2026 Gala Honors Julie Menin and the Related Companies, Reaches New Record

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The evening began with remarks from Breaking Ground Board Chair, Michael Franco, discussing Breaking Ground’s impact in developing housing for those who need it most and serving 12,000+ New Yorkers over the past year. He went on to introduce our honorees: first, highlighting the Related Companies’ commitment to building and operating affordable housing and the impact Bruce Beal and Frank Montesiri have in their leadership roles; and then celebrating Julie Menin for her accomplishments across private and public sectors, and especially for her leadership on the Council, noting that she has “pushed the city to think and act boldly on the challenges facing New Yorkers.”

Breaking Ground President and CEO, Brenda Rosen, began her remarks by sharing a story about a dedicated colleague, Kelvin, who worked to maintain not only our buildings but our communities across nearly three decades. When Kelvin’s health began to decline in recent years, our Asset Management team stepped in to ensure that he was cared for just as he cared for our tenants. As Brenda said, “Kelvin's story is not separate from our mission. It is our mission.”

Brenda then introduced the night’s video presentation, centering on Juan, a resident at the newly opened Sutphin Senior Housing in Jamaica, Queens. His story is one of resilience, recovery, and the ability to age in place with support from Breaking Ground.

Later in the evening, New York City Council Member, Carl Wilson took the stage to introduce our first honoree, New York City Council Speaker, Julie Menin.

Speaker Menin focused on the important work of the Council to prioritize affordable housing, including by identifying opportunities to build apartments atop hundreds of library sites across the City and by standardizing regulations to build on small and in-fill lots, which had previously been cumbersome.

Following the Speaker, Alan Wiener Vice Chair Multifamily Capital and Community Lending and Investment, Wells Fargo introduced the night’s second honoree, the Related Companies, with leaders Bruce Beal Jr. and Frank Monterisi Jr. accepting the honor. Alan noted their remarkable tenures at Related and their extraordinary commitment to creating affordable housing in New York and beyond.

Bruce Bealand Frank Monterisi spoke about Related’s work in the affordable housing sector, their deep and abiding commitment to New York City, and the partnership they have forged with Breaking Ground to provide services to tenants at their residences on Roosevelt Island and in Willets Point, Queens.

Finally, the night concluded with rousing remarks from Kirk Goodrich, Member of the Breaking Ground Board of Directors, who recognized the tireless work of his leadership group along with Breaking Ground’s staff and to commend the dedication of everyone in the room to advance the single most important solution to homelessness - affordable housing paired with onsite supportive services that ensure we end homelessness for each individual tenant.

We extend our deepest thanks to our gala sponsors, whose generosity enables our work with the most vulnerable homeless New Yorkers. It is thanks to them that we can continue to build an outstanding and supportive community.

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If you are interested in supporting the gala, please click here to donate and designate your gift in support of "Celebrating Home & Community Gala 2026."

Investor Sponsors

David Finklestein
The Lucretia Philanthropic Foundation
Lili Lynton & Michael Ryan

Developer Sponsors

Blackstone
Chatham Financial
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
J.P. Morgan
Kellner Herlihy Getty & Friedman LLP
Monadnock Construction Inc.
Newmark
Rona & David Picket
Related
Debbie & Jonathan Rosen
Sidley Austin LLP
Simpson Thacher
Starwood Capital & Starwood Property Trust
Sullivan & Cromwell
Ann & Robert Tirschwell
Nicholas Tsang & Jane Van Cleef
Urban Atelier Group
Wells Fargo

Builder Sponsors

All New York Title Agency, Inc
Alliant
Annaly Capital Management
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
ARES Management
Kathleen & Matthew Baldwin
BankUnited
Blackstone
Bloomberg Philanthropies
BMO
Brookfield
BRP Companies & The Hudson Companies
BXP
Capital One
Citadel
Citi
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Cloud Tree
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co
CRE Finance Council
Cumming Group
Dechert LLP
Douglaston Companies
Eastdil Secured Savills
Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.
First Nationwide Title
Jill & Michael Franco
GFP Real Estate
Gotham Organization
Harry & Jesse Forever Fund
JLL
JRM Construction Management
Nancy & Michael Lascher
Lettire Construction
Paul Logan
Kara McShane
Mesa West Capital
Northwell Direct
Rocket Community Fund
Room and Board
SD Builders & Slate Property Group
SDC Capital Partners
SL Green
Stewart National Commercial Services
Structure Tone
Tradeweb
Trucordia
Vornado Realty Trust

Benefactor Sponsors

ACORE Capital
Allied Universal
Baker Tilly
Bank of China
BFC Partners
Blue Owl Capital
Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP
Chicago Title Insurance Company
CohnReznick
Corcoran
Dattner Architects
DeSimone Consulting Engineering
EvensonBest
Fairstead
Federated National Land
First American Title Insurance Company
Fundamental Advisors
Gensler
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Jackson Lewis
JLL
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
King & Spalding
M&T Bank
Mizuho Americas
Nixon Peabody LLP
Proskauer Rose LLP
RAMSA
RBC Capital Markets
Rialto Capital Management
SEBCO
SMBC Group
Tetra Steel Works
US Bank
Carolyn Sullivan & David Walsh
Michele & Michael Werner