30th Anniversary Can Do Awards Dinner

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Keynote, award presentations, and acceptances are on our YouTube channel.

Food Bank Fundraising Gala Sets Record
By Angela Ebron

When: April 30, 2013

Location: Cipriani Wall Street

On April 30^th more than 650 guests helped Food Bank raise a record-setting $2 MILLION—and counting—with HUGE year over year growth! These amazing results were the culmination of our celebration of 30 years of service at our star-studded annual Can Do 2013 Awards Dinner, presented by Bank of America at Cipriani Wall Street.

Over the years, many supporters have joined in our mission to end hunger, and that night we honored several of those pivotal players: Mario Batali and Susi Cahn, Food Bank founder Kathy Goldman, Delta Air Lines, and Diane Sawyer & The ABC News Hidden America Team. We also presented Target with our Mission Partner Award. As Food Bank President and CEO Margarette Purvis put it in her rousing and impassioned speech, “Food Bank is home to the people who care about fighting hunger in this city…it’s the place for staring hunger down and telling it, ‘Bring it on!’ As long as hunger continues to plague this city, WE WILL BE HERE.”  

Master of ceremonies, Tony Shalhoub, newly nominated for a Tony award, brought his trademark humor to the evening’s festivities, which featured appearances by Chelsea Clinton, Stephanie March, Lauren Bush Lauren and Selita Ebanks, whose moving account of her own childhood struggles with hunger captivated the crowd. “I have seen how hunger can deplete a family’s spirit,” Ebanks said. “And I have also seen how Food Bank could change the life of a little girl with big dreams. That was me. That IS me.” Guests were also treated to an inspiring and uplifting film directed by noted photographer Nigel Parry that showcased Food Bank’s work, our supporters and the 1.5 million New Yorkers we serve.

In addition to a silent auction, other highlights of the evening included a live auction for such prizes as dinner prepared in your home by the “Three Castrati,” acclaimed chefs Mario Batali, David Chang and Tom Colicchio, as well as a Mission Auction for pledges up to $30,000, which caused The Chew’s Carla Hall to excitedly jump up from her chair to pledge. 

Our special musical guest, Jon Bon Jovi, closed out the night with a rocking set that brought the house down and capped off a fun-filled event whose message was clear to everyone in attendance: TOGETHER WE CAN END HUNGER.

Angela Ebron is Food Bank For New York City’s writer and editor.

Press Release:

Food Bank For New York City Raises Record-Setting $2 Million for Hunger Relief at Star-Studded 30th Anniversary Can Do Awards Dinner