14th Street Y 2016 Gala Raises More Than $140,000

The 14th Street Y's 2016 Gala took place at The 14th Street Y Rooftop and Theater on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 and raised more than $140,000 and counting to support 14th Street Y programs.

The evening began with a VIP Rooftop Reception at 6pm, followed by a Cocktail Party & Program at 7:30pm, including cocktails by Tito's Handmade Vodka, in its dynamic theater space. The VIP reception featured live music and a special meet & greet with guest Alex Karpovsky, star of hit HBO show Girls. The MC for the night, Vanessa Hidary, The Hebrew Mamita, and a cast member from her production, Kaleidoscope, took guests through an expressive night exploring diversity and Jewish identity. DJ Rabbi Darkside heated things up by getting people on the floor for a dance party later in the evening.

"Our rooftop and theater, magically transformed into an urban garden, were filled with a diverse group of our members and friends. We came together to celebrate how we nurture relationship-based community and help every person who walks through our doors strive towards their highest potential. The creative, dynamic energy of performers and guests alike showcased how the 14th Street Y celebrates diversity and inclusion, supports and promotes artists and the arts, and allows Jewish sensibilities to inspire us to serve the more than 20,0000 people of every background who find their place and people here." - Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein, Executive Director, 14th Street Y

Contributions enable the Y to provide scholarships for individuals and families in need, develop enrichment programs, and make critical investments in infrastructure that will allow the community to play, explore and connect with each other for years to come. They enable the Y to sustain the many rich programs, as well as the spirit of inclusion and diversity, that make its community so special.

The gala was attended by 160 patrons, including Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA Federation of New York; Erica Tishman, Chair of Educational Alliance; Harvey Schulweis, Chair of the 14th Street Y, and Barbara Schulweis (also Gala Chairs); Joe Persky, President of the 14th Street Y and Gala Co-Chair; Janna and Michael Stern, Gala Co-Chairs; Janet Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Educational Alliance

The 14th Street Y is committed to promoting eco-sustainability. We participate in building-wide recycling and composting and are proud to offer free compost drop-off to our members. We also collect clothing and other materials for textile recycling. The Theater itself is a green space, with a lighting grid made of reused lights and piping and platforms and storage units made from repurposed wood. The bright yellow lobby chairs in our lobby are made from 100% recycled materials. In keeping with the Y's ongoing commitment to promote green living and sustainability, this year's Gala was a "zero waste" event. Zero waste stations were set up to recycle and compost materials generated during the event.

Actors/Artists:

VIP Rooftop Reception with Alex Karpovsky

Vanessa Hidary aka The Hebrew Mamita

MaNishtana, Kaleidoscope cast member

Band performance by: The Tali Rubinstein Quartet; Asher Kurtz - Guitar, Angelo Spampinato - Drums, Yoni Marianer - Bass, Tali Rubinstein - Recorder Player

Favors by Colson Patisserie

Patrick Wise, Writer/Comedian and After School Program Coordinator, along with a student from the 14th Street Y After School program.

Photo by Basil Rodericks