First Virtual Gala Raises $2.6 Million for Breaking Ground's Programs and Housing

The evening began with a look at Breaking Ground's essential frontline workers in street outreach and at our drop-in center in Queens. Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has presented, the Breaking Ground team rallies time and again to serve our clients living unsheltered on the streets of New York City:

Later, Breaking Ground President and CEO, Brenda Rosen, took us on a tour of our latest supportive housing development at 90 Sands in DUMBO, Brooklyn, where we are transforming a former residential hotel into nearly 500 units of permanent housing:

We also heard from a tenant at Breaking Ground's Prince George residence in Manhattan. Charlie Alvarez told his story of overcoming homelessness and substance use with support from Breaking Ground and the power of supportive housing:

And finally, the person of the hour, our illustrious honoree, David Brickman, donned a Breaking Ground hard hat and spoke eloquently about his time living in New York City and the importance of affordable housing to our collective recovery from the health and economic consequences of COVID-19:

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 $2.6 million for our outreach and housing programs that serve the most vulnerable homeless New Yorkers. Many more people just like Charlie Alvarez will receive vital services thanks to your support.

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Investor Sponsors

Blackstone
Brean Capital & The Hunt Companies
Bridge Investment Group
The Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation
Lili Lynton and Michael Ryan
MF1 Capital | Berkshire Capital |Limekiln Real Estate
Starwood Capital & Starwood Property Trust
Wells Fargo

Developer Sponsors

Arbor Realty Trust
Carmel Partners
Dechert LLP
The Durst Organization
JLL Capital Markets
Monadnock Construction, Inc.
David & Rona Picket
The Related Companies
Nicholas Tsang & Jane Van Cleef

Builder Sponsors

Alliant Employee Benefits
Allied Universal
Annaly Capital Management
BankUnited
Bayview Asset Management
BlackRock
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Capital One
Citi
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company
Eastdil Secured
Fitch Ratings Group
Jill & Michael Franco
Fried Frank
Gotham Organization
Greystone
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Michael & Nancy Lascher
Kara McShane & Hawley Chester
Mega Contracting Group
Mizuho Americas
North Shore Risk Management
Pantzer Properties
Prime Finance & Prime Residential
The Radco Companies
The Rubin Family
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
TruAmerica Residential & Benedict Canyon Equities
Vornado Realty Trust

Groundbreaker Sponsors

400 Capital
All New York Title Agency, Inc.
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance
Barclays
Blend Labs
BLUE SKY Real Estate Services & Development
Rita & David Brickman
Brookfield
Cantor Fitzgerald
CBRE
Continental Properties
COOKFOX Architects
Credit Agricole
CUCS
James DeMare
Douglaston Development
EW Howell Construction Group
Peter Ezersky
Harbor Group International
Hildene Capital Management
ING
Kellner Herlihy Getty & Friedman LLP
Kirkland & Ellis
Kramer Levin
M&T Bank
Macy’s
Madison Realty Capital
Morgan Properties
Morgan Stanley
Newmark Knight Frank
Kim O'Connor & Benjamin Stacks
PWC
Proskauer
Renaissance Management Group, Inc.
Rialto Capital Management
Roberts & Holland
Santander
Shearman & Sterling
Sidley Austin
Starbucks
Stewart Title
Trinity Church Wall Street
Hon. Sally E. Unger
Walker & Dunlop
Waterton
X-Caliber Capital

Premium Sponsor

Woodford Reserve