Thank you for an Amazing 2026 Community Gala
It meant so much to be together in community, especially in such challenging times. We’re deeply grateful for everyone who attended—and everyone who was there with us in spirit!
We were moved by the powerful words of our Community Funding Committee members. We were inspired hearing about the essential work of our Frederick Douglass Award Honorees—Adelante Student Voices, Caribbean Equality Project and Street Vendor Project.
Emcee Kerry Coddett brought us some much-needed laughs and hot “Gala Takes.” Steel Sensation brought the beats. And we reflected on our work as a community with North Star Fund Executive Director Jenn Ching and Board Chair Sayu Bhojwani.
The North Star Fund community comes together in a way that is deeply meaningful. We’re firm in our power, clear in our vision and joyful in building a more caring and just New York for all of us! We believe that together we can turn the tide.
Check out the highlights video and other details from the evening in our Thank You Book.
Thank you for being part of this community.
The Highlights Reel
Our Thank You Book
Thanks to our 2026 donors
Thanks to these donors for your support for local organizing in New York City and the Hudson Valley! Together we’re moving millions of dollars.
Alexandra and Ben Shapiro
Alexis Ortiz
Amit Singh Bagga
Angela Vo
Ann Fawcett Ambia, Oliver Fein &
Charlotte Phillips
Anne Hess and Craig Kaplan
Anonymous
Arline Segal
Artemis Group at RBC Wealth Management
Asa and Jodi Lu Johnson
Barbara Winslow
Ben Shumlin
Bengali Interfaith Youth
Empowerment (BIYE)
Camilla Hammer
Caro H
Churches United For Fair Housing, Inc.
Citizen Action of New York
Cody Edgerly
Community Rising Project Inc.
Community Voices Heard
cori schmanke parrish
Dana J. Schneider and Kathleen Pequeño
Dana Mindlin
David R. Alexander
David Van Taylor
Ed Hong
Ejeris Dixon
Elias Foundation
Elizabeth and Olympia Ingriselli-Moy
Elizabeth Nellis
Elizabeth Wang and John Delaney
Ellen P. Chapnick
Elsa Saade
Elz Cuya Jones
Emily Earle
Emily Knies
Erin Hawkins
Farbman Family Foundation
Fiona Kanagasingam
GFP Real Estate
Grace F.
Groveland Road
Helen Stillman
Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition
Hugh Hogan and Paul Brennan
Ilana Berger
Isabelle H. Leighton
Jane Lerner
Jeannie Park
Jeff Lee Romero, Eladio Ching Lee
and Nico Ching Lee
Jennifer Flynn and Bela Walker
Jerrod MacFarlane
Jillian Lane White
John Sayles and Maggie Renzi
Johnson Family Foundation
Jose M. Cruz
Judson Commons
Junie Francois Pswarayi and Family
Karen Pittelman
Kathleen Rubenstein & Hays Golden
KC Wagner
keith brooks
Kellie Terry
Keriann Pauls
Laru Beya Collective
Latasha Wright
Leah Obias and Rachel Isreeli
Leo Kallas, Edith Kallas & Joe Whatley
Lisa Pilar Cowan
Lisa Steglich
Lynda Rodolitz
Maggie Williams
Marc I. Gross and Susan Ochshorn,
Play it Forward
Marissa and Ryan Hersh
Marissa Martin
Marjorie Fine
Maya Iwata, New Breath Foundation
Meeta Anand & H James Lucas
MHAction
Michael Hirschhorn & Jimena Martinez
Mohamed Haian Abdirahman
Mona Chun
Nancy Meyer and Marc Weiss
Natasha Edwards Pallan
Nicole Follmann-Olukayode
Nisha Atre Richardson
NMIC
Open Doors
Pierre Hauser & Abigail E. Disney
Rachelle Taabazuing
Rebecca Lurie
Rickke Mananzala and Alexa Kasdan
Rigoberto Lara Guzmán
Robin Redmond
Rowan Shumlin
RWJF Special Contributions Fund of the
Princeton Area Community Foundation
Saida Agostini Bostic Funders
for LGBTQ Issues
Samantha Fernandes
Samreen Rafi
Sarah Frank
Sarah Perlmeter
Sayu Bhojwani
Seeding Power Fellowship
Seongeun Chun
Sofia Chang
Surdna Foundation
Susan Shah
Tani Takagi
The Movement Cooperative
Theodore A . Moore
Tiloma Jayasinghe
Tom Cramer and Michèle Burger
Trinity Church NYC
Vivian and Jonathan Liu
Winnie Zwick