Care For the Homeless (CFH) Celebrates 40 Years of Impact with Commemorative Breakfast Event in New York City

New York Times bestselling Author Adriana Trigiani to host celebration that includes a panel discussion moderated by Michael Gargiulo, Anchor, NBC 4 New York

NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Care For the Homeless (CFH), an industry-leading non-profit dedicated to providing health care, residential, and social services to the homeless population in New York City, will celebrate its 40^th anniversary with a commemorative breakfast event on Thursday, October 23, at 9:00 a.m. at Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73^rd Street. The event will honor four decades of care, innovation, and advocacy, for New York City individuals and families experiencing homelessness – while shining a spotlight on the leaders, partners, and community members driving meaningful change. Tickets and sponsorship information can be found HERE.

The program will feature New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani as emcee, bringing her signature warmth and storytelling to the event. A centerpiece of the morning will be a panel discussion, "The Past, Present, and Future: How CFH is Leading the Fight Against Homelessness in New York City," moderated by Michael Gargiulo, Anchor, NBC 4 New York. The conversation will include insights from George Nashak, CFH President & CEO; Bobby Watts, former CFH CEO and now CEO of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council); and Jonathan Santos-Ramos, CFH Chief Program Officer, offering a powerful reflection on CFH's legacy and vision for the future.

CFH will present three awards recognizing extraordinary contributions to its mission:

• Susan Neibacher Lifetime Impact Award – Bobby Watts, CEO of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and former CFH CEO, for his lifelong leadership advancing health care access and ending homelessness.
• Champion of Change Award – Katie Devine, Founder & Managing Principal of Prospect Housing Partners and Principal at Rockabill Consulting, for her work alongside CFH's Residential Services team to expand affordable and supportive housing across NYC.
• Distinguished Service Award – Presented to the CFH Consumer Advisory Board, a 13-member group of individuals with lived experience of homelessness who advise CFH on programs and services, ensuring care remains rooted in the realities of lived experience.

Care For the Homeless was founded in 1985 as one of 19 pilot programs funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. For forty years, CFH has been at the forefront of the fight against homelessness, providing accessible, high-quality health care, residential, and social services. With 17 health centers embedded directly within community spaces (soup kitchens, shelters and drop-in centers) across all five boroughs—five shelters of which are operated by CFH directly—CFH removes barriers to care and provides critical support to those who need it most.

In 2024, CFH provided 41,000+ health care visits to more than 12,000 patients, including 1,239 children

• Delivered nearly 9,200 mental health visits
• Operated shelters offering 750 beds across NYC
• Helped 198 individuals transition into permanent housing
• For additional impact information: 2024 Impact Report

"Our 40^th anniversary is a powerful affirmation of our founding belief that by providing health care, shelter, and social services – three critical components – we are not just treating symptoms; we are building a foundation for a new life," said George Nashak, President & Chief Executive Officer, Care For the Homeless.  "We are immensely grateful to our dedicated staff, our partners, and the entire community for making this vital work possible over the past four decades."

"I spent close to 6 years in the shelter system, and towards the end it got very dark. I reached a low point...At the shelter, fortunately, they had an on-site Care For the Homeless health center," shared M.A. Dennis, formerly homeless New Yorker and CFH patient. "And that is what got me on the road to recovery as far as mental health. Because that was something I wasn't willing to address up until that point. Care For the Homeless helped me individually. They built me from the inside out. They got me to a point where I believed in myself, and from there, I was able to do what I needed to do."

The anniversary event will unite 200 plus community leaders, longtime supporters, and those CFH serves, to honor four decades of progress – and to look ahead to a future where homelessness in New York City is rare and brief.

CFH invites the public to join in celebrating this milestone by purchasing tickets, becoming a sponsor, or making a donation at www.careforthehomeless.org/legacy.

About Care For the Homeless (CFH)
Care For the Homeless is New York City's original Health Care for the Homeless program, founded in 1985 as one of 19 pilot programs funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. Care For the Homeless believes homelessness is not a defining characteristic, but a temporary condition. By integrating high quality health care, shelter, and social services, we deliver a proven model – one rooted in dignity, compassion, and respect. Our work goes beyond providing services. We believe that every New Yorker has a right to a place they call home, and we are a committed advocate for policies to ameliorate, prevent and end homelessness. Learn more at www.careforthehomeless.org.

Media Contacts:
Ashley Friedman
[email protected]
570-239-9147

Julio Vincent Gambuto
[email protected]
212-366-4459, ext 217 or 917-841-7219

SOURCE Care For the Homeless