2026 Womankind Communities Rising Gala
2026 Womankind Communities Rising Gala
October 21 • 6:30PM
Tribeca 360 / 10 Debrosses Street, New York City
days
Join Womankind for an inspiring evening to celebrate the survivors who illuminate their pathways to healing. Together, we’ll carry that light forward by raising critical support, amplifying their voices, and demonstrating the power of Communities Rising in action.
This year marks 25 years of Womankind providing 24-hour emergency housing services for survivors of gender-based violence in New York City. This milestone paved the way for us to establish our two current emergency housing facilities, Rose House and Peace House, which continue to support survivors and families with steady, culturally specific care around the clock.
2026 Womankind Communities Rising Gala
October 21 • 6:30PM
Tribeca 360 / 10 Debrosses Street, New York City
days
Join Womankind for an inspiring evening to celebrate the survivors who illuminate their pathways to healing. Together, we’ll carry that light forward by raising critical support, amplifying their voices, and demonstrating the power of Communities Rising in action.
This year marks 25 years of Womankind providing 24-hour emergency housing services for survivors of gender-based violence in New York City. This milestone paved the way for us to establish our two current emergency housing facilities, Rose House and Peace House, which continue to support survivors and families with steady, culturally specific care around the clock.
We are thrilled to recognize the achievements of Narges M. Kakalia as our Phoenix of the Year Honoree, Council Member Linda Lee as our Advocate in Action Honoree, and Dr. Alexander Tsui, DMD as our Lifetime Achievement Honoree for their deep commitment and advocacy in advancing gender and racial justice and equity.
We are thrilled to recognize the achievements of Narges M. Kakalia as our Phoenix of the Year Honoree, Council Member Linda Lee as our Advocate in Action Honoree, and Dr. Alexander Tsui, DMD as our Lifetime Achievement Honoree for their deep commitment and advocacy in advancing gender and racial justice and equity.
Womankind’s important work with survivors of gender-based violence is made possible by the generous support of our 2026 Communities Rising Gala sponsors. Please note this list is in formation as of October 15.
Phoenix
Mission
Jenifer & Brendan Garvey
Karen & Samuel Choi
Tsui Family Foundation with special gratitude to Mei Chun Tsui
Partner
Champion
Larry Lee
Advocate
Aga Polcyn, Aly Kerr, Cindy Tse, Lilia Dobreva & Mariel Taylor
Akita Somani
Feinberg Hanson LLP
Flora Feng, Jeff Slater & Family
Law Offices of Deborah Chan, P.C.
Linda Lew Woo
Merv Garretson / JanetJewelry.com / Hearst
Mintz
Narges Kakalia & Marc Merriweather
Vidula Pant
Ally
AlixPartners
Apkudo, Inc.
Barnes and Thornburg, LLP
Kyoko Waseda-Hida & Norio Hida
Mae Hsieh, Gregory Bylinsky & Family
Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.
Womankind’s important work with survivors of gender-based violence is made possible by the generous support of our 2026 Communities Rising Gala sponsors. Please note this list is in formation as of October 15.
Phoenix
Mission
Jenifer & Brendan Garvey
Karen & Samuel Choi
Tsui Family Foundation with special gratitude to Mei Chun Tsui
Partner
Champion
Larry Lee
Advocate
Aga Polcyn, Aly Kerr, Cindy Tse, Lilia Dobreva & Mariel Taylor
Akita Somani
Feinberg Hanson LLP
Flora Feng, Jeff Slater & Family
Law Offices of Deborah Chan, P.C.
Linda Lew Woo
Merv Garretson / JanetJewelry.com / Hearst
Mintz
Narges Kakalia & Marc Merriweather
Vidula Pant
Ally
AlixPartners
Apkudo, Inc.
Barnes and Thornburg, LLP
Kyoko Waseda-Hida & Norio Hida
Mae Hsieh, Gregory Bylinsky & Family
Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.
Honorary Host Committee
Sapna Chudgar
Wealth Advisor, First Citizens Wealth
Donna DeStefano
Talent Manager & Owner, SirenSong Entertainment
Maya Dillon
Head of Communications, U.S. & Americas, HSBC
Shirley Hon
Co-Founder, United Womens Sports NIL Agency
Mona Patel
Founder & Lead Executive Coach, Reframe with Mona
Cortney Stapleton
Chief Strategy & Business Officer, Highwire
Alice Young
Host Committee
Madhavi Batliboi
Board Co-Chair
Director & AGC Global Head of Music Legal, Meta
Merv Garretson
Board Co-Chair
Group Creative Director, Hearst
Flora Feng
Board Secretary
Senior Legal Director, Global Intellectual Property, PepsiCo
Akita Somani
Board Treasurer
Senior Vice President, POS Lending, U.S. Bank
Deborah Chan
Board Member
Attorney, Law Office of Deborah Chan, PC
Sujata Dayal
Board Member
Senior Advisor, Arziyan LLC
Larry Lee
Board Member
Vidula Pant
Board Member
Jane Tran
Board Member
Co-Founder and COO, Sixfold
Vanessa Yen
Board Member
Partner, Mintz Levin
Josephine Young
Board Member
Partner, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP
Honorary Host Committee
Sapna Chudgar
Wealth Advisor, First Citizens Wealth
Donna DeStefano
Talent Manager & Owner, SirenSong Entertainment
Maya Dillon
Head of Communications, U.S. & Americas, HSBC
Shirley Hon
Co-Founder, United Womens Sports NIL Agency
Mona Patel
Founder & Lead Executive Coach, Reframe with Mona
Cortney Stapleton
Chief Strategy & Business Officer, Highwire
Alice Young
Host Committee
Madhavi Batliboi
Board Co-Chair
Director & AGC Global Head of Music Legal, Meta
Merv Garretson
Board Co-Chair
Group Creative Director, Hearst
Flora Feng
Board Secretary
Senior Legal Director, Global Intellectual Property, PepsiCo
Akita Somani
Board Treasurer
Senior Vice President, POS Lending, U.S. Bank
Deborah Chan
Board Member
Attorney, Law Office of Deborah Chan, PC
Sujata Dayal
Board Member
Senior Advisor, Arziyan LLC
Larry Lee
Board Member
Vidula Pant
Board Member
Jane Tran
Board Member
Co-Founder and COO, Sixfold
Vanessa Yen
Board Member
Partner, Mintz Levin
Josephine Young
Board Member
Partner, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP
For Gala sponsorship and ticket questions, please contact Jennifer Munz at jennifermunz@iamwk.org.
For Gala sponsorship and ticket questions, please contact Jennifer Munz at jennifermunz@iamwk.org.
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