United Way of New York City

Our VP, Food & Benefits Access, Cheryl Huber, recently joined West Side Campaign Against Hunger’s “Hangry for Change” podcast to discuss the various ways UWNYC is tackling hunger in NYC. From supporting local farmers to advocating for increased SNAP benefits, Cheryl highlighted our work to ensure every New Yorker has access to healthy, nutritious food. Listen to the full conversation below.

Last month, Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH) kicked off their annual employee giving campaign supporting UWNYC's work — in true golden-ticket style. ???? This year's Willy Wonka-themed Oompa Loompa Olympics was a lively, candy-colored competition, bringing together employees from across the firm for a series of fun and spirited challenges. A huge thank you to the BBH team and our UWNYC Board Member Kevin Stone for their commitment to creating brighter futures for New Yorkers.

The release of our 2024 Annual Report, United for Impact: Building Thriving Communities in NYC, is a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to look ahead at the work still to be done. This report showcases the significant strides we’ve made together to combat some of New York City’s most pressing challenges: access to education, healthcare, food security, and justice. With the continued support of our incredible partners, we’ve been able to support thousands of New Yorkers in need, and we’re now looking toward expanding our reach and impact even further in 2025. From innovative programs like Choose Healthy Life to the Books From Birth initiative, we are delivering real solutions on the ground. Take a deeper look at our 2024 Annual Report to learn how you are helping us transform lives and build an even stronger, more resilient city for all: unitedway.nyc/41Cwxky

Many New Yorkers rely on food pantries and shelters funded by the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). United Way of New York City helps these community organizations access ESFP funding so they can support our neighbors. But ESFP reimbursements have been delayed with no specific timeline for release — jeopardizing the critical services these organizations provide. ?? ?? Cheryl Huber, UWNYC’s VP of Food and Benefits Access, spoke with PIX11 about the urgent need to restore EFSP funding. ?? We are asking our local elected officials to stand up in defense of EFSP to ensure that funding is released?and?no one in our communities is without basic human rights.?

?? We are proud to share the creation of the first Latine Studies curriculum for NYC Public Schools. This curriculum will explore various aspects of Latinidad – the shared Latin American identity. And we want YOUR input.?? ? ?? What do you think is important for New York City students to learn about the Latine community in school? Your feedback will directly inform the content and structure of the curriculum. Share your thoughts in our survey: https://lnkd.in/eB4jQbrm ??UWNYC is partnering with The Gordon Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Hispanic Federation, and NYC public schools to bring this much needed resource to our schools and communities. Tag connections in your network and repost to spread the word about this survey! #NYCSchools #DiversityInEducation #RepresentationMatters

Digital Party recapped our Power of Women Luncheon, where we celebrated extraordinary women leaders and raised funds for UWNYC’s transformational programs. During the event, Senior VP & Chief Development Officer Melissa Browne told Digital Party how we serve as a force multiplier—leveraging corporate and government partnerships to amplify the impact of grassroots organizations: "We have the microphone. We can give that microphone to smaller nonprofits." Read the full story below.?

This past weekend, our team attended the 2025 SOMOS Inc. New York Conference in Albany, hosted by the New York State Assembly and Senate’s Puerto Rican & Hispanic Task Force. Bringing together leaders, advocates, and changemakers under the theme "Justice in Action," the conference focused on advancing equity and empowering underserved voices in Latine communities.? ? Our Vice President of Education Equity, Tom Liam Lynch, Ed.D., moderated a workshop titled “Latine Curriculum for New York City Public Schools.” Panelists—including Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Chancellor of NYC Public Schools; Frankie Miranda, CEO of Hispanic Federation; and Dr. Limarys Caraballo, Associate Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University; and Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos—explored the meaning of curriculum, what makes one culturally responsive, key lessons to include, and the path forward with NYC Council support. We also co-hosted the “Healthy Families, Healthy Communities” workshop, where our Senior Project Director, Health Equity, Veronica Torres, discussed UWNYC’s efforts to expand access to preventative care services and strengthen health equity programming. Through meaningful discussion and collaboration, we’re helping to build a healthier, stronger New York City.

Each year at UWNYC’s Power of Women to Make a Difference Awards Luncheon, we are proud to honor Rising Stars—exceptional women who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and impact.?? Nominated by their companies, business partners, and communities, these Rising Stars embody the qualities that drive real change: vision, resilience, and a deep commitment to excellence. Congratulations to this year’s record-breaking cohort of 22 Rising Stars! And thank you to the companies, organizations, and individuals that have nominated and supported these remarkable leaders: CIBC? Deloitte?? The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)?? EY?? NYC Health + Hospitals I Elmhurst Paramount?? S&P Global Market Intelligence?? SOMOS Community Care?? Structure Tone Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP? R. J. Ancona??? Diana R. Azznara?? Joseph Cabrera Lori Davis??? Frances Scandariato?? Your commitment to making a difference is truly inspiring, and we’re honored to have you as part of this community!? Hear the 2025 Rising Stars speak about the importance of mentorship, the opportunities every woman deserves, and the power of women to create lasting change: https://lnkd.in/eUY58ZGG

Our Power of Women to Make a Difference Awards Luncheon was an unforgettable celebration of leadership and impact!?? The Luncheon honored extraordinary women leaders and brought an incredible community of leading corporations and committed people together to raise critical funds for our education initiatives and other programs supporting low-income New Yorkers. Together, we raised $1.1 million to support children and families across our city! Congratulations to our 2025 honorees Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Kelly Koyama-Garcia, and Jo-Ann Yoo, whose remarkable professional achievements are matched by their dedication to service. Our host, Cheryl Wills of NY1 News, took us through the afternoon with passion and charisma, making it even more special.? ? A heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors and supporters, including J.P. Morgan and LVMH, and the devoted leaders of UWNYC Women United and our Board of Directors for making this event possible. See highlights from this unforgettable afternoon here: unitedway.nyc/4kDhwHJ

Our Books from Birth program makes the joy of reading accessible to all children — no matter their zip code. Books from Birth delivers free books monthly to low-income families, helping kids build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Lillian Cortes-Guzman is the director of the daycare center Happy Tots in the Bronx. She’s a proud Books from Birth?partner,?distributing the free books she receives through the program to the families she serves. ? ? At our Power of Women Luncheon, Lillian spoke with PIX11 about the importance of introducing children to reading early and the vital role books played in her own children’s upbringing. Our President and CEO Grace C. Bonilla, Esq. also told reporter MONICA MORALES about the urgency of getting more books into the community. She reflected on her experience growing up in a book desert — an area with limited access to bookstores and public libraries.