Gala Highlights Need for Affordable Housing, Raises Record Amount for Outreach and Housing Programs

See the full set of photos from the event here!

The evening kicked off with Breaking Ground Board Chair, Michael Franco welcoming our attendees and setting the stage for our distinguished honorees.

Michael detailed some of Breaking Ground’s accomplishments this year, including more than 16,000 vulnerable New Yorkers served through outreach and transitional and permanent housing programs. He also thanked our Gala sponsors, whose support helped to raise a record amount to fund our work.

Breaking Ground board member and Gala Co-Chair Michael Lascher introduced Gala honoree, Michel A. Khalaf, President and CEO, MetLife, highlighting the long partnership between MetLife and Breaking Ground, along with MetLife and MetLife Foundation’s key support for some of Breaking Ground's most important initiatives.

Michel Khalaf accepted the honor on behalf of MetLife and left us with an inspiring message that touched on MetLife and Breaking Ground’s shared vision of a New York where everyone belongs, the importance of caring for communities where we live and work, and improving the lives of future generations.

Then, Breaking Ground Board Member and Gala Co-Chair David Picket took the stage to introduce the evening’s co-honoree JPMorgan Chase, Co-Head of Global Banking Douglas B. Petno.

David focused first on JPMorgan Chase’s impact on Breaking Ground and people seeking affordable housing in New York before noting Mr. Petno’s personal commitment to improving communities and supporting nonprofit causes.

Douglas Petno accepted the honor on behalf of JPMorgan Chase and delivered a rousing speech that emphasized the importance of developing affordable housing to build and support communities. He concluded with a message of resolve, that addressing our housing crisis requires a collective commitment – each of us doing what we can to ensure that everyone has a home, including fundraising, advocacy, volunteering, and spreading awareness.

Breaking Ground President and CEO, Brenda Rosen, capped off the evening on a personal note, showing briefly and powerfully just how dire our affordable housing crisis has gotten – and what Breaking Ground is doing to reverse the trend.

"Today we have over 4,500 units of housing,” Brenda said. “And we’re just getting started. Breaking Ground has another 2,000 in various stages of development. In June, we closed on acquisition of a former college dormitory in East Harlem. We will convert it into 435 units of permanent affordable and supportive housing."

Finally, Brenda introduced the evening’s video presentation featuring Ray, a tenant at our Prince George residence in Manhattan who overcame homelessness thanks to Breaking Ground’s outreach and housing.

We extend a very special thanks to our gala sponsors, who helped us set a new fundraising record to aid the most vulnerable homeless New Yorkers. Many more people just like Ray have an apartment and the support they need to find stability thanks to your generosity.

• Click here to view messages, personal notes, and more from our sponsors in the Gala Digital Journal

If you are interested in supporting the gala, please click here to donate and designate your gift in support of "Celebrating Home & Community Gala 2024."

Investor Sponsors

J.P.Morgan Chase
The Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation
Lili Lynton & Michael Ryan
MetLife

Developer Sponsors

Blackstone
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft
Chatham Financial
Dechert
Eastdil Secured
Harry & Jesse Forever Fund
JLL
Monadnock Construction Inc.
The Petno Family
Rona & David Picket
Debbie & Jonathan Rosen
The Rubin Family
Simpson Thacher
Ann & Robert Tirschwell
Nicholas Tsang & Jane Van Cleef
UAG – Urban Atelier Group
Wells Fargo

Builder Sponsors

Alliant
Annaly
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
BankUnited
Barclays
BMO
Brookfield
Capital One
Citadel
Citi
Douglaston Development
Peter Ezersky
Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.
Jill & Michael Franco
Fried Frank
Gotham Organization
JLL
Kellner Herlihy Getty & Friedman LLP
Nancy & Michael Lascher
Dr. Kim Gaitskill & Dr. Mark Levy
The McShane Family
Mesa West Capital
North Shore Risk Management
RBC Capital Markets
Related
Room and Board
Sidney Austin LLP
SL Green Realty Corp
Stewart National Commercial Services
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Varde Trimont
Vornado Realty Trust

Benefactor Sponsors

Acore Capital
Adler Windows
All New York Title Agency
Archstone
Baker Tilly
Bentall Green Oak
Branton Realty
BXP
Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP
Chicago Title Insurance Company
Cigna
Cohn Reznik
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co.
Corcoran
DeSimone Consulting Engineers
DivCore
GFP
Healthy Heart Food Services
Greystone
Katten Muchin Rosenman
Kent Services
Key Bank Real Estate
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel
Long Pond Capital
New Roc
Proskauer
Rialto Capital Management
SMBC
Societe Generale
Tishman Speyer
Trinity Church Wall Street
Tyko Capital
US Bank
Walker & Dunlop
Carolyn Sullivan & David Walsh