GALA RAISES MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION TO HELP BREAKING GROUND BUILD AND RESTORE LIVES

More than 700 guests joined us at Cipriani 42nd Street for our Celebrating Home & Community Gala. We honored two extraordinary individuals who are champions for the health and housing of all New Yorkers – Michael J. Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health, and Vicki Been, New York City’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development. The extraordinary evening raised more than $2.5 million for our street outreach and housing programs.

Board Member and Gala Co-Chair Philip Silverman introduced honoree Michael Dowling, referencing his commitment to Veterans of the armed forces and his exceptional career fighting for services, housing and health care for homeless New Yorkers. Mr. Dowling took to the stage with a stirring message of unity and how changing our perspective can make an enormous difference.

Michael Franco, Chair of the Gala and Breaking Ground’s Board, introduced honoree Vicki Been, noting that she has devoted her career to increasing the supply of supportive and affordable housing for the most vulnerable among us, touching on her commitment to education and her reputation as someone who gets things done. Vicki Been spoke movingly about our crisis of compassion and her personal experience of loss and homelessness.

We also premiered the story of Daniel Broome, who came indoors with the help of Breaking Ground’s outreach teams, and found a home at our Boston Road residence in the Bronx.

Each year, Breaking Ground serves more than 8,000 people across our programs. Through street outreach, upwards of 500 chronically homeless New Yorkers come indoors to transitional and permanent supportive housing. And with nearly 1,000 units of supportive and affordable housing in development, we’re working to help more people come off the streets and find a home with Breaking Ground.

We extend a very special thanks to our generous sponsors, who made it another record year and helped us raise $2.5 million for our outreach and housing programs that serve the most vulnerable homeless New Yorkers. People just like Daniel Broome will receive vital services thanks to your support.