BCS 2025 Gala Raises Over $300k for Brooklyn!

Last week, BCS threw our annual fundraiser Gala at BAMcafé in Fort Greene! Close to 200 guests came together to show their support for our mission. The theme of the gala, “We Are Brooklyn,” highlighted our 159-year history of empowering and connecting Brooklynites, celebrating the compassion and empathy that make our borough strong. The annual Brooklyn Spirit Award was given to BCS’s Former President and Executive Director, Janelle Farris, whose decade of service has shaped BCS’s ethos.

(C) PAUL MARTINKA

During cocktail hour, guests met and mingled over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Once everyone had taken their seats, our host, ABC7 News anchor Phil Taitt, kicked off the night’s programming with his signature energy and charisma. BCS’s interim Co-Executive Directors Jodi Querbach and Monae Priolenau then gave the crowd a taste of our current programs, initiatives, and organizational goals, reminding us of this evening’s importance to our community. 

Next came a family-style dinner provided by Great Performances catering. As guests dined on delicious herbed chicken, fingerling potatoes, and roasted zucchini, they were treated to a video about Janelle Farris and her impact at BCS. Attendees also heard from speakers such former Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger and former BCS Executive Director Marla Simpson, who shared more about their personal histories with Janelle over the years.

(C) PAUL MARTINKA

Then, our trusty auctioneer, Paul Florez-Taylor, took the stage for our annual appeal. Guests were encouraged to raise their paddles for some amazing causes, such as providing laptops to participants in our job training programs and covering a month’s rent for supportive housing residents. It was so amazing to see everyone’s generosity in action! We raised over $100,000 over the course of the evening and over $300,000 total. All of these funds will go toward the staff and participants in our programs all over Brooklyn.

Overall, the 2025 BCS Gala was a tremendous success, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of our amazing board members, community partners, and sponsors! A special thank you to Rockwood Capital, Deloitte, Ernst & Young LLP, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, KPMG, Fit4Dance, the NY Jets Foundation, Lamb Insurance Services and UBS Private Wealth Management for their continued support of our mission.