, drawing laughter from the crowd. “This idea that people thought was crazy completely took off and has grown into a community of guests and hosts all over the world.”

In 2012, an Airbnb host named Shell took the concept a step further, opening her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. “This wasn’t our idea, this is an idea that came from the community, and that was the beginning of what would become Airbnb.org,” Chesky explained.

Between speeches, servers brought out a beet and citrus salad atop a bed of goat cheese cream, followed by the main course: Wagyu beef with mashed potatoes and carrots—courtesy of Michelin-starred chef and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés.

Charlize Theron was next to take the mic, highlighting Airbnb.org’s efforts to provide temporary housing for survivors of domestic violence, a cause particularly poignant to the actress, who grew up in a household terrorized by her late alcoholic father. “One of the hardest parts of leaving is not just deciding to leave, it’s having somewhere to go. People stay in danger for one reason more than any other reason, and that’s because the alternative is nowhere,” she shared. “A mother with two kids and no address does the math, and she decides to go back. South Africa, my home country, has some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. My foundation, CTAOP, has spent the last 20 years working with young people and the lesson we’ve learned has never changed—you cannot heal, you cannot learn, you cannot work, and you cannot make plans for life if you don’t feel safe.”

After the coconut ice cream and grapefruit sorbet were served, the evening’s surprise performer, Charli xcx, was spotted heading backstage to prepare for her set. Moments later, the Grammy-winning artist emerged through a haze of smoke, with moody lighting setting the scene. It didn’t take long for the crowd to get on their feet, dancing along to hits like “Guess” and “Apple.” Front and center was Lee, showing off her moves alongside her husband, Russ Armstrong. Across the way, Quen Blackwell and Jaden Smith were letting loose too.

As the night drew to a close, Kimmel reminded the audience that Airbnb’s new funding model begins right now, with a portion of every future stay routed toward the foundation’s efforts.