Gala 2022 Raises Over $2.9 Million to Support Outreach and Housing Programs

Breaking Ground Board Chair, Michael Franco, kicked off the evening’s program, welcoming more than 600 guests and setting the stage for our distinguished honoree: “Almost nothing else in life is possible – education, employment, healthcare – if you don’t have and can’t sustain a secure home. We all know that affordable housing is a key source of stability and a door to opportunity for low-income and disadvantaged families. Tonight, we are proud to honor an individual whose importance to the cause of affordable housing cannot be overstated. Alice Carr, CEO of April Housing, has devoted her career to creating affordable homes for countless Americans from all walks of life. Her efforts connect people who need it most with stability, dignity, and a brighter future.”

After thanking fellow board members and the team at Breaking Ground, Michael introduced Breaking Ground President and CEO, Brenda Rosen.

Brenda touched on New York City’s dire homelessness crisis, and Breaking Ground’s pivotal role in “confronting this emergency head on,” describing our new initiative with the Partnership for New York City to bring a much-needed layer of privately funded outreach in key areas of the City. Brenda also emphasized our commitment to developing new transitional and permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness – 643 new permanent homes opening this year alone - before introducing the evening’s first video, featuring Leonard, a new resident at our Betances Residence in the Bronx.

Next up was Kathleen McCarthy, Global Co-Head of Real Estate at Blackstone, who eloquently introduced the evening’s honoree, Alice Carr.

Alice Carr, CEO of April Housing and the evening's distinguished honoree, took to the stage with words of encouragement and gratitude for Breaking Ground, and highlighting the aligned mission of April Housing, with a deep and enduring commitment to creating and preserving affordable housing in communities across the country.

Breaking Ground Board Member David Walsh introduced the evening’s final video, featuring Michael, soon-to-be resident of our newest supportive and affordable housing project – 90 Sands in DUMBO, Brooklyn. This 491-unit residence is already having a big impact on New York City’s housing and homelessness crisis.

Breaking Ground Board member Richard Roberts capped off the program by noting that Leonard and Michael, at age 70 and 61 respectively, join over 30% of Breaking Ground residents who are older adults. Older adults are the fastest-growing population in New York and the fastest-growing group at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Each year, Breaking Ground serves nearly 10,000 people across our programs and housing resources. Through street outreach, upwards of 500 chronically homeless New Yorkers come indoors to transitional and permanent supportive housing, and more than 4,500 people sleep under a Breaking Ground roof every night. And with nearly 2,000 units of permanent supportive and affordable housing in development, we’re always working to help more people come off the streets and find a stable, secure home.

We extend a very special thanks to our gala sponsors, who helped us set a new record and raise over $2.9 million to aid the most vulnerable homeless New Yorkers. Many more people just like Leonard and Michael have an apartment and the support they need to find stability thanks to your generosity.

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If you are interested in supporting the gala, please click here to donate and designate your gift in support of the "Celebrating Home & Community Gala 2022."

Investor Sponsors

April Housing
Blackstone
Dechert LLP
The Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation
Lili Lynton & Michael Ryan

Developer Sponsors

The Durst Organization
Eastdil Secured
JLL
JP Morgan Chase
Monadnock Construction Inc.
Rona & David Picket
The Rubin Family
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Starwood Capital Group & Starwood Property Trust
Nicholas Tsang & Jane Van Cleef
Type A Projects
UAG – Urban Atelier Group
Walker & Dunlop
Wells Fargo

Builder Sponsors

Alliant
Annaly
Bank of America
BankUnited
Cadwalader
Capital One
Citi
Douglaston Development
EY
Peter Ezersky
Fidelity National Title
First American Title & TitleVest
Fried Frank
Gotham Organization
Jill & Michael Franco
Kellner Herlihy Getty & Friedman LLP
Kara McShane & Hawley Chester
Nancy & Michael Lascher
North Shore Risk Management
RBC Capital Markets
Related
Rhone Group
Sidley Austin
SL Green Realty Corp
Stewart National Commercial Services
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Vornado Realty Trust

Groundbreaker Sponsors

All New York Title Agency
Allied Universal
Anexinet & Veristor
Bank of China USA
Barclays
BFC Partners
Brookfield
Cannon Heyman & Weiss, LLP
Chicago Title Insurance Company
COOKFOX Architects
CUCS
Fairstead
Goldman Sachs
Greystone
Jones Day
KBRA
Morgan Stanley
Newmark
The Pace Companies
Proskauer Rose LLP
Rialto Capital Management
Richman Housing Resources LLC
Roberts & Holland LLP
Tishman Speyer
Urban Edge Properties
Carolyn Sullivan & David Walsh

Benefactor Sponsors

Apex Investments
Arbor Realty Trust
Avalon Bay Communities
Blue Sky Real Estate Services & Development
Cigna
City National Bank
Julie & Frank Cohen
CohnReznick
Maree & Giovanni Cutaia
DeSimone
First Nationwide Title
GEM Realty Capital
The Georgetown Company
GFP Real Estate
Global Holdings Management Group
Goldman Sachs
Grandbridge Real Estate Capital & Truist Securities
Highpoint GC
Hirschen Singer & Epstein LLP
Hudson Housing Capital
The Hunt Companies
Jackson Lewis
KeyBank Real Estate Capital
Kramer Levin
M&T Bank
The Marin Organization
Pamela, Brian & Julia McCormack
Mega Contracting Group
Mizuho Americas
Moody’s Analytics
Morgan Stanley
MountCo Construction and Development Corp.
Nixon Peabody
Kim O’Connor & Benjamin Stacks
Pembroke Companies, Inc.
Real Estate Board of New York
RFR
Rosenberg & Estis, P.C.
Trinity Church Wall Street
Hon. Sally E. Unger
US Bank
VHB
Villager Property Advisors
Michele & Michael Werner