Queens Takes Center Stage at The New York Women’s Foundation’s 2026 Neighborhood Dinner

 

 

 

The New York Women’s Foundation will bring its 2026 Neighborhood Dinner to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria on Tuesday, November 10th, honoring leaders whose work has strengthened communities across Queens and New York City.

 

This year, Queens takes center stage. For more than three decades, the Neighborhood Dinner has brought New Yorkers together across boroughs to honor local leadership and deepen connections. This year’s gathering will celebrate people and organizations whose work reflects the many ways communities across Queens are being strengthened, from child and family well-being and immigrant health to trans justice, public service, and women’s professional sports. The 2026 honorees are:

 

Sharon Myrie (Photo credit: The New York Women’s Foundation)

 

Sharon Myrie will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. A former Vice President of Programs and Services at Queens Public Library and a Board Alumna of The Foundation, Myrie is an executive leader and attorney who has held senior leadership roles at Family Legal Care, the New York City Housing Authority, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and New York City’s Office on Homelessness and SRO Housing.

 

 

Lorraine Stephens (Photo credit: The New York Women’s Foundation)

 

Lorraine Stephens will receive the Neighborhood Leadership Award. A native of Southeast Queens and Executive Director of Forestdale, Stephens brings more than 30 years of experience in child welfare, nonprofit leadership, and public administration. She previously served as Vice President of Strategic Planning, Government Relations, and Special Initiatives at The New York Women’s Foundation.

 

 

Tiffany Jade Munroe (Photo credit: The New York Women’s Foundation)

 

Tiffany Jade Munroe will receive the Neighborhood Leadership Award. A Black Trans woman from Guyana, Munroe is the Trans Justice Manager for the Caribbean Equality Project, where she leads trans-centered advocacy, workforce development, and Know Your Rights training for trans and gender-expansive immigrant New Yorkers. She has also played a crucial role in legislative and funding victories for transgender New Yorkers.

 

 

Nathaly Rubio-Torio (Photo credit: The New York Women’s Foundation)

 

Nathaly Rubio-Torio will receive the Queens Champion Award. A Peruvian-born public health leader, Rubio-Torio is the Founder and CEO of Voces Latinas, a culturally responsive HIV/STI and violence prevention agency based in Jackson Heights, Queens. Her work has focused on improving health and access to services for immigrant and newly arrived Latine communities.

Gotham FC Logo (Image credit: Gotham FC)

Gotham FC will receive the Queens Champion Award. A two-time National Women’s Soccer League Champion (2023 and 2025), Gotham FC is moving to Queens and will begin playing at Etihad Park in 2028. The club leverages women’s professional soccer to expand access and opportunity and strengthen communities across New York and New Jersey. Its work is guided by four pillars: youth access to soccer, LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion, women’s advancement, and sustainability. Yael Averbuch West, President of Soccer Operations and former U.S. Women’s National Team member, will accept the award.

 

2026 Neighborhood Dinner

Tuesday, November 10th, 2026 | 5:30–9:00 PM

Museum of the Moving Image | 36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106

For more information please visit: www.nywf.org/nd2026

 

About The New York Women’s Foundation:

Established in 1987, The New York Women’s Foundation is a leading voice for gender, racial, and economic justice. Based in New York City, The Foundation invests in bold, community-led solutions that advance the power and well-being of women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals. Among the largest women-led grantmaking organizations in the world, The Foundation’s influence in shaping philanthropy reverberates far beyond the five boroughs. In its nearly 40-year history, The Foundation has awarded over $141 million to more than 500 organizations, supporting a vibrant ecosystem of grantees, philanthropists, advocates, and innovators committed to lasting, community-rooted change.

To learn more about The New York Women’s Foundation, visitwww.nywf.org

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PRESS CONTACT (The New York Women’s Foundation):

Norah Lawlor | Lawlor Media Group | www.lawlormediagroup.com

[email protected] | Tel: (212) 967-6900

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