On April 27, nearly 600 supporters came together at the iconic Cipriani 42nd Street for the sold-out 2026 Step Up Gala. The evening was filled with energy, connection, and inspiration, all in support of the youth and families served by Friends of the Children New York. From the moment guests arrived, there was a palpable sense of excitement that carried throughout the night, setting the tone for what would become one of our most impactful celebrations to date.

A Night of Inspiration and Gratitude

The program kicked off with an energetic, and extremely welcomed, introduction from Seth Meyers, who used his charm and wit to thank our sponsors and highlight our mission. During his opening remarks, he captured the spirit of our mission, saying, "Friends of the Children New York is the world's longest running mentor relationship, and yes they stick around, even past high school."

After Seth’s introduction, Executive Director Ramon Reyes took the stage, blending gratitude with a powerful message about impact. He highlighted what makes Friends of the Children New York unique: a commitment to providing full-time, professional mentors who support young people consistently for 12 years, no matter what. Ramon emphasized that while the children served are just as capable as anyone else, the difference is having someone who shows up and stays, and reminded guests that their support makes it possible to reach more children with these life-changing relationships.

Later, recent program graduate and current intern, alumna speaker Astou Wade took the stage, sharing an emotional and inspiring journey through the Friends program. She shared how her mentors' constant consistency and belief in her built her foundation for growth in her future, including inspiring her to attend Guttman Community College and joining the team at Friends New York as an Afterschool Program Intern.

Now an honor roll student, Astou reminds us of the long-lasting impact of consistent mentorship.

One of the most impactful moments came during the Paddle Raise, led by auctioneer Ian Lindsay. Thanks to incredible energy and generosity, we raised nearly $400,000 during this portion of the evening alone.

The night continued with her third unforgettable performance by 5th grade Achiever Jenesis Hylton. Jenesis returned to the stage with even greater confidence, singing “Free” from KPop Demon Hunters and later joining Seth and Ian on stage for a raffle drawing.

Many returning guests were stunned at her growth and poise at only 11 years old. Attendees commented on how they are happy to see her return and love to see how she is growing up.

We were lucky enough to showcase two of our Friend pairings in videos showcased during the program. Harvey and Moses shared an emotional moment as Harvey, now 15 years old, recounted his days when he had violent outbursts because of his fear of abandonment. Moses has been by Harvey's side through day one and is able to see Harvey’s success in trying new things, wrestling, cultivating amazing friendships, and celebrating his culture. Slade and Miya showed our audience how Miya is thriving in school with the help of Slade. She is doing cheer, dance, and learning to be confident. Slade and Miya share that they are both Haitan, and Slade loves to teach Miya about their shared culture- specifically Haitian recipes.

Thank You for Stepping Up

We are incredibly grateful to all of our wonderful sponsors for making this night possible and continuously fueling our long term mentorships. Because of you, our most at risk youth have the relationship and resources to thrive over 12+ years no matter what.

To every attendee, donor, and supporter, your commitment means everything to us. By sharing our mission, interacting with our youth and staff, and giving generously, you are directly helping to break cycles of generational poverty and open doors to brighter futures for the youth and families we serve. You are part of their story, and we are so honored to have you as part of our Friends NY community.

A big thank you as well to Seth Meyers for lending his time, humor, and heart to the evening for a second year in a row, and to our incredible speakers for bravely sharing their journeys; and to our talented performers who lifted the room with their energy and artistry.

You made the 2026 Step Up Gala a night to remember—and a night that will have a lasting impact. Because of you, we raised well over $2 million to fuel our mission!