Gala 2025

Although our 2025 gala has passed, you can still support our mission with a contribution!
 
Our thanks to everyone who participated in this impactful event. Your generosity helped us reach our goal of $412,000! 
 
Here are just a few pictures from our celebration of Engaging the Community.
Council Member Rafael Salamance, Debbian-Fletcher Blake, and George Hulse pose together at the 2025 Gala
Award winners and honorees pose in front of the step and repeat at the 2025 Gala
Speaker at the podium of the 2025 Gala
VIP Community Services board members posing together at a formal gala event
NYPD Options guests pose together at the 2025 Gala
VIP Community Services staff and guests at the 2025 Gala

     I’m delighted to personally invite you to VIP’s Annual Gala, an evening dedicated to celebrating and supporting the work that strengthens and uplifts our community. 

     This year’s theme, Engaging the Community, honors the remarkable individuals whose dedication to service and collaboration inspires us all. Their efforts remind us of the incredible power we have when we come together to care for one another. 

     At VIP, we are deeply committed to breaking down barriers to health and well-being. Our mission goes beyond access to physical, mental health and substance use disorder care. We also provide stable housing, shelter, job readiness programs, food security, and so much more. These are the building blocks of a thriving life, and we are honored to be part of this work. 

     Join us for an evening of inspiration, meaningful connections, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact. Your support helps ensure that we can continue offering essential services to those in need, regardless of their financial circumstances.  Whether through sponsorship, an ad placement, ticket purchase, or a contribution, your generosity is a lifeline for so many.  

     I look forward to celebrating with you and sharing this special evening of hope and purpose! 

     With gratitude,
     Debbian Fletcher-Blake
     President & CEO

I’m delighted to personally invite you to VIP’s Annual Gala, an evening dedicated to celebrating and supporting the work that strengthens and uplifts our community. 

This year’s theme, Engaging the Community, honors the remarkable individuals whose dedication to service and collaboration inspires us all. Their efforts remind us of the incredible power we have when we come together to care for one another. 

At VIP, we are deeply committed to breaking down barriers to health and well-being. Our mission goes beyond access to physical, mental health and substance use disorder care. We also provide stable housing, shelter, job readiness programs, food security, and so much more. These are the building blocks of a thriving life, and we are honored to be part of this work. 

Join us for an evening of inspiration, meaningful connections, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact. Your support helps ensure that we can continue offering essential services to those in need, regardless of their financial circumstances.  Whether through sponsorship, an ad placement, ticket purchase, or a contribution, your generosity is a lifeline for so many.  

I look forward to celebrating with you and sharing this special evening of hope and purpose! 

With gratitude,
Debbian Fletcher-Blake
President & CEO

HONOREE: Dr. Neil Calman

Dr. Calman is a board-certified family physician and the President, CEO Emeritus and Co-Founder of the Institute for Family Health*, which he has led since 1985. In 2012, Dr. Calman became Professor and System Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where nearly 300 family physicians are credentialed in its 8 affiliated hospitals.

Read more about Dr. Calman

Public Health Champion Award: Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan

Ann Marie T. Sullivan, MD has served as Commissioner for the New York State Office of Mental Health since 2014. She is responsible for implementing Governor Kathy Hochul’s landmark plan to transform the state’s mental health system and expand access to care for all New Yorkers. To date, this initiative has invested more than $2 billion into dramatically expanding services, supports, and capacity across the state.

Read more about Dr. Sullivan

Community Builder Award: George Hulse

George Hulse is Vice President and Special Advisor to the CEO of EmblemHealth. He has dedicated much of his resources in health care to advancing Population Health; helping medically underserved communities recognize the importance of being active participants in the management and wellness of their health care – striving to ensure that immigrant communities, working class and communities of color are not victims of health disparities. 

Read more about George Hulse

MUsical Guest: NYPD options

The New York City Police Foundation and the New York City Police Department established the OPTIONS Program, which provides innovative training programs and establishes collaborative partnerships to advance personal and professional development for NYC youth. The OPTIONS team provides workshops to engage youth in social-emotional development training, life-skills and career guidance workshops, and community wellness activities.

Thank You to Our Board

We’re grateful for the support of our Board of Directors and our Fundraising Advisory Board!

