2017 Friends of Governors Island Gala
The Friends of Governors Island 2017 Gala will honor the six women who led the transformation of Governors Island into the incredible public space it is today: former First Deputy Mayor Patti Harris, past Board Chair of the Trust for Governors Island Ronay Menschel, past Trust President Leslie Koch, philanthropist Wendy Schmidt, past Trust Vice President for Planning, Design and Construction Ellen Cavanagh, and past Trust Vice President for Planning and Design Betty Chen. Michael R. Bloomberg will be a part of the event.
Inspired by an 1862 photograph of the six men who created Central Park, this year's Gala commemorates a parallel achievement for open space in New York City. Born in the heart of New York Harbor 155 years later, Governors Island's innovative park was imagined and built by an extraordinary group of six women.
The Gala provides an opportunity to celebrate these visionaries, as well as the many other women who made the dramatic new park possible – from architects and planners, to elected officials, partners, staff and volunteers.
Now enjoyed by 600,000 visitors annually, Governors Island's new landscapes were designed to thrive for centuries by addressing climate change head on. Funds raised at the Gala will support ongoing resiliency measures and help care for the more than 2,300 trees and 50,000 shrubs in the new park.
Join us to celebrate this historic moment, support Governors Island's continued transformation, and ensure that all New Yorkers can take advantage of this shared space for years to come.
For more information on how to become an early supporter of the Gala by joining the Host Committee, contact Merritt Birnbaum at merritt@friendsgi.org or 646.832.3367.
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