Now hear this!
This week New York Public Radio’s beloved annual gala raised nearly $1 million in funds for the group. Hundreds of guests gathered at the dazzling soiree which was hosted the legendary Plaza Hotel to celebrate the home of WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space The evening honored longtime NYPR / WNYC supporter The Tow Foundation.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 14: Roy Wood Jr. hosts New York Public Radio’s 2023 Annual Gala, Honoring the Tow Foundation at The Plaza on November 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for New York Public Radio)
Roy Wood Jr. hosted the thrilling evening that saw such notables as LaFontaine E. Oliver in his first official year as NYPR President and CEO, gala honorees Emily Tow & Leonard Tow, NYPR Board Chair Timothy Wilkins, WNYC hosts including John Schaefer, Alison Stewart and last year’s gala honoree Brooke Gladstone, reporters from the WNYC / Gothamist newsroom, WQXR hosts including Jeff Spurgeon and Elliott Forrest, plus NYC drag icon Thorgy Thor, who was a 2022 Artist-in-Residence at at The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 14: A guest attends New York Public Radio’s 2023 Annual Gala Hosted by Roy Wood Jr., Honoring the Tow Foundation at The Plaza on November 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for New York Public Radio)
“If you look at the people – the staffers, the journalists, the donors, the programmers – these people to the left and right of you they are the last vanguards against the assault on our democracy,” stated the host.
NYPR President & CEO LaFontaine E. Oliver spoke of his first year as President, following last year’s remarks as interim President before stepping into the role. He thanked honoree The Tow Foundation for their support and his friend Roy Wood Jr. whose dad, like LaFontaine’s, also worked in radio.
In mentioning the huge year NYPR had, including the launch of the local news podcast NYC NOW and On The Media winning a Peabody Award, Oliver gave a shout out to NYC Drag star Thorgy Thor for her performances at The Greene Space. She stood and waved to raucous applause.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 14: J’Nai Bridges and Brooklyn College Opera Theater perform onstage at New York Public Radio’s 2023 Annual Gala Hosted by Roy Wood Jr., Honoring the Tow Foundation at The Plaza on November 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for New York Public Radio)
The phenomenal night wrapped up with a spectacular performance by two time Grammy Award winning mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and Brooklyn College Opera Theater.
