The enCourage Kids Foundation (EKF) marked its milestone 40th Anniversary Gala with an unforgettable evening at the iconic Ziegfeld Theater on Thursday, March 13, 2025. The night brought together some of the top real estate leaders, philanthropists, and sports legends to celebrate the foundation’s mission of humanizing healthcare for pediatric patients and their families. Honorees Brian R. Steinwurtzel (Co-CEO & Principal, GFP Real Estate) and Niraj R. Shah (Partner, Rockwood Capital) were recognized for their contributions to both business and community.
Last month, the enCourage Kids Foundation hosted Serving Up Smiles, a premier tasting event that included decadent plates from the hottest chefs and top named restaurants in New York City.
The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers was the place to be seen as ABC Sports Anchor Ryan Field emceed the evening and Chef Ralph Scamardella (Chef & Partner TAO Group Hospitality) and served as Culinary Chair. DJ Chef spun the beats while cooking his favorite treats during VIP hour. In addtion, Live Wire Band kept guests dancing to the latest hits.
Participating restaurants and chefs include BAKEYOREY, BRYANT PARK GRILL (Anne-Marie Noonan), BUTTER (Michael Jenkins), CARDINALI BAKERY, KELLARI TAVERNA, LAMIA’S FISH MARKET, LAVO (Ralph Scamardella & Jimmie Rondon), ME CASA (Eddie Cotto, Jr.), MYKONOS BLEU, OMAR’S KITCHEN, SKORPIOS, SPICE CULTURE (Chetna Macwan) and SPYCE sauce.
Participating wines and spirits include AQUAFINA, BROOKLYN BREWERY, BUBLY, CHAMPAGNE PANNIER, DR. PERRICONE HYDROGEN WATER, FERVOR MEZCAL, HARLEM HOPS, LOS DOS TEQUILA, OWL’S BREW, PRESSED, REVEL SPIRITS, ROUTESTOCK -WILSON DANIELS, TEQUILA ARMERO, WHITLEY NEILL GIN and ZYR VODKA.
Sponsors included FEIL FAMILY FOUNDATION, ARK RESTAURANTS, BRYANT PARK GRILL, COUGAR CAPITAL, THE DONUT PUB, SIGNATURE BANK, LUCY and DAVID BALL, BUCHBINDER & WARREN LLC, SANDERS FAMILY, EMERSON AMUSEMENTS, and GO TAB.
In1985, enCourage Kids Foundation has helped humanize healthcare for children and their families by resourcing impact-driven pediatric programs and supporting the Child Life Community. Serving more than one million children annually, enCourage Kids is focused on making hospitals a better place to get better. Their programs offer relief from the constant burden of treatment, hospital stays, and doctor appointments, while also helping pediatric facilities to meet the unique needs of their patients. enCourage Kids Foundation envisions a world where every child–regardless of the difficulty of his or her medical journey—experiences joy, hope, resilience, and healing.
For more information please visit www.encourage-kids.org.
An intimate event full of amazing food, tasty drinks, and all for a good cause