ChristmasTreeBall
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Madison’s 59th Annual Christmas Tree Ball. I am profoundly honored, and truly delighted, to share this evening with you for the first time as Chief Executive Officer. Tonight, is not only one of Madison’s most cherished traditions, it is also our premier annual fundraiser and a celebration of the community that fuels our mission.
Over the past four months, I have had the privilege of visiting each of our five Clubhouses. What I witnessed was nothing short of inspiring: the energy and dedication of our staff, the deep commitment of our families, and - most moving of all - the joy, curiosity, and confidence of our kids. Walking through these spaces, designed to spark imagination and open pathways to opportunity, reaffirmed for me that Madison is exactly where I am meant to be.
For over 140 years, Madison has stood on one unwavering belief: that every young person deserves the chance to grow, to dream, and to envision a future filled with possibility. With your support, we continue to be that steady, transformative presence for thousands of youth across New York City. Tonight, as you meet some of our remarkable young people and alumni, you will see firsthand what is possible when we invest in their brilliance.
I am deeply grateful to our Christmas Tree Ball Co-Chairs Kristina Hunt and Aamena Khan and the entire Event Committee for their dedication, to our Board of Trustees for their leadership, and to each of you for your generosity and belief in Madison’s mission. Your presence tonight helps ensure that Madison remains a place where futures are shaped, confidence is built, and big dreams take flight.
As we raise our glasses, let us celebrate both our rich tradition and the bright, bold futures we are building – together - for the young people who inspire us every day.
With gratitude,
Elaine Rocha Chief Executive Officer,
Madison Square Boys & Girls Club
C H R I S T M A S T R E E B A L L
C O M M I T T E E
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
DIRECTORS
LeoP.ArnaboldiIII,BarryBregman,KatePilcherCiafone,AhtisDavis-Cloyd, DanielT.Donnelly,T.KennethFarrell,TrevorFennell,DavidFields,EricFrandson, JosephGantz,MylesGillespie,DavidJ.Goldring,BrianHoesterey,KristinaI.Hunt, AamenaKhan,StuartLempert,PhilipL.Maltaghati,KennethB.Marlin,ObaMcMillan, DanielL.Mosley,ErekNimphius,WalterOwens,RichardPorter,AdamL.Reeder,NickRudd, JillGrappellRudnick,PeterScheman,MitchellScherzer,IvanD.Smith,ThaliaSmith, Dr.LisaThompson,AndrewTodres,VanessaTouma
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
ElaineRocha,ChiefExecutiveOfficer
StevenMelton,ChiefOperatingOfficer
JeffreyDold,ChiefFinancialOfficer
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JohnStarr,Chairperson
PatrickS.Gallagher,Treasurer
ErekNimphius,Secretary
AdditionalTrustees:JoeGantz,PhilMaltaghati,ObaMcMillan, ErekNimphius,Dr.LisaThompson,JamesVento
SalinaMuellich,ExecutiveDirector
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS
AamenaKhan
AbbyWellingtonandPresecibedJourneys
AdoroLei
Aflac
Alberts
Alfac
AmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory
AndrewTodres
AnthonyYoseloff
Barbour
BedfordRenaissancePortraits
BSEGlobal&BrooklynNets
CameronMitchellResturantGroup
ChaaCreekResort
ChicagoLimitedPartnership
Cipriani42nd
CircusAcademyNewYork
ClassicHarborLine
ClintonStreetBakingCo&DedeLahman
DisneyTheatricalGroup
DogpoundFitness
Dr.MauroRomita
Edgeoutdoorskydeck
ElaineRocha
FerraraBakery&Café
FrankFraleyLux
HartshornPortraits
HotYogaRockawayBeach
Indochine
JadeDanielsandtheNBA
JoannaVargas
JohnDerianCompanyStudio
JonahGadinsky
KashkavalGarden
KennedySpaceCenter
KristaFerrar
Lafeyette148NewYork
LeshemLoftLLC
LikeaLocalTours
Mille-FeuilleBakery
MillbrookWinery
MSGCommunityRelations
NewLoveCity
NewYorkGiants
NewYorkIslanders
NewYorkKnicks
NewYorkRangers
NewYorkYankees
Paola's
PilatesHeights
PlayingWithMurder
RachaelCholak
RoyWeathers
SadieKurzban–Founderof305Fitness
ScottGellman
Serendipity3
SLTNYC
SorrelliJewelry
Spoke&Weal
StacyYip
StuartLempert
SugaredandBronzed
SUMMITOneVanderbilt
SupermudPotteryStudio
TheAtlantisParadiseIslandBahamas
TheBrantFoundation
TheCapitalTheater
TheClass
TheFashionClass
TheGreenwichHotel
TheMuseumofModernArt
ThePreservationSocietyofNewportCounty
VictoriaGanzi
ViviamoTravel
WhitecliffVineyard&Winery
WilliamGreenbergDesserts
WritopiaLab
CO-EMCEE WALIDA ALI
Walida Ali is a molecular biologist–turned–innovation strategist whose work connects scientific research, entrepreneurship, and the development of early-stage technologies. Raised in New York City after immigrating from Bangladesh at the age of three, her early years at Madison’s Navy Yard Clubhouse shaped her academic curiosity and emerging sense of leadership. Once a quiet child, she found in Madison a space of safety, learning, and personal growth—experiences that culminated in her recognition as Madison’s Youth of the Year in 2015.
