Spring Benefit 2024: Fundraising for Food Insecurity
![Spring Benefit 2024](/sites/default/files/styles/content_width_925_/public/2024-06/blog-spring%20benefit%202024.png?itok=Vho7QySN)
We brought our Spring Benefit for Young Professionals back this year! Our night at The Bowery Hotel, an iconic New York space, was a beautiful evening of connections and community. Here are three important moments:
Conversation About Food Insecurity
Russel Rader, Lead Pastor of Reunion Church, hosted our event and led the conversation with Pastor Marian Hutchins, Executive Director of The Father's Heart.
As the main part of our program, Pastor Marian shared how The Father's Heart has been serving food insecure New Yorkers for over two decades. She also shared the causes of food insecurity, plus the stories of hope that she has seen through the years.
![Spring Benefit 2024 Russel and Marian](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/HNFY-SpringBenefit-2024-143.jpg?itok=O3raTurl)
Encouraging Young Professionals
Julia An, co-chair of our former Young Professionals Community, also shared how she became involved with Hope for New York and why it's been important for her to support HFNY through giving and volunteering.
She spoke to her peers about going the extra mile (like requesting for corporate matches) to be part of a likeminded community, which has brought meaning to her faith and life.
![Spring Benefit Julia An](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/HNFY-SpringBenefit-2024-150.jpg?itok=cqvgOQDz)
Focus on Funding Food Programs
At this year's Benefit, we highlighted food insecurity because it's one of the biggest issues that affects 1.3 million New Yorkers. For the spring, we have highlighted food insecurity to support our affiliate partners with food pantry and mean programs. Along with The Father's Heart, some of these affiliates include: The Bowery Mission, City Relief, Dream Center, Graffiti, St. Paul's House, and The Salvation Army.
Together, our guests helped us raise over $83,000 for affiliates with these programs, so that they can provide more security to neighbors uncertain about their next meal. We are so thankful to all of our sponsors, donors, network partners, and guests! See our Spring Benefit photos here.
![Spring Benefit 2024](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/HNFY-SpringBenefit-2024-122.jpg?itok=8FdWhH-1)
Want to support affiliates with food insecurity programs? Visit hfny.org/foodfund
Photos by Trey Hicks (www.treyhicks.com)