Lifting Girls Up
2023 Gala and College Shower
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
6:00–9:00 p.m.
Cipriani • 25 Broadway, New York, NY
6:00 p.m. • Doors open and cocktail reception
7:00 p.m. • Formal program and dinner
10:00 p.m. • Dance
Text "ginyc2023" to 1 (325) 603-3395 to give
Follow and tag us! @girlsincnyc
Evening Program
Opening Performance
Nikki M. James • Performing "Human Heart" from Broadway’s Once on This Island
Actress and Broadway Performer
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Abbi Crutchfield • Gala Host
Actor, Comedian, Host of Hulu’s Up Early Tonight
Cate Luzio • 2023 Gala Committee Chair • Girls Inc. of NYC Board Member
Founder and CEO, Luminary
Stephanie Ruhle • Girls Inc. of NYC Board Member
Journalist, News Anchor, Host of the 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle on MSNBC
Erin Ward • Fundraising Host
Auctioneer, Founder & CEO of Star Benefit Auctions
Presentation of the 2023 Strong, Smart & Bold Leadership Award
Kate Spade New York
Dr. Pamela Maraldo • CEO, Girls Inc. of New York City
Taryn Bird • Accepting award on behalf of Kate Spade New York
Director, Kate Spade New York Foundation
CEO Remarks
Dr. Pamela Maraldo • CEO, Girls Inc. of New York City
Presentation of the 2023 College Shower Student Honorees
Film: Be the Change • Emily Dombroff, Filmmaker
April Caldwell • Chief Programs Officer, Girls Inc. of NYC
Keynote: Emannuela Boateng • 2023 College Shower Honoree
DINNER
Performance
Olivia K • Performing original song, “Good Things”
Singer-Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist
Presentation of the 2023 Strong, Smart & Bold Leadership Award
Leah C. Johnson
Clare Bushell • Daughter of Leah C. Johnson
Leah C. Johnson • 2023 Honoree
Executive Vice President & Chief Communications, Marketing and Advocacy Officer, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Film: Monica and Alexa • Michael Muchnij, Filmmaker
Closing Performance
Smashworks Dance Company
Thank you for supporting Girls Inc. of New York City. All proceeds will go toward our life-transforming programs for girls and young women across New York City.
2023 Gala Honorees
Accepted by Taryn Bird, Director of Kate Spade New York Foundation
Kate Spade New York empowers women and girls around the world by putting mental health at the heart of their social impact work. Kate Spade New York Foundation supports women's economic empowerment, access to opportunity, and pathways to mental wellbeing to underserved communities of women in New York City and beyond.
Girls Inc. of New York City is pleased to honor Kate Spade New York for its groundbreaking work in supporting the mental health of women and girls worldwide. In partnership with the Kate Spade New York Foundation, GINYC is bringing innovative, indispensable mental health programming to thousands of girls and young women.
Leah C. Johnson
Executive Vice President, Chief Communications, Marketing & Advocacy Officer for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Leah has been at the nexus of Lincoln Center’s ongoing transformation into a place all New Yorkers can feel welcome.
She holds leadership positions across several organizations and sits on numerous non-profit boards dedicated to creating and maintaining diversity and equity within the NYC arts and culture community, including: Vice Chair of the Board, New York Public Radio; and Trustee and Member of the Executive Committee, and Founding Chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee of the Board at the Museum of the City of New York. She serves as a mentor with Women in America and was Vice Chair of the Board of Planned Parenthood New York City. She is a director at Monro, Inc. (NASDAQ:MNRO).
2023 College Shower Student Honorees
Adhuresa U.
Aleha S.
Alicia D.
Amy T.
Ashley M.
Ashley O.
Courtney S.
Dejanae G.
Emmanuela B.
Ezinne I.
Fatema J.
Fatima M.
Fiona C.
Halla A.
Joselyn R.
Kadiatou D.
Lendita A.
Liana E.
Melanie R.
Melissa M.
Natalia C.
Saja E.
Samantha R.
Sofia R.
Vicki Z.
Zadia R.
Performances
Nikki M. James
Actress and Broadway Performer
Olivia K
Singer-Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist
Smashworks Dance Company
Hosted by
Abbi Crutchfield
Actor, Comedian, Host of Hulu’s Up Early Tonight
Erin Ward
Auctioneer, Founder & CEO of Star Benefit Auctions
2023 Gala Honorary Committee
Emma Bredin
Joyce Chang, Managing Director, Chair of Global Research, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Arielle Jacobs, Actress/Broadway Performer
Nikki M. James, Actress/Broadway Performer
Barbara Kavovit, CEO of Evergreen Construction
Sarah LaFleur, Founder & CEO, M.M. LaFleur
Amelie Lonergan Vassort
Helen Lo, Founder & Board Chair, Lo & Sons
Laura McPhail, Partner, Hedley May
Brooke S. Richman, Founder & CEO, Coop & Spree
Angela Scott, Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, The Office of Angela Scott
Michelle Smith, Founder & CEO, MICHELLE SMITH
Caroline and Lizzy Tierney, Co-Founders, Daughter Lessons
2023 Gala Host Committee
Cate Luzio, Gala Host Committee Chair
Cali Cole
Meredith Meyer
Camille Mantelin
Jill Schuck Taylor
Natalia Papowitz
Thank you to our gala sponsors.
Trailblazers
Partners
Advocates
Thank you to these generous individual sponsors.
Smart
Stacy Gordon
Meredith Meyer
Strong
Susan Axelrod
Emma Bredin
Katherine Farley & Jerry Speyer
Susan Pollack
Jill Schuck Taylor
Thank you to these generous in-kind donors.
Aerie
Amali NYC
Barbara Green
Bear Lakes Country Club
Brooklyn Boudoir
Chanel
Colorescience
Coop & Spree
Dear Sunday
Dior
EDEN BodyWorks
Estee Lauder
Flora 761
Gorjana
Jim Arnoff Coaching & Consulting
Kate Spade New York
Kendra Scott
LEGOLAND New York Resort
Lo & Sons
Luminary
Madison Square Garden Sports
M.M. LaFleur
Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC)
National Football League (NFL)
New York Jets
Physique57
Premier Chess
Savor Beauty + Spa
Skin Spirit
Sui Yoga
Tatcha
Tradewind