Last night, New York Public Radio – home of WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space – hosted its 2023 annual gala at The Plaza Hotel. The evening honored longtime NYPR / WNYC supporter The Tow Foundation. Comedian, actor, Emmy Award-winning producer, and former The Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. hosted the evening, with a special performance by two time Grammy Award winning mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and Brooklyn College Opera Theater.
Attendees included LaFontaine E. Oliver in his first official year as New York Public Radio President and CEO, gala honorees Emily Tow & Leonard Tow, NYPR Board Chair Timothy Wilkins, WNYC hosts including John Schaefer, Alison Stewart and last year’s gala honoree Brooke Gladstone, reporters from the WNYC / Gothamist newsroom, WQXR hosts including Jeff Spurgeon and Elliott Forrest, plus NYC drag icon Thorgy Thor, who was a 2022 Artist-in-Residence at at The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR.
Gala Highlights:
- A lively cocktail hour filled with NYPR’s beloved hosts and staff, members of the press, donors and members from this year’s honoree The Tow Foundation. The High & Mighty Brass Band led guests in a procession up to the main ballroom to begin the dinner and program.
- Brooklyn College Opera Theatre opened with a beautiful performance as guests settled in.
- Comedian and host Roy Wood Jr. played the kazoo, setting the stage for an evening of playful political jabs and commentary reminiscent of his work on The Daily Show. He shared that “NYPR is an essential service” and thanked the room for their vital work in honest journalism.
- New York Public Radio President & CEO LaFontaine E. Oliver spoke of his first year as President, following last year’s remarks as interim President before stepping into the role. He thanked honoree The Tow Foundation for their support and his friend Roy Wood Jr. whose dad, like LaFontaine’s, also worked in radio.
- In mentioning the huge year NYPR had, including the launch of the local news podcast NYC NOW and On The Media winning a Peabody Award, Oliver gave a shout out to NYC Drag star Thorgy Thor for her performances at The Greene Space. She stood and waved to raucous applause.
- Roy Wood Jr. took a call over the speakers from “long time listener, first time caller” Brian Lehrer of WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show, who spoke about the important New Yorker’s perspective of public radio.
- Community Partnerships & Training Editor George Bodarky introduced Community Partnerships Fellow Jodi-Ann Malarbe, who this year has contributed meaningful work to WNYC, thanks to support from The Tow Foundation.
President of The Tow Foundation and honoree Emily Tow spoke of the foundation’s support of 16 interns from Brooklyn College in their work at NYPR, sharing “Hearing Jodi speak just now, brings to life what can happen when you give the next generation of journalists an opportunity. They really shine.” - Emily also stated that their abiding belief in NYPR’s mission to “Make the mind more curious, the heart more open, and the spirit more joyful through excellent audio programming that is deeply rooted in New York.”
- Two time Grammy Award winning mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and Brooklyn College Opera Theater concluded the evening with a flirtatiously exciting performance of “The Habañera” from Georges Bizet’s 1875 opéra comique Carmen, where Bridges walked through the crowd with her mic and a red rose. The performance ended with a standing ovation.
NYPR’s annual Gala is its largest fundraising event of the year—celebrating the vital and illuminating work produced across New York Public Radio and the generous supporters who make it all possible. Last year’s gala honored Brooke Gladstone, host and managing editor of WNYC’s Peabody Award-winning podcast and public radio show On the Media. The evening was hosted by Samantha Bee, comedian, writer and former host of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Past Gala performers and hosts include Julianna Margulies, Aidy Bryant, John Turturro, Hilary Hahn, Wynton Marsalis, Ira Glass, Cynthia Nixon, Renée Fleming, Kishi Bashi and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
About New York Public Radio
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, New York Public Radio (NYPR) produces innovative public radio programs, podcasts, and live events that touch a passionate community of fans on air, online and in person. From its state-of-the-art studios in New York City, NYPR is reshaping radio for a new generation of listeners with groundbreaking, award-winning programs including Radiolab, On the Media, The New Yorker Radio Hour, Notes from America with Kai Wright, The Brian Lehrer Show, All of It with Alison Stewart, Dolly Parton’s America, Carnegie Hall Live, Aria Code, and New Sounds,among many others. New York Public Radio includes WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New Jersey Public Radio.
About The Tow Foundation
Celebrating 35 years of service, The Tow Foundation was established in 1988 by Leonard and Claire Tow as a way to give back to the communities that shaped them. Its five primary impact areas are equity and justice, medicine and public health, arts and culture, higher education, and civic engagement. Grounded in its decades of work in Connecticut and New York, the foundation supports visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations that promote wellness and access to opportunities so that both individuals and communities can thrive. It works to ensure people can become full participants in their communities, achieve transformative and lasting progress, and develop approaches that allow everyone to reach their full potential. The Tow Foundation is a proud supporter of WNYC’s local news and New York Public Radio’s broader work on behalf of the region.
Images courtesy of Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images
