In Lieu of Gifts
We deeply appreciate your celebrating this moment with us, and the efforts each of you has made to be present. We ask that you DO NOT bring or send any gifts to us.
However, if you wish to contribute to our future, you might consider donating to an organization.
Here are some that are particularly meaningful to us:
A long time fan of its shows, Ben joined the board of The Chocolate Factory Theater (CF), a physical theater and performance company in Long Island City, Queens, in June. CF develops and supports new artists whose work has never been mounted before, as well as more seasoned artists, all of whom create pieces that most conventional dance and theater companies do not exhibit. It offers salaries, healthcare, rehearsal space and other resources to its artists in residence. On top of all that, CF is an important part of the community in Long Island City, working with businesses, local politicians, schools and rec centers to shape the ongoing development and cultural landscape of the neighborhood.
Our cousin Lisa is the Director of the Haven Fund—a philanthropic response to the crisis facing immigrants in NYC. Many immigrants in New York City are living in fear of harassment, discrimination, arrest, and deportation. In the past year we have seen expanded surveillance, enforcement, and detention, attacks on lawful immigration status, attacks on organizations that service immigrants, and attacks on ‘sanctuary jurisdictions,’ bypassing of due process. All of this has instilled fear in communities and undermined safety for immigrants and the broader community.
The Haven Fund supports neighborhood-level organizations that are offering pro-se representation, food relief, educational assistance, organizing, ICE watch programming, and basic support services to our migrant neighbors. In addition to facilitating financial donations from individuals and foundations to the neighborhood-level organizations, the Haven Fund will offer opportunities for interested donors to work with grant partners and others to forward the mission of making our city safe and welcoming for all. Please donate here.
Bryan Stevenson founded EJI in 1989 and since then the organization has been working for a more racially just country. The EJI does work on criminal justice reform, issues of poverty, public education and has created a number of sites/museums which confront the legacy of slavery, lynching and segregation in America. Among them is the incredible National Memorial.
World Central Kitchen focuses on being “first to the frontlines” and providing immediate relief by serving meals during crises. They are guided by the belief that everyone has a right to access nourishing food and their efforts are directed towards humanitarian disasters, climate emergencies, and community crises. In general they work with communities to understand their specific needs and leverage local resources, including food trucks and emergency kitchens. World Central Kitchen has been an essential part of providing food in Gaza.
The Nature Conservancy works to mitigate climate change, preserve undeveloped forests, grasslands and deserts, which in turn preserves biodiversity; protect rivers, lakes and wetlands (which are also critical to biodiversity), protect communities affected by climate change; protect marine habitat and work with communities to protect their lands.
The mission of Envision Freedom Fund (the organization formerly known as the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund) is to dismantle the oppressive criminal legal and immigration systems through direct intervention, advocacy, and public education, guided by the principle of freedom for all. The organization works with communities to secure immediate freedom by paying bail and immigration bonds, providing post-release support, and building power for long-term, systemic change to end pretrial incarceration and detention.