She later completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at New York University, training as a molecular biologist, and is currently pursuing an additional master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University. Over the course of her career, she has collaborated with researchers, founders, and industry partners, applying her scientific background to support innovation ecosystems and mentor early-stage startups.
She now works at Princeton University, helping drive the region’s startup and innovation landscape, and has returned to Madison as a council member.
CO-EMCEE CHASSIDY DAVID
Chassidy David is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker passio stories that navigate memory, social cognition, and psycho-cine deeply rooted in exploring the psychology of suppression and re duality between hyper-visibility and invisibility.
Her previous works have been showcased at film festivals such a York Shorts IFF, IFF Boston, Tallgrass Film Festival,and institutions York, NY), San Mei Gallery (London, UK), Kino Palais (Argentina, RooBeRoo Mansion (Tehran, Iran), and the Museum of Moving Im has also worked as a programmer on Dedza’s omnibus, Who Wil
Her recent credits and collaborators include: The David Prize, S Got A Mama, Dead Ringers, Flatbush Misdemeanors, and Missing
She currently works at The New York Times as a Video Productio Cooking and Food desk.
BUILDING FUTURES, FOSTERING DREAMS.
TIAA proudly stands alongside the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club to empower young lives and nurture the potential within every child.
Together we’re shaping a brighter, more equitable future for millions. tiaa.org ©2024 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund, 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 GBR-3625409PR-Y0924D
EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S LEADERS.
TDI is proud to support Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, helping create pathways to brighter futures for youth across our community.
Together, we are committed to empowering young people, fueling dreams, encouraging potential and opening doors to opportunity.
KIM&MYLES GILLESPIE
Wishing Everyone at Madison a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year
Linda and Pat Gallagher
MADISON SQUARE
BOYS + GIRLS
CLUB proudly supports and its mission to help young New Yorkers.
Happy Holidays
WARM WISHES FOR A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON
Best Wishes to the Children of Madison Square Boys & Girls Club
From Leo & Nicole Arnaboldi
The Reeder Family
DeAnnie, Adam, Ethan an
Best Wis
Happy Holidays! Andrew&LauraTodres
A very happy holiday season to one and all!
-The Ganzi Family
Happy Holidays
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
David Fields & Dr. Caroline Salas-Humara
Happy Holidays All!
Nanar&TonyYoseloff
happy holidays
From The Martin Family
THE ALLEN & LOLA GOLDRING FOUNDATION
wishes the staff, volunteers and children of Madison Square Boys & Girls Club a Happy Holiday Season!
Happy Holidays to All!
-The Ciafone Family
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
from, The Gelb Family 2025
THE WHY NOT YOU FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MADISON SQUARE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB AS THEY HELP YOUNG PEOPLE SHINE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND EVERY DAY.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
from our family to yours
IVAN SMITH & RENEE WILLIS
MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY HOLIDAY’S and
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
William&LyndaGlavin
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year
FROM SCOTT GELLMAN
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM AEA!
erey Family k, Emma and
Through giving, we receive.
In this season of giving, we are proud to support the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation who give the gifts of positivity, support, and empowerment to our city’s youth throughout the year.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Tom & Jillian Daniels
Man is proud to support the 59th Annual Christmas Tree Ball
HAPPYHOLIDAYS
Dr. and Mrs. Mauro Romita
HappyHlida !
