On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Seventeenth Annual Catholic Charities Gala set a new record for funds raised to support New York’s most vulnerable. The sold-out crowd of 850 people joined us at the American Museum of Natural History to celebrate our honorees, enjoy cocktails, dinner and entertainment under the whale and most importantly, support our mission to nourish families, place and keep neighbors in stable housing, expand access to education and career opportunities, provide after school programming for teens and care for families, babies and seniors with life-changing services.
Catholic Charities of New York extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to making the night a success, including Deus Caritas Est Award recipients Dina M. DiLorenzo and Joseph M. Otting, the Monsignor Kevin Sullivan Lifetime of Service Award recipient Sister Paulette LoMonaco, Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks, Emcee Monica Morales, Broadway’s Hamilton, and everyone who attended, donated, placed a bid during the auction, or contributed to making this night a success.
“Since 1917, this organization has really been the backbone of New York, serving over 400,000 people in the community annually,” said Joseph Otting, CEO of Flagstar Bank, upon receiving his award. “It’s a tradition in America to help people, move forward when they’re set back. And Catholic Charities is really the foundation of all of that.”
“Growing up in an Italian Catholic family from Staten Island, faith taught me that life’s greatest blessings are not measured by what we accumulate, but by the people we love, and the communities we build, and the lives we touch along the way,” said Dina DiLorenzo, President and Head of Guggenheim Investments. “We live in a time when loneliness and division seem to be growing, yet every person wants the same basic things: to be seen, to be valued, and to feel that they belong. That is why the work of Catholic Charities matters so much, and why it matters so much to me.”
Catholic Charities of New York CEO, J. Antonio Fernández, spoke to attendees about visiting the site of a deadly fire in the Bronx this past April, where Catholic Charities of New York was responding to the immediate needs of neighbors, including food, clothing, furniture, childcare supplies, and case management. “When I spoke to the families that night,” he said, “they said that the most important gift we provided that night was hope.”
“Imagine not knowing where your family would spend the night. Or what’s going to happen tomorrow,” Fernández explained. “In those moments, having someone to stand with you matters. Someone who listens. Someone who cares. Someone who says, ‘You are not alone.’”
The event included a special tribute to Sister Paulette LoMonaco, who worked at Catholic Charities partner agency, Good Shepherd Services for 50 years, serving as Executive Director for 40 of them, with the Monsignor Kevin Sullivan Lifetime of Service Award. Mike Bloomberg provided a heartfelt video tribute to Sister Paulette and Catholic Charities shown on screen. Sister Paulette said, “Good Shepherd was supported by many friends and benefactors, similar to you, who recognize the need for safe, healing programs staffed by compassionate Good Shepherd Sisters and partners in our mission who embrace our motto: ‘One person is of more value than the world.’”
His Excellency, Archbishop Ronald Hicks, offered parting remarks: “I will talk a lot as your Archbishop about what it means to be a church on mission, a church that serves each other, and a church that takes its faith and is not self-referential, but a church that goes out into the world and truly serves our brothers and sisters in Christ. So to each and every one of you, I ask you, I beg you, I plead you, and I encourage you: Keep up your generosity. Keep up your faith, which motivates that generosity, and continue to see the face of Christ in each and every person that we serve.”
Once again, we are so appreciative to everyone who helped make the event a success and who continue to stand with Catholic Charities as we provide help and create hope for New Yorkers who need it most.
Find a full gallery of photos from the event here.
