New York, NY—Children’s Aid hosted its eighth annual Keeping the Promise Benefit to celebrate the organization’s long history of service to New York City’s children, youth, and families, on Thursday, October 18, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. The organization honored Kevin P. Ryan, chairman and founder of Business Insider, GILT, MonogoDB, Zola, Workframe, and Nomad Health for his corporate leadership and commitment to creating opportunities for young people. The event raised more than $2 million to ensure that there are no boundaries to the achievement of all New York City children.
Phoebe C. Boyer delivered a powerful message on why the work of Children’s Aid, and the support of the event guests, is so important. “When children are offered high-quality learning opportunities that unlock their potential and are surrounded by a strong community of support, there is no limit to what they can achieve,” said Boyer. “Now more than ever, we at Children’s Aid understand the effects of poverty on children, and we have built a modern organization to respond to the challenges we face today.”
Throughout the evening, Children’s Aid highlighted its continuum of services that support kids and families every step of the way from birth to and through college. The benefit, designed by Rafanelli Events, evoked feelings of nostalgia through the use of an iconic childhood item, swings. The night opened with a dance routine by the Milbank Dancers and featured other Children’s Aid youth who served as the evening’s co-hosts: Shyonna Mack, 16, and a junior at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, and Francisco Dominguez, 17, a senior at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School in the Bronx.
Ryan was honored because of his sustained commitment to causes firmly aligned with the mission of Children’s Aid, including the health and welfare of people living in under-resourced communities, quality education, and human rights issues.
“It’s important for us all to understand the challenges that exist right here where we live,” said Ryan. “When you see Children’s Aid in action, you can’t deny that when the barriers that poverty creates are knocked down, these kids are unstoppable.”
Past benefit honorees include Citi’s Gene McQuaid, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Chobani’s Hamdi Ulukaya, SAP’s Bill McDermott, PwC’s Tim Ryan, and Unilever North America’s Kees Kruythoff.
Lauren Razook Roth and John Roth, and Tim Ryan served as this year’s Benefit Chairs. Sponsors of the event included, at the Ambassador level, Chase and Stephanie Coleman, Pascaline Servan-Schreiber and Kevin P. Ryan; at the Champion level, Leigh and Charlie Penner; and at the Hero level, Beth and Ira Leventhal, the Melkus Family Foundation, Optimity Advisors, Lauren Razook Roth and John Roth, and Amy and Charlie Scharf.
Photographs from the event are available immediately. You can also view a Children’s Aid video, which premiered at the event.
Children’s Aid is an independent, nonprofit organization established to serve the children of New York City. Our mission is to help children in poverty succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive supports to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Founded in 1853, it is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving New York’s neediest children. Services are provided in community schools, neighborhood centers, health clinics and camps. For additional information, please call Anthony Ramos at 212.949.4938/347.266.9730, email anthonyr@childrensaidnyc.org, or visit www.childrensaidnyc.org.