Graham’s 2026 Gala

Unstoppable! Few things are more galvanizing than a gathering of committed New Yorkers who refuse to accept the status quo for our city’s children. On May 19th, Graham’s Gala Benefit brought together 420 New Yorkers to celebrate our monumental 220th anniversary under the star-speckled dome of Gotham Hall—and raised a remarkable nearly $2.5 million for our children, youth, and families.

The evening opened with a heart-snatching performance by Starrz N Motion, Graham’s Cornerstone Dance Group, whose unbridled joy provided a vibrant and tender reminder of who is at the very core of our mission.

I was honored to serve as the host for the festivities and to connect Graham’s deep history to its modern-day triumphs. Founded in 1806 by Isabella Graham and Eliza Hamilton in a city of cobblestones and flickering lamplights, Graham has grown from a bedrock of early American civic responsibility into a powerhouse of systemic reform. This year’s gala highlighted Graham’s recent legislative victories in Albany, including leading the coalition to secure Governor Hochul’s signing of the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act in 2026. Designed to dismantle the weaponization of anonymous reporting, the Act’s purpose is to safeguard families from the false, retaliatory claims frequently used as tools of harassment. In practice, the new legislation achieves this by eliminating the anonymity that previously shielded bad-faith actors, thereby providing concrete legal protections to people caught in high-stakes conflicts such as child custody battles, landlord-tenant disputes, and domestic crises.

We also took a special moment to honor Vice Chair and Chair Emerita Georgia Wall, who received an Honorary Doctorate from Wheaton College just days prior to the gala. I am especially grateful for Dr. Wall’s three decades of resilient stewardship, governing Graham as a steadying force through thirty years of global and local crises, serving as the organization’s North Star.

The 2026 Champion for Children Award was presented to Catherine Redlich, Rob Horwitz, and the Redlich Horwitz Foundation by Board Co-Chair Garrard Beeney. The award recognized their game-changing investments, which have acted as a powerful catalyst for citywide child welfare reform. While Cathy and Rob expressed their heartfelt gratitude virtually, their dedicated staff members—Sarah Chiles, Jessica Maxwell, and Imogen Carr—took to the stage to accept the honor.

Board Co-Chair Rich Rothman presented the 2026 Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton Legacy Award to Jess Dannhauser, former Commissioner of the New York City Administration for Children’s Services and former President and CEO of Graham. Rich recognized Jess as the absolute gold standard of public service, celebrating his visionary, compassionate leadership and enduring legacy of advocacy for New York’s families. Jess’s very presence and moving remarks drew a standing ovation from a profoundly grateful audience.

I am thrilled to announce that we achieved our fundraising goal, raising nearly $2.5 million to benefit children and families, including more than $385,000 raised during the live appeal. These critical funds will power Vision 2029, allowing Graham to expand community-rooted stability and double its signature Graham SLAM coaching program to reach 900 young people, guaranteeing a bridge to independence by age 26.

The crowd also heard an incredibly touching, firsthand account of the transformative power of this coaching model from Lamuhamad Mcrae, Graham’s Case Planner Supervisor, who shared a poignant personal testimonial detailing how a Graham SLAM coach fundamentally changed the trajectory of his own life and career. Illustrating the ultimate ripple effect of the program, he now leads and mentors his own team to support New York families. His rousing testimonial brought the gala guests to their feet cheering twice!

The extraordinary energy of the night reached a crescendo with the evening’s entertainment. Guests were absolutely enthralled by a high-octane, spectacular performance by Olivia Puckett, Stephanie Umoh, and Morgan Anita Wood, Broadway stars who performed in Hamilton: An American Musical. Their thrilling performances of “The Schuyler Sisters” and “That Would Be Enough” delivered a memorable musical experience that conjured the revolutionary spirit and historical ties to Graham.

The remarkable triumph of this Gala Benefit was made possible by the vision, heart, and meticulous leadership of Graham’s event committee, led by Board members Heather McVeigh and Barbara Marcus, with CMI Events and Tess O’Dwyer as co-producers.

We offer our deepest gratitude for the magnificent leadership support from a dedicated circle of champion donors whose exceptional generosity served as the foundational bedrock for the evening: Jennifer & D. Scott Mackesy, Georgia Wall & Don Gogel, Celia Felsher & John Cecil, Margaret & Andy Paul, Melinda & Paul Pressler, Cathy Redlich & Rob Horwitz, the Redlich Horwitz Foundation, and Connie & John Sargent. We were also joined by special guest, New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley.

The event proved that while the wooden steeples of 1806 may be overshadowed by the steel towers of 2026, Graham’s mission to redesign the system remains more resolute than ever. We refuse to accept the world as it was handed to us—we are here to rebuild it. Thank you, friends of Graham, for standing together to champion change, and for ensuring that the future we build together is infinitely brighter than the past.