A Morning of Momentum: The New York Women’s Foundation’s 2025 Celebrating Women® Breakfast Honors Powerhouses of Progress
Few events capture the essence of impact quite like the Celebrating Women® Breakfast, the annual hallmark of The New York Women’s Foundation. On Wednesday, May 14th, 2025, at the New York Marriott Marquis, the Foundation will convene a powerful collective of changemakers, civic leaders, and advocates to celebrate those driving progress toward a more just and equitable future for women, girls, and gender-expansive people.
This year’s ceremony is especially significant. As the Foundation continues its nearly four-decade tradition of Radical Generosity, the 2025 honorees underscore a cross-section of progress across finance, literature, entertainment, and activism.
Vision in Action: JPMorganChase Receives the 2025 Vision Award
The Vision Award will be presented to JPMorganChase, recognized not just for its global financial footprint but for its strategic investments in community development, workforce training, environmental sustainability, and wealth-building. The firm has steadily translated policy and data into lasting local impact—empowering individuals, small businesses, and underserved communities alike. This honor reflects JPMorganChase’s dedication to addressing systemic inequities through scalable, measurable change.
Celebrating Women® Award: Honoring Trailblazers in Advocacy, Arts, and Equity
Two cultural luminaries will receive the Celebrating Women® Award this year:
Jacqueline Woodson, a celebrated author and MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient, is known for her poignant storytelling and literary legacy, including Brown Girl Dreaming and Red at the Bone. Her latest novel, Remember Us, explores memory and belonging in Brooklyn’s Bushwick. Beyond the page, Woodson amplifies emerging creatives of the Global Majority through her organization BALDWIN FOR THE ARTS, deepening representation in the arts.
Fran Drescher, while instantly recognizable for her role on The Nanny, has carved an equally formidable path as an activist and union leader. From founding Cancer Schmancer to championing legislation like The CROWN Act and The American Music Fairness Act, Drescher’s work spans healthcare, civil liberties, and labor rights. As SAG-AFTRA President, she continues to be a bold voice for collective power and equity in the entertainment industry and beyond.
Spotlighting Collective Movements: ERA Coalition and New Yorkers for Equal Rights
Also recognized at this year’s breakfast are two pivotal organizations reshaping civil liberties in real time.
The ERA Coalition and the Fund for Women’s Equality unite nearly 300 partner organizations, representing 80 million people, under a single vision: enshrining gender equity in law. Their intersectional coalition spans reproductive rights, racial justice, labor advocacy, and LGBTQ+ protections—amplifying what it means to build a movement of movements.
New Yorkers for Equal Rights, with more than 500 coalition partners across the state, recently championed the successful passage of Proposal 1, which codifies expanded anti-discrimination protections in New York’s constitution. Their advocacy laid the foundation for a historic win in the ongoing fight for equal rights.
A Call to Action Over Breakfast
The Celebrating Women® Breakfast is more than a ceremonial gathering—it’s a galvanizing moment of unity, fund-raising, and forward motion.
“This event is a testament to the power of collective action. As we honor those driving change, we renew our commitment to a future where all communities—including women, girls, and gender-expansive people—have the resources and opportunities to flourish.”
Ana L. Oliveira, President and CEO of The New York Women’s Foundation
Now in its 37th year, the breakfast continues to raise critical support for the Foundation’s community-based partners, whose local solutions have a global reach. It's where philanthropy meets policy, where storytelling meets strategy, and where attendees leave not only inspired—but mobilized.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Reception until 11:00 AM)
Location: Broadway Ballroom, New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway
Reserve your tickets today at nywf.or g/cwb2025 and donate at nywf.org/cwb2025-donate.
About The New York Women’s Foundation
The New York Women's Foundation The New York Women’s Foundation creates an equitable and just future for women, girls, gender-expansive individuals and their families by investing in bold, community-led solutions to ignite action for gender, economic, and racial justice. Since 1987, The Foundation has invested $133 million in 518+ organizations, creating a vibrant community of grantees, philanthropists, advocates, innovators, and change-makers.
To learn more about The New York Women's Foundation's work to transform lives, families, and communities, please visit www.nywf.org
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