Showing how the other half gives, Acts of Charity pulls back the curtain on the world of high society fund-raising and offers a vivid glimpse into the spectacular ceremonies that have become a necessary tool in getting americans to part with their wealth. The photographs in this engaging book range from the ridiculous to the sublime, capturing the rich and powerful in the nation's best gardens and ballrooms, decked out in all their vainglorious splendor with wallets at the ready. Accompanied by insightful quotations and telling statistics, Acts of Charity is a probing examination of the very big business that philanthropy has become. With an eye for the witty detail and the unguarded moment, photographer Mark Peterson takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the charity party circuit, documenting the fabulous fashions, crazy antics, and rich ironies that abound when good causes and well-heeled donors come together.