VIP CONTINUES TO MAKE AN IMPACT: CLICK TO LEARN MORE!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

(As of October 6, 2025)

Circle of Hope

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Circle of Love

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Circle of Peace

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Circle of Care

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Amanda Septimo represents Assembly District 84, the South Bronx, in the New York State Assembly.  Amanda grew up in Hunts Point, and started her work as a community activist at an early age with The Point CDC.  She interned with then-Congressman Jose Serrano, and later returned to become his District Director, where she spent years connecting South Bronx residents to their elected officials in Washington, DC. She went on to work with the New York State Nurses Association and Council of School Supervisors and Administrators to help uplift and fight for labor rights. Amanda saw a need for a leader who would fight for the rights and wellbeing of her own South Bronx neighbors, and won the opportunity to represent the South Bronx in the State Assembly in 2020. Some of Assembly Member Septimo’s recent achievements include spearheading an effort to support a historic $30 million dollar investment in New York’s Latino community, successfully pushing for inclusion of the Puerto Rican flag at the 9/11 Museum & Memorial, and securing $130 million dollars for the redevelopment of the Hunts Point Produce Market as well as a $10 million dollar pilot project for redevelopment in the Hunts Point Meat Market. With integrity and her identity as a South Bronx native, Amanda continues to fight to improve education, environmental justice, worker protections, healthcare, housing, and economic opportunity on the floor of the Assembly in Albany. 

Amanda Septimo representa al Distrito 84 de la Asamblea, el Sur del Bronx, en la Asamblea del Estado de Nueva York. Amanda creció en Hunts Point y comenzó su trabajo como activista comunitaria a una edad temprana en The Point CDC. Hizo una pasantía con el entonces congresista José Serrano y luego regresó para convertirse en su directora de distrito, donde pasó años conectando a los residentes del sur del Bronx con sus funcionarios electos en Washington, DC. Luego trabajó con la Asociación de Enfermeras del Estado de Nueva York y el Consejo de Supervisores y Administradores Escolares para ayudar a elevar y luchar por los derechos laborales. Amanda vio la necesidad de un líder que luchara por los derechos y el bienestar de sus propios vecinos del sur del Bronx y ganó la oportunidad de representar al sur del Bronx en la Asamblea Estatal en 2020. Con integridad y su identidad como nativa del sur del Bronx, Amanda continúa luchando para mejorar la educación, la justicia ambiental, la protección de los trabajadores, la atención médica, la vivienda y las oportunidades económicas en la Asamblea en Albany. 

Lisa Sorin serves as the president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and is the first female president of the organization. She also holds the distinction of being the first woman to become a Board Chairperson of the Chamber and was an active member of the Executive Board until her appointment as President.

 

Outside of her work at the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Lisa serves on the Board of Directors for various organizations including, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Chamber Alliance of NY State, New York State Choice Savings Program, and the Bronx Council of the Arts. Additionally, Lisa serves on two commissions for New York City: the New York City Districting Commission and the Small Business Advisory Commission, where she co-chairs the Licensing, Fees, and Fines subcommittee. Finally, Lisa is a participating member of the COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force.

 

Lisa, who holds a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Concordia College has not only reached new heights in her organization, but has also paved the way for other young women to challenge themselves to achieve greatness academically and professionally. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Scholarship program that she founded awards scholarships to female high school students in the Bronx during Women’s History Month. Prior to her appointment to the Bronx Chamber, Lisa served as Executive Director of Westchester Square Business Improvement District for 6 years. As the BID Director, she was responsible for economic and community development, program planning, fundraising, and fiscal management of the district.

 

She was dedicated to bringing a better retail mix to Westchester Square and educating the merchants about the importance of marketing and navigating city services. She succeeded in establishing art installations, building a BID website, eliminating graffiti, and developing family events which reached thousands of residents and visitors in the area. Lisa also founded LAS Consulting Services, Inc., which provided marketing, public relations and event planning services for non-profits and corporate entities for over 15 years.

 

She has passionately contributed to making a difference in the borough of the Bronx by investing her time, energy, and expertise in raising funds and promoting youth programming and education. For the past 20 years, she has held various positions on Community Board 2, Bronx YMCA, Red Cross, Casita Maria Center for the Arts and Education, VISIONS, and the Bronx Children’s Museum.

