New York Women’s Foundation honors leaders at annual breakfast

By AI, Created 11:35 AM UTC, May 22, 2026, /AGP/ – The New York Women’s Foundation gathered advocates, philanthropists and community partners in Manhattan on May 13 for its annual Celebrating Women® Breakfast. The event recognized Valerie Jarrett, Jeannie Park, Leah Greenberg and the National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives for work advancing gender, racial and economic justice.

Why it matters: - The breakfast is a key annual fundraiser and convening for The New York Women’s Foundation. - The event spotlights leaders and organizations working on gender, racial and economic justice across New York City and beyond. - The Foundation says it has awarded more than $141 million to over 500 organizations over nearly 40 years.

What happened: - The New York Women’s Foundation hosted its annual Celebrating Women® Breakfast at the New York Marriott Marquis on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. - The event brought together leaders, advocates, philanthropists and community partners from across New York City. - Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, received the Vision Award. - Jeannie Park, Board Chair of the Korean American Community Foundation, also received the Vision Award. - Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-Executive Director of the Indivisible Project, received the Celebrating Women® Award. - The National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives received the Celebrating Women® Award.

The details: - Ana L. Oliveira, president and CEO of The New York Women’s Foundation, urged attendees to stay engaged, saying: “I need you to continue to show up. I need you to pick your fight and dedicate yourself. Fight to win. We fight to win.” - The Foundation said the breakfast has brought its community together for nearly 40 years. - This year’s event centered the Foundation’s work with women, girls and gender-expansive people. - The Foundation framed the gathering as part of a broader effort to advance gender, racial and economic justice. - Notable attendees included Karen Choi, Juliana Pereira, Imara Jones, Helene Banks, Soffiyah Elijah, Mary Baglivo, Lola C. West, Jean Shafiroff, Narae Yun, Marielle Villar Martiney, Gloria Pitagorsky, Carrie Malcolm, Alison Overseth, Michèle Penzer, Margarita Rosa and Maria Cilenti.

Between the lines: - The Foundation is using the breakfast to reinforce its role as a convening institution in New York philanthropy and advocacy. - Honoring both established civic figures and movement organizers signals an effort to link institutional power with grassroots action. - The focus on women, girls and gender-expansive people reflects an expanded framing of gender justice.

What’s next: - The New York Women’s Foundation directed readers to learn more and view event highlights. - The Foundation will continue supporting community-led solutions tied to lasting, community-rooted change. - Its next public-facing milestone will likely come through future grants, advocacy and annual convenings.

The bottom line: - The annual breakfast doubled as a celebration of leadership and a statement of the Foundation’s priorities: funding, visibility and political momentum for gender and racial justice.