“Inside the Inaugural Vineyard Icon Awards”
Coverage of the founding story, the room, and the honoree slate. Photography by Patrick Camilien.
For Journalists, Editors, & Producers
Press & Media Kit
The 2025 inaugural Vineyard Icon Awards were covered by Forbes, CNBC, Ebony, the Martha’s Vineyard Times, the Vineyard Gazette, and Growth Shuttle. The brand voice and editorial guidance below govern accurate coverage.
2025 Press Coverage
Tier 1 and Tier 2 publications.
Frank Holland on the founding
CNBC Worldwide Exchange anchor Frank Holland hosted the ceremony and reported on the institutional intent.
“A New Vineyard Tradition Is Born”
Atmospheric coverage and interviews with Erin Goldson, RPB Law Firm, and key sponsors.
August feature & Voices column
The Vineyard’s newspaper of record covered the event in two pieces: the news report and a Voices column.
Local coverage
The Vineyard’s historic newspaper documented the ceremony as a community event.
Founder profile
A long-form interview with Erin Goldson on the founding rationale and brand intent.
Editorial Guidance
How to write about Vineyard Icon accurately.
The institution is built on factual discipline. The notes below align with the published Brand OS and are binding on press kit usage.
| If your draft says… | Please use… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| “The Black Met Gala” | “The annual Vineyard Icon Awards ceremony” | Vineyard Icon is an institution of record, not a fashion-press analogue. The comparison subordinates a Vineyard-anchored institution to a New York entertainment frame. |
| “National expansion to [City]” | “Vineyard-Originated, Community-Extended” | Holiday Takeover and any off-island gathering is the community traveling together — not franchise growth. |
| “Erin Goldson’s event” | “Erin Goldson, Founding Host of Vineyard Icon” | Vineyard Icon is the institution; Erin is the Founding Host. The institutional frame is the brand. |
| “Howard University graduate” | “The University of Virginia (BA English) and Columbia Business School (MBA), with a semester at Spelman College” | The Howard reference common to early bios reflects her father’s career at Howard University Hospital, not her education. |
| “501(c)(3) tax-deductible donations” | “Vineyard Icon Foundation [IRS application pending]; charitable programs are administered through Color Vision Creates Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3)” | The Vineyard Icon Foundation IRS determination is pending. Tax-deductible language without that qualifier is inaccurate. |
| “Cultural Visionary Award” (for Troy Carter) | “Cultural Innovation Award, presented by Senator Cory Booker” | The award name is Cultural Innovation. The Cultural Visionary phrasing appeared in early circulating copy and has been corrected. |
Photography credit lines
Inaugural-event photography is by Patrick Camilien unless otherwise indicated. Press use should credit the original outlet that licensed the photograph (Forbes, Ebony, Martha’s Vineyard Times, or the Vineyard Gazette) and the photographer.
Press-Validated Photography
The 2025 ceremony, on the public record.
Selected images that ran with Forbes, Ebony, the Vineyard Gazette, and the Martha’s Vineyard Times. Photography by Patrick Camilien unless otherwise noted. Credit lines are required for republication.
Quick facts
| Inaugural date | Saturday, August 9, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Farm Neck Golf Club, Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard |
| Host | Frank Holland, anchor, CNBC Worldwide Exchange |
| Photographer | Patrick Camilien |
| Approximate attendance | 300 guests, by invitation |
| Founding Host | Erin Goldson |
| Entities | Vineyard Icon LLC · Vineyard Icon Foundation [IRS application pending] |
| Press contact | [email protected] |