NHSNYC’s Bridging the Gap Gala Raises $200,000 for Homeownership and Lending Programs
New York, NY — On Tuesday, October 17, Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City (NHSNYC) hosted its annual signature benefit, recently rebranded the Bridging the Gap Gala. The evening brought together community partners, board members, sponsors, volunteers, and clients to communicate the organization’s mission and successes and engage with the broader community.
This year’s event raised over $200,000 to support our first-time homebuyer program (including our free first-time homebuyer orientation seminars, financial and homebuyer education, and individualized pre- and post-purchase HUD-certified counseling); our lending program (for existing homeowners to rehab their homes and keep them habitable); and our foreclosure prevention program (for those at risk of losing their homes, in which NHSNYC liaises between the homeowner and lender to work towards forbearance, workouts, and refinancing).
NHSNYC was pleased to welcome Mike Woods, Weather Anchor for Fox Good Day NY, as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Honors and awards were presented by NHSNYC’s Chief Executive Officer, Derrick Griggs, to Patricia Swann and Reinaldo Perez. The Community Impact Award was awarded to Patricia Swann, Program Director, Thriving Communities, New York Community Trust, for her long-term commitment to stabilizing communities. Ms. Swann accepted the award via video greetings due to a family emergency. NHSNYC’s annual Surprise Partnership Award was presented to Reinaldo Perez, Vice President, NY Region CRA Officer, Office of Corporate Affairs, New York Community Bank, for his partnership, commitment to building relationships, and commitment to stabilizing communities in NYC.
Beatriz Rios, a salesperson with Coldwell Banker American Homes, delivered a powerful testimonial on behalf of one of her clients, Mrs. Juana Lopez. Ms. Rios worked closely with NHSNYC’s Homeownership Department to help her clients purchase their home with a grant through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development’s (NYCHPD) HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program, which NHSNYC has been the primary administrator of since 2004. Ms. Rios shared a warm message about how helpful NHSNYC staff were in helping Mrs. Lopez and her family obtain the American Dream of homeownership.
The evening included a thoughtful panel discussion moderated by Mike Woods. Panelists included Derrick Griggs (CEO, NHSNYC), Sherry Wang (Co-Head of Goldman Sachs’ Urban Investment Group), Otis Rolley (President of Wells Fargo Foundation and Head of Philanthropy & Community Impact of Wells Fargo Bank), and Adolfo Carrion (Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Housing, Preservation & Development). Following the event’s theme, the discussion focused on the significance of creating and maintaining partnerships between the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to benefit families in need. The panel focused on how these sectors have creatively worked together to provide safe, permanent, affordable housing opportunities to families and individuals in under-resourced neighborhoods. Also, the panel discussed the need for—and impact of—cultural sensitivity in working towards building generational wealth and addressing the wealth gap.
NHSNYC is grateful to the partners who made the event possible, particularly our Diamond Level Partners: Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, and New York Community Bank. To view a full list of event partners, view event photos, and download the program journal, please visit https://nhsnyc.org/gala/. To read more about the evening, you can also check out this article at Patch.com!
To learn more about NHSNYC’s Annual Bridging the Gap Gala, please contact Amanda Parker, Resource Development Manager, at Amanda_parker@nhsnyc.org.
2023 Gala Digital Journal
About Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City (NHSNYC):
Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City (NHSNYC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and preserving affordable housing opportunities for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families. Through a range of programs and services, NHSNYC empowers communities, promotes homeownership, and enhances the quality of life for residents across New York City.