Join the CFS community at the Museum of the City of New York to celebrate 70 years of innovating with individuals and families!
On October 24th, the entire CFS community of individuals, their families, staff, donors, board members, and business and community partners will join together at the Museum of the City of New York to celebrate CFS’ 70th Anniversary.
We’re excited for a new location and a new format for the event! Join us for food, beverages, access to a special exhibit, and a moving program celebrating CFS’ history as innovators in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the special individuals and partners who make us who we are today. This is a special time of the year to highlight the contributions of certain individuals, partners, and organizations that empower CFS to carry out its personalized support mandate and life-changing mission!
2024 Awards Dinner Honorees
Elise Anne Geltzer, Esq.
CFS Board Vice President and member of the Nominating Committee, Elise has served on CFS’ board for over 40 years, during which time it has grown from a small organization into a leading human services non-profit in New York and New Jersey. Elise has provided CFS’ Board with steady guidance, inspiration, and orientation to ensure CFS meets the goals of its important mission.
Matthew Becker, BDO USA, P.C.
BDO and Matthew Becker, Assurance Principal, are pleased to celebrate CFS’s 70th anniversary and recognize its commitment to helping communities, individuals, and families thrive. As a leading accounting firm serving the nonprofit industry, BDO remains a trusted advisor, empowering CFS to navigate the complex challenges facing health and human service organizations. Additionally, Matthew further strengthens this relationship by serving on the Spring Golf Fundraiser Committee to further CFS’s mission and impact.
Tucker Salovaara
Tucker Salovaara has been supported by CFS for 10 years, in the Self-Direction program. Tucker is a college graduate with a successful career, now an IT/Social Media Coordinator, “tech guru” at Theater Breaking Through Barriers, with previous internships at the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and the NBA. He’s also a strong advocate within the disabled community. Last year, Tucker helped co-lead a presentation with other self advocates and they discussed how to create a One Page Profile to help new DSPs to learn how to work with them better.
Rosa Marie Felipe, CFS DSP
Rosa is one of CFS’ finest Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), and one of the organization’s longest tenured employees. Rosa has been supporting individuals at CFS for over 28 years and is now working with Chrstine, her 6th individual. Since Rosa started working with Christine 6 years ago, Christine’s self-esteem and ability to self-advocate has grown tremendously. Rosa truly represents CFS’ mission in action.
Keoni Movement Arts (KMA)
CFS has been partnering with Paul “Keoni” Chun since 2018 to provide our participants with movement activities that help grow their fitness levels, creativity, and pride. Paul founded KMA in 2008 to provide New York City community members with limited means access to Yoga, Dance, and Gymnastics as healing movement arts.
Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright
Rebecca A. Seawright represents over 140,000 constituents in New York’s 76th Assembly District, where she has served since 2014. Rebecca has long advocated for the rights of persons with disabilities, women’s rights, public education, and environmental protections. She is a devoted friend to individuals with disabilities and was appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly as the Chair of the People with Disabilities Committee in 2023.
EVENT EMCEE: SHANNAN FERRY, Emmy-Winning Anchor and Reporter at NY1
Shannan Ferry is an Emmy-winning journalist and anchor with Spectrum News NY1’s “News All Day.” Raised in Queens and a graduate of Hofstra University, Ferry joined NY1 in 2014. She has since covered major events in New York City, including the pandemic, demonstrations following the death of George Floyd, and the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe vs. Wade and the constitutional right of women to abortion.
Support of past CFS Awards Dinners has created special opportunities in the lives of those we work with, and supported CFS’ mission to make their lives fuller in the ways that interest them. This year, with the support of the CFS Foundation, our participants wrote their own song, recorded it, and made a music video! Their seven-month process was a journey of expression, creativity, and collaboration. Check out the the CFS song, We Are Diverse, We are Limitless.
CFS’ Mission
Contributions to the event support CFS’ mission to deliver person-centered support to each of the over 1,000 individuals and families we work with. Your participation, sponsorship, and donations make possible special programming and events that help our participants reach their own unique goals.
Tickets, Sponsorships, and Donations
Tickets and sponsorships are available now. Please consider a donation, if you cannot attend.
Schedule for the Evening
- 6:30-8:00pm | Appetizers, Cocktails, Drinks, Dinner, and access to the MCNY’s Activist Exhibit
- 8:00-9:00 pm | Program and Awards Celebration
- 9:00-10:30pm | Dessert, Cocktails, and Drinks
“Gaby is very blessed to have the “life coaches” that have been provided through CFS. Having self-direction, fiscal intermediaries, and support brokers has given Gabby wings and has filled her with a lot of self-confidence and life skills.”
70 Years of CFS
CFS’s 70th Anniversary and this year’s Awards Dinner are special opportunities to celebrate the organization’s history, present, and future with those who make CFS the positive, life-changing organization that it is — the CFS family of individuals, their families, staff, donors, board members, and business and community partners.
Throughout CFS’ 70-year history, the organization has adapted to the needs of the community we serve, utilizing the newest available models of support, and collaborating with families, individuals, and government to innovate and ensure individuals are matched with the supports that will benefit them most.
Check out our 70-year story here!
YOU empower the successes achieved by Gabby and Donna, Kevin, whose CFS Walking Club organized this anniversary year’s 70-Mile Fundraiser, Oscar and his passion for filmmaking and advocacy for Supported Decision-Making, and all the other participants at CFS every day.
Join us on October 24th to help us continue the 70-year CFS legacy and family-driven mission to ensure our participants succeed in life with all their self-determination and individual agency!
“I can truly say that Donna is an inspiration. She has raised three beautiful, intelligent children, who have goals and dreams, but also loves going to church and serving the needy. I admire how she cooks for the homeless in her community and then heads out to hand out the food she cooks with her children. Donna fills up a room with her positive energy and will undoubtedly make you smile or laugh when you’re around her.
I am so proud of her, and I know that winning Advocate of the Year in 2023 is just one grain of all the beautiful blessings she will receive in her life.”
