Citymeals on Wheels Raises Nearly $1.3 Million at 34th Annual Power Lunch

Emceed by Rosanna Scotto, Funds Raised Will Provide over 160,000 Meals for New York City’s Homebound Elderly 

Citymeals Kicks Off 40th Anniversary Year at Its Largest Annual Fundraiser

(Thursday, November 18, 2021 – New York, NY) –  Today, nearly 250 leaders in the fields of business, technology, arts, politics, philanthropy and entertainment gathered at The Plaza to support Citymeals on Wheels for the nonprofit’s 34th Annual Power Lunch. Emceed by Rosanna Scotto, host of Good Day New York, the event raised nearly $1.3 million –  100% of which will help prepare and deliver over 160,000 nourishing meals for frail aged New Yorkers.  

This year’s Power Lunch honored longtime Citymeals supporter, Board Vice President and notable philanthropist Lizzie Tisch. The event also included an interactive performance by Freestyle Love Supreme Academy, a program founded by Lin-Manuel Miranda.  

Citymeals is beginning the celebration of its 40th anniversary this holiday season. In 1981, just before Thanksgiving, Gael Greene, longtime New York magazine restaurant critic, was shocked to learn that homebound elderly New Yorkers were going hungry on weekends and holidays when the city did not fund home-delivered meals. Greene joined forces with legendary cookbook author and teacher James Beard, and reached out to their friends in the food and hospitality industry to raise the funds necessary to prepare and deliver 6,000 meals for their most vulnerable neighbors. Today, Citymeals is the largest nonprofit meals on wheels program in the country.

“Citymeals is thrilled to host our 34th Annual Power Lunch, surrounded by friends and supporters – old and new – to recognize all Citymeals has achieved over the past 40 years to alleviate elder hunger, and especially during these trying 20 months.” said Citymeals Executive Director Beth Shapiro. “We are proud to honor our longtime supporter and Board Vice President Lizzie Tisch, today. She continues the dedicated work, begun by her family decades ago, that has helped Citymeals ensure a lifeline of nourishing meals and companionship for homebound elderly New Yorkers.”

Notable attendees included: Aliyyah Baylor, Aerin Lauder, Amandine Freidheim, Amy France, Anne Cohen, Bara Tisch, Brett Heyman, Carly Zakin, Caryn Zucker, Christy Turlington Burns, Daniel & Kathryn Boulud, Deborah Roberts & Al Roker, Derek Blasberg, Diana Carone, Donna Hanover, Ebony Meeks-Laidley, Gale Brewer, Georgette Farkas, Harry Mosley, Ingrid Martin, Jamie Tisch, Jason Biggs & Jenny Mollen-Biggs, John Shapiro, Kate Mackenzie, Kathleen Turner, Kenny Lane, Liz Neumark, Lizzie Tisch & Jonathan Tisch, Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez, Margo M. Nederlander, Marika & Neil Bender, Marjorie Velazquez, Mason Rudnick, Melba Wilson, Nancy & Jeffrey Lane, Orfeh & Andy Karl, Patricia Wexler, M.D., Rachel Atcheson, Robert S. Grimes, Samantha Boardman, M.D. & Aby Rosen, Sandra Ung, Selvena Brooks-Powers, SunHee Grinnell, Suri Kasirer, Teri Volpert, Tren’ness Woods-Black, Wendi Murdoch.

The Annual Power Lunch for Citymeals is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. The event comes at a critical time in the fight against elder hunger, which only increased during the pandemic.

Since March 2020, Citymeals has delivered nearly five million meals to vulnerable older New Yorkers, and is now serving nearly 20,000 meal recipients – a 10% increase since the start of the crisis. In a typical year, Citymeals prepares and delivers over two million weekend, holiday and emergency meals for the frail aged.

Event sponsors included Citymeals’ official airline American Airlines and official water FIJI Water, as well as Bloomberg Philanthropies, Travelers, Bank of India, Citarella, Citi, Clark Transfer, Cushman & Wakefield, Fischer, Resorts World New York City, Zabar’s and Zoom.  

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Citymeals on Wheels (citymeals.org) provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to nearly 20,000 homebound elderly New Yorkers. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals has prepared and delivered nearly five million weekend, holiday, and emergency meals since the start of the pandemic. Last year, 19,865 volunteers gave more than 82,000 hours of time to Citymeals’ mission.

Since its founding in 1981, Citymeals has relied on the generosity of its Board of Directors, the City of New York, sponsors and other designated gifts to cover administrative costs. This ensures that 100% of all public donations will be used entirely for the preparation and delivery of meals.