On March 9, we were joined by friends and supporters at the Metropolitan Club for our 2023 Annual Gala. Together, we celebrated our work as we raised funds needed to help New York City children, adults, and families overcome adversity. We rely on these generous donors like you to create programs that are effective and create a lasting impact in the lives of New Yorkers who face a wide range of challenges.

Hosts Kemberly Richardson, Emmy Award winning correspondent for WABC 7 New York, and Chuck Nice, Actor & Comedian, joined Rising Ground Board Chair Matt Del  Percio and CEO Alan Mucatel to welcome more than 180 guests to celebrate and contribute to our work. We were delighted to honor OPEN Impact Real Estate co-founders Lindsay Ornstein and Stephen Powers as our 2023 Champion For Children Honorees, before being treated to a special performance by actor and singer Alton Fitzgerald White.

We also had the pleasure of hearing about how Rising Ground has touched the lives of so many individuals and families throughout the New York City area. We met young people and adults from our Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services, our Biondi Education Center, our Ames Preschool, and our Transitional Independent Living program for homeless and runaway youth. In the room, we were joined by Lisa Quinones of our Passage of Hope program for unaccompanied migrant youth, Jeff Moore of our Runaway and Homeless Youth programs, and the Henry family from our Family Foster Care program. The Henrys were joined by three of their adoptive children, though in more than 14 years with Rising Ground, they have fostered 75 children and youth!

A special thank you to our lead sponsors and 2023 honoree

Questions about Rising Ground events and supporting Rising Ground? Please contact Manager of Individual Giving Renee Jamerson at RJamerson@RisingGround.org or 212-437-3528.