Gala 2025 Raises Over $3.5 Million for Housing & Outreach Programs

See the full set of photos from the event on Facebook!

The evening kicked off with welcome remarks from Breaking Ground Board Chair, Michael Franco, who noted the organization's growth from its founding 35 years ago, and our enduring commitment to developing housing and programs that help homelessness New Yorkers come indoors to housing.

Michael also touched on the contributions of our extraordinary honorees. He noted Priscilla Almodovar's remarkable career across government, finance, banking, and nonprofits and her singular focus on housing as the solution that works. And Michael gave a heartfelt tribute to Kathy Wylde, saying "I don't know if there's ever been a greater champion for New York City."

Breaking Ground President and CEO, Brenda Rosen, shared a meditation on the meaning of home, evoking that feeling of closing the door to your home behind you and having the freedom and safety to breathe. How when her family lost their home in a fire at the age of 9, she felt like she couldn't breathe. And how at Breaking Ground we provide that space, freedom, and safety that our tenants need to begin recovery and get on the path to stability.

Brenda then introduced the evening’s video presentation featuring Americo Cruz, a tenant at our Prince George residence in Manhattan who so generously shared his story of overcoming multiple challenges to find stability in housing.

Breaking Ground board member and Gala Co-Chair Kara McShane introduced Gala honoree, affordable housing champion Priscilla Almodovar, highlighting her storied career across the fields of law, government, banking, nonprofits, and finance and noting her commitment to mentoring and sharing wisdom gained through decades of leadership.

Priscilla shared the story of first meeting Breaking Ground, and how influential the organization had been in showing what is possible for people who have struggled with long periods of homelessness. She left us with an inspiring message of having lived her own American dream and how that has influenced her idea of home and her career.

Next, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal took the stage to introduce the evening’s co-honoree Kathryn S. Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City. Senator Holyman-Sigal began by reflecting on his experience working for Kathy, noting her tireless and indomitable spirit and her commitment to improving the city for all New Yorkers.

Kathy took the stage to speak of the work she had done with Breaking Ground and the corporate community and extoll the importance of New York City's thousands of leaders who are, every day, working to make it a place where people from all walks of life are welcomed and can thrive.

Finally, the event was capped off by Board Member Annie Tirschwell, who noted that we always leave this event inspired and invigorated to continue Breaking Ground's mission-driven work, and how important our honorees and our Gala Sponsors are to enabling that work.

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 Mr. Cruz 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 2025."

Investor Sponsors

Newmark
The Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation
Lili Lynton & Michael Ryan

Developer Sponsors

BlackRock
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft
Chatham Financial
Dechert
JLL Capital Markets
Monadnock Construction Inc.
NewPoint
Rona & David Picket
Related
Debbie & Jonathan Rosen
Sidley Austin LLP
Simpson Thacher
Starwood Capital & Starwood Property Trust
Ann & Robert Tirschwell
Nicholas Tsang & Jane Van Cleef
UAG – Urban Atelier Group
Wells Fargo

Builder Sponsors

All New York Title Agency, Inc
Alliant
Priscilla Almodovar & Eric Dinallo
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
ARES Management
BankUnited
BFC Partners
Bloomberg Philanthropies
BMO
Brookfield
Capital One
Centrifugal Electric LLC
Chicago Title Insurance Co
Citadel
Citi
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co
CRE Finance Council
Cumming Group
Douglaston Companies
Eastdil Secured
ECD NY
Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.
First American - Title Vest
Jill & Michael Franco
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
GFP Real Estate
Gotham Organization
Harry & Jesse Forever Fund
J.P. Morgan
JRM Construction Management
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Kellner Herlihy Getty & Friedman LLP
Nancy & Michael Lascher
Dr. Kim Gaitskill & Dr. Mark Levy
Kara McShane
Mesa West Capital
North Shore Risk Management
Pfizer
PwC
Room and Board
SD Builders
SDC Capital Partners
Stewart Title Insurance
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Travelers
Vornado Realty Trust

Benefactor Sponsors

ACORE Capital
Allied Universal
Annaly Capital Management
Bank of China
Blue Owl Capital
Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP
Cloud Tree
Federated National Land
Gensler
Gilbane
Goldman Sachs
Greystone
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Hudson Housing Capital
Jackson Lewis
Jantile
JLL
Key Bank Real Estate
Mack Real Estate Group
Morgan Stanley
National Equity Fund
Pursuit
Red Stone Equity Partners
Rialto Capital Management
SEBCO
SMBC
Societe Generale
Structure Tone & STO Building Group
T. Percic Construction
Tishman Speyer
US Bank
Vestian
Carolyn Sullivan & David Walsh
Winston & Strawn LLP