NEW YORK, NY: On Wednesday, May 18, Spence-Chapin Services to Families & Children held their 2022 Gala, Celebrating the Heroes In Our Lives, at Guastavino’s, raising over $480,000 for programming and services to those within the adoption constellation. Over 250 guests gathered to celebrate the many heroes in the adoption community and the countless ways in which they enrich the lives of children, women, and families. The event was co-chaired by Spence-Chapin Board Members Spencer Acker, Zach Boisi, and Sammy Chadwick.
The evening was filled with joy and celebration, from a cocktail hour featuring costumed superheroes to a special musical performance by soprano Brittany Olivia Logan and pianist William Woodard of the Metropolitan Opera to a closing performance by Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, a founding member of legendary hip-hop group RUN-DMC. The event was hosted by returning Master of Ceremonies Dave Price from NBC 4 New York. Katharine Welling, Spence-Chapin Vice Chair, presented awards to Maud Welles and The Boisi Family for their long-time dedication to Spence-Chapin and commitment to the welfare of children and families.
The evening’s program featured a short film about Spence-Chapin’s lifelong work with families titled Every Step of the Way. Featuring an adoptive family over the course of 18 years, the film captured Spence-Chapin’s work with birthparents, adoptive parents, and adoptees throughout all stages of life and meaningful support for all members within the adoption constellation. Spence-Chapin staff members featured prominently throughout the film, which was created by Grand Street Media.
Refreshments included a sparkling rosé wine produced and donated by Mixed Roots Foundation, a longtime partner of Spence-Chapin. The Mixed Roots Foundation raises awareness and funds for the global multicultural adoption and foster care community, and their rosé wine is fittingly called Diversity.
Major Gala sponsors included: The Boisi Family; Maud and Jeffrey Welles; The Acker Family; Christopher and Christina Combe; Curtis and Katharine Welling; Sammy Chadwick; Anne and Chris Flowers; J.P. Morgan; Sheldon Kasowitz and Kathryn Huarte; Gerald M. Lodge; Michael Mellody and Denise Capati; Ian and Sylvia Rowe; Kieran and Catherine Goodwin; Chris and Lizzy Stoeckle; Phillips Lytle LLP; Jim Bennett and Sheila Manischewitz; Amy Kuhn and Stuart Rosow; Kevin Nelson and Chris Adams; Hildegard and Patrick Toth; and Brittany and Peter Wallach.
Additional partners included: Beverly Hills Princess; DJ Alex Edge; DJ Charlie Chan; Hechler Photographers; Oleander Flowers; and the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.
For photos of the Spence-Chapin Gala, please visit Spence-Chapin’s 2022 Gala Photo Album.
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About Spence-Chapin:
Spence-Chapin has been offering exceptional adoption and family services for more than 100 years. Its mission is to help find loving families for children whatever their needs or circumstances and provide counseling and lifelong support for all children and families to whom they have been born or entrusted. Spence-Chapin’s roots date back to the early 1900s with the pioneering work of Ms. Clara Spence and Dr. and Mrs. Henry Chapin, who established nurseries for infants abandoned on the streets of New York City, led humanitarian efforts, and created families through adoption. Spence-Chapin has since expanded to include other comprehensive support programs. The organization’s award-winning efforts have served more than 25,000 women, children, and families through domestic, international and special needs adoption, post-adoption support, and humanitarian aid programs such as the Granny Program. Learn more at www.spence-chapin.org.