 

For all her achievements, Lisa has received numerous accolades, including community service awards from the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, and NYC Parks and Recreation department. She has also been presented with numerous citations from the Office of the Bronx Borough President and several other elected officials. She has eagerly devoted many years of her life to improving the culture, community, and infrastructure of the Bronx and aims to have an even larger impact in the coming years.

 

Her efforts and hard work have been acknowledged by the CORO Neighborhood Leadership Program, and she was named among the 25 Most Influential Women of the Bronx by the Bronx Times Reporter.

 

Lisa has two daughters and she strives every day to lead them by example with her integrity, empathy, and hard work. She believes that when the time comes, her daughters will be able to take over the mantle and continue to make a positive difference in the borough and society at large.

Nick Lugo is a well-known community and business leader within the NYC Hispanic market. His career spans over five decades and he is credited with pioneering numerous other Hispanics within New York City.

A native New Yorker, Nick Lugo is a graduate of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico in San German where he majored in Business Administration with a minor in Political Science. He entered the travel and publishing businesses at a young age as an apprentice to his father, the founder of Cophresi Travel Agencies and Temas Magazine, where Nick served as Associate Publisher.

In 1976 Nick Lugo founded La Voz Hispana newspaper which filled an information void for NY Puerto Ricans and other new Hispanic immigrants. This weekly newspaper today still keeps the community informed about both local and national news, entertainment, health and much more.

In 1982 Nick continued a long family tradition pioneered by his father Nick Lugo Sr. with his travel agency Cophresi Travel by opening Nick Lugo Travel which rose during the 1990s to over 45 locations throughout the NY metropolitan area.

Lugo created Expoferia in 1984 and it was held at the NYS Armory on 67th Street and Park Avenue which brought both entertainment and consumer products to the Hispanic community at a very affordable price for over 16 years.

In 1985 he again saw a need in El Barrio for a cultural celebration and working with Abrazo Fraternal and his marketing company Hispanic Marketing & Advertising Group developed a National Renowned event called the 116th Street Festival which today spans 21 blocks in the heart of Spanish Harlem with three entertainment stages, hundreds of vendors and corporate attractions and an attendance approaching one million Hispanics. 

In addition to his above accomplishments Nick held several prestigious board positions. He was the President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce after the Bronx had gone without a chamber for twelve years and through his hard work brought the New Bronx Chamber of Commerce into a profitable and effective chamber that is helping to build back the Bronx. He went on in April 2006 to form the first NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce which in one year became the premier Hispanic Chamber of New York City. 

His past board and committee positions include: Westchester Square Medical Hospital, National Economic Development Association, Governor’s Committee on the Transportation Bond Issue, Puerto Rican Dance Theatre, South Bronx Puerto Rican Development Corp., New York City Partnership, Puerto Rican Hispanic Law Enforcement. 

His past public service career positions include: National Executive Director of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Migration Division-Department of Labor overseeing 11 agencies across the U.S. and Commissioner of NYS Parks and Recreation.

His current positions include: President & CEO at the NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of BronxNet and Publisher & Editor in Chief of La Voz Hispana de Nueva York Newspaper. 

Highlights of the Year

Delivered 3,145 medication dispensing services to patients with opioid use disorder through VIP’s Mobile Medication Unit (MMU) in its first year.

Secured approval from the New York State Department of Health to operate a Second-Tier Syringe Exchange Program (STSEP).

Opened a 135-bed men’s shelter in Harlem and a 65-unit supportive housing facility in the Bronx.

Assisted nearly 300 residents from our housing and shelters portfolio in securing permanent housing, achieving a recidivism rate of 1%.

Partnered with the Department of Social Services and Better Haven to acquire and open two affordable housing developments in the Bronx, totaling 125
units.

Supported 10,730 individuals in our shelters (more than a third were children).

Generated 571 mental health encounters in the school-based mental health clinic at CS44 and KIPP Freedom Middle School.

Conducted 2,695 encounters in the second year of our peer-led, community-based overdose prevention program across 17 zip codes in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens.

Generated over 34,000 visits at both our Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) and our Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

Provided vocational services, including job placements, to 1,326 clients, including 746 community members, and 11 staff members.

Partnered with SBH Health System to provide mammograms to 41 women through their mobile mammography unit onsite at VIP.