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UWNYC Gridiron Gala
United Way New York City celebrates a 32-year partnership with the New York Jets and New York Giants.
On a slightly foggy evening in May, a well-heeled crowd made their way up 12th Avenue to celebrate the wonderful and much needed work that United Way of New York City (UWNYC) has continued to support for the past 70 years.
The Gridiron Gala, held this year on May 6 at The Glasshouse, commemorated UWNYC’s 32 years of partnership with the New York Jets and the New York Giants. This year’s honorees were Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, CBRE Vice Chairman Joseph A. Cabrera, and NFL Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Dasha Smith.
Taylor and Thibodeaux were Hometown Heroes award winners, recognized for their commitment to positively affect the community. Taylor created the Tyrod Taylor Foundation to support positive advancements in the lives of youth in underserved communities through the lens of charitable giving and education. Thibodeaux created the JREAM Foundation to educate, mentor, empower, and instill confidence and wisdom into youth in underserved communities.
No less impressive is the work of Cabrera, who was honored with the George Irish MVP award. He has long chaired the Gala, served on the UWNYC board for nearly 20 years—and has raised over $40 million for the organization. Smith, a trustee for several non-profit educational and arts institutions, received the Community Quarterback Award.
The soirée—and its more than 850 attendees—raised over $3.2 million, with this year introducing the first “Superbowl Championship” level of sponsorship, at $100,000. Melissa Browne, UWNYC senior vice president and chief development officer, said with pride, “I’m really impressed by members of the Board and Gala committee who showed up to support those tables. It makes the work that we do possible.”
The atmosphere in the room was one of energetic joy as past honorees made time to shake hands with the new draft picks, many of whom wore colorful, sharply tailored suits. The crowd munched on passed mini tuna tacos and tasty sliders and sipped glasses of wine, water, or cocktails while honorees, team members, guests, and President and CEO Grace Bonilla gathered on the red carpet for photos.
Every year, the Gridiron Gala honors exceptional leaders who work tirelessly to make a positive difference through outstanding professional and philanthropic contributions. UWNYC is committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have the tools and resources they need to not just survive, but succeed. They work with government, private, and small, grassroots organizations—groups who have garnered the trust of their communities and want to bring about lasting change.
UWNYC is resolutely non-partisan and addresses critical needs, including food and benefits access. Food insecurity skyrocketed in the pandemic, Browne noted, when there was an increase of over 82 percent in the use of food pantries. “Food is not political. We want people to be healthy. We want to make sure that kids can show up to school not hungry,” she said.
Last year, in partnership with other organizations, UWNYC distributed 15 million pounds of food, delivered 75,000 books to families, and conducted 5,000 free preventative health screenings.
Browne brings a wealth of expertise in this sector from her experience with top-tier organizations like the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and her work as Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events. “I’ve always wanted to give back, and thought, ‘How do I make the world a better place?’”
Her focus has always been about getting more eyes on the organizations, and Browne is committed to raising awareness on all fronts. She said this of UWNYC’s mission. “It’s very small organizations across the city that have very targeted populations they’re serving. We’re supporting those nonprofits, making sure that they have the capacity, they’re able to run, and they can apply for funding. Nonprofits are the lifeline of New York City, making sure that people get fed and have access to food and healthcare and education.”
As the cocktail portion of the evening ended and as guests made their way into a room looking like a giant spring garden, lit by green and purple lights, there was a generosity of spirit that would play out in the donations made that night. Community is everything to New Yorkers—and UWNYC helps to keep it all going.
To find out how you can get involved—whether by donating, volunteering, or partnering with UWNYC—go to unitedwaynyc.org.
Hero photo of President and CEO Grace Bonilla with the evening’s honorees, from left: Tyrod Taylor; CBRE Vice Chairman Joseph A. Cabrera; NFL Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Dasha Smith; and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
