Page 2 - NYC Imagine Awards Journal

Diamond Welcome

a world without hope or compassion
a world without food and shelter
a world without arts and culture
a world without innovation and impact
Imagine a world where the nonprofit sector didn’t exist
The nonprofit sector is such an integral part of the fabric that makes up New York City and its
surrounding boroughs... it is the part we all strive for, our compassion, our imagination, our decency,
our selflessness, and our humanity. Nonprofit organizations do so much for all of us, touching lives
in countless ways... healing, feeding, sheltering, clothing, providing beauty, insight, research, and
assistance... provoking thought, exploration, and tolerance, and so much more. Nonprofits don’t look
Celebrating your tireless for recognition or accolades, just support (monetary, goods, and volunteers) so they can help more and
do more in order to make NY City and its surrounding boroughs better places to live, work, and play.
The last couple of years have been very difficult for the sector, with the COVID pandemic transitioning
COMMITMENT to economic slowdowns, increasing interest rates and inflation, lack of adequate staffing and funding,
and growth in the need for services.
TO OTHERS. It is for these, and many other reasons, that the nonprofit sector needs a night like this, an event
like this, a chance for us all to honor the sector that quietly provides so much impact on a daily
basis. While we wish we could personally thank each and every one of the nearly 35,000 nonprofit
organization that operate within the NY City metropolitan area, for their unwavering dedication to
changing lives and bringing rays of hope, compassion, understanding, and even a little magic to our
lives and communities, tonight is really about our 24 amazing finalists, which represent some of the
We are pleased to support The Imagine Awards and all of the best that the NY City nonprofit sector has to offer.
Not-For-Profit Organizations represented here tonight! So... welcome to the 3rd annual New York City Imagine Awards, a program established to recognize
and celebrate some of the best nonprofits New York City has to offer, to provide an avenue for
exploration and collaboration, and to allow nonprofits (and the rest of us too) to share ideas and learn
Every day, you help make our community a better place to live. from each other. Tonight is an opportunity for us to support and appreciate those organizations who all
year long diligently work to elevate and support all of us. This will be an amazing evening, where 24 of
We do our best to support you, your organization and the New York City’s top nonprofit organizations will be competing in six different categories: Leadership,
Innovation, Rising Star, Arts & Culture, Social Impact, and DEIA for a chance to win a prestigious
people you serve. We’re always proud to help our neighbors. Imagine Award, a $5,000 check, and bragging rights for the year. Regardless of who wins, thanks to
Webster Bank, our Diamond Sponsor, each of our finalists will receive $1,000.
In addition to the six award winners, there will also be a winner of the fan favorite award, where people
Kathleen Stanley, Executive Managing Director voted on-line for one of our finalists to win an additional $3,000 prize.
Commercial Banking Your support of the Imagine Awards is helping to make a difference, so thank you for helping us
360 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017 to recognize the best of the best of New York City’s nonprofit community. I would especially like
516.287.3063 to thank this year’s Diamond Sponsor: Webster Bank, Platinum Sponsors; Aetna, Alliant, Cerini &
Associates, LLP, The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation, Flagstar Bank, JP Morgan Chase and Co., and
kastanley@websterbank.com OneGroup. Consider supporting them as they support the nonprofit sector. Lastly, I would like to thank
the awards committee and the judges who were so instrumental in making tonight a reality.

Once again, congratulations to this year’s Imagine Awards finalists! Thank you for making New York
City a better place for all of us.
Thank You,

Kenneth Cerini, CPA, CFP, FABFA
websterbank.com Managing Partner, Cerini & Associates, LLP

Webster Bank, N.A., Webster, Webster Bank, the Webster Bank logo, and the W symbol are registered
trademarks of Webster Financial Corporation. © 2023 Webster Financial Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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