VIP's 50th anniversary gala

October 9th, 2024, 6-10PM

Marina Del Rey - 1 Marina Dr. Bronx, NY 10465

Dear Friends and Community Partners,

Debbian Fletcher-Blake, President and CEO of VIP Community Services

Please join us on October 9th for our 50th Anniversary Gala. Our theme, Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future, speaks to the impact VIP has made on individuals, families, and communities in the last half-century. It signifies our commitment to be here for the next 50 years as the advocate for, and partner to, people who are marginalized, who lack access to services, and who deserve our support.

VIP has been and will continue to be at the forefront of working to address key social impediments to optimal health. Access to primary and specialty care is but one aspect to good health – the others are stable housing, mental health services, treatment, support for substance use disorders, care coordination, job readiness, and food security, to name a few.

Our event is an opportunity for you to celebrate with us, to network, to support VIP’s vital services, and to enjoy a great evening.

Your support helps to ensure VIP’s continued ability to offer desperately needed services to under-resourced communities in New York City, regardless of people’s ability to pay. Please consider serving as a sponsor, purchasing an ad, buying tickets, underwriting the event, or making a financial contribution in support of our programs and the people we serve.

Sincerely,

Debbian Fletcher-Blake
President and CEO

Dear Friends and Community Partners,

Please join us on October 9th for our 50th Anniversary Gala. Our theme, Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future, speaks to the impact VIP has made on individuals, families, and communities in the last half-century. It signifies our commitment to be here for the next 50 years as the advocate for, and partner to, people who are marginalized, who lack access to services, and who deserve our support.

VIP has been and will continue to be at the forefront of working to address key social impediments to optimal health. Access to primary and specialty care is but one aspect to good health – the others are stable housing, mental health services, treatment, support for substance use disorders, care coordination, job readiness, and food security, to name a few.

Our event is an opportunity for you to celebrate with us, to network, to support VIP’s vital services, and to enjoy a great evening.

Your support helps to ensure VIP’s continued ability to offer desperately needed services to under-resourced communities in New York City, regardless of people’s ability to pay. Please consider serving as a sponsor, purchasing an ad, buying tickets, underwriting the event, or making a financial contribution in support of our programs and the people we serve.

Sincerely,

Debbian Fletcher-Blake
President and CEO

Musical Guest: Upbeat NYC

We’re excited to welcome UpBeat NYC as our musical guest for our 50th Anniversary Gala! UpBeat NYC’s mission is to build equity, opportunity, and community through free music education and ensemble performance and to bring about positive change in the lives of South Bronx children and youth. Click here to learn more.

Musical Guest: Jerrod Sanders

Jerrod Sanders is the Executive Administrator at VIP. Previously, he sang nationally and internationally with various opera companies. He made his NY debut in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor with Opera Ebony which led to his Metropolitan Opera debut, as Mingo, in Porgy and Bess. He performed with the Houston Grand Opera and has toured throughout the U.S. His European debut was at Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Italy. He sang the Mozart Requiem and the Bach Magnificat at Perroquia de Santa Cruz in Madrid and Iglesia de la Conception in Marbella, Spain. Currently, he is a Cantor at Holy Cross Church in the heart of the  Broadway District and he can be seen on the Passionists TV Sunday Mass weekly broadcast, as well as on YouTube.”

Thank You to Our Board

We’re grateful for the support of our event committee and board members!
Thank you for making this celebration possible.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Circle of Hope

Circle of Love

Circle of Peace

Circle of Care

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In the past fiscal year, VIP:

  • Launched the first Mobile Medication Unit in New York State, in collaboration with community partners for accessible opioid treatment services.
  • Launched mammography services in partnership with St. Barnabas Hospital
  • Opened a 135-bed men’s shelter in Harlem and a 65-unit supportive housing facility in the Bronx.
  • Provided counseling to 32 children through 546 visits in our school-based mental health clinic within CS44 and KIPP Freedom Middle School.
  • Admitted over 100 new patients in our Wellness Center, delivering over 5,500 visits.
  • Recognized in the Innovation category at the NYC Imagine Awards for our emergency room-based initiative in collaboration with Healthfirst, BronxCare Hospital, and St. Barnabas Hospital. Additionally, received the Hero Award from the NYS Assembly at the SOMOS conference for our impactful work in NYC communities.
  • Provided shelter services to diverse communities, supporting over 3,700 men, women, and children.
  • Administered essential Covid-19 and school-required vaccines to 440 individuals within our Sanctuary facilities.
  • Ensured 100% of children in our Sanctuary facilities were enrolled in school.
  • Engaged over 1,000 individuals in the first year of our peer-led community-based overdose prevention program, extending services across 12 zip codes in the Bronx and Harlem.
  • Facilitated vocational training, including food handling, job readiness, resume building, maintenance, security training, and OSHA 30 certification for 448 participants, 300 of whom were VIP patients, 76 community members, and 39 staff members.