2024 Zero Tolerance

Join us as we celebrate survivors and raise critical funds to support Sanctuary’s mission.

THANK YOU!

Our 2024 Zero Tolerance benefit raised over $2.6 million, in support of Sanctuary for Families and survivors of gender-based violence!

We came together to celebrate 40 years of incredible progress and our commitment to continue this vital work. For those in the room, we hope our speakers and honorees inspired your ongoing support for Sanctuary for Families and our efforts to create a world where freedom from gender violence is a basic human right.

Thank you for helping us improve the lives of thousands of adults and children each year.

HOSTED BY

Brooke Shields & Ali Wentworth

FEATURING

DJ Spinderella

HONORING

Lori Evans Bernstein
CEO & Co-Founder, Caraway
Board Member, Sanctuary for Families

Denis J. McInerney
Senior Counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Board President, Sanctuary for Families

Aliya Karmally Sahai
Principal, Bernstein Private Wealth Management
Board Member, Sanctuary for Families

EVENT CO-CHAIRS

Stacy Berns
Bill Bernstein
Rithvik Sahai
Lucinda Sussman

OUR MISSION

Sanctuary for Families is the leading nonprofit in New York State dedicated exclusively to serving survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence. Every year, Sanctuary empowers more than 8,000 adults and children to move from fear and abuse to safety and stability, transforming lives through legal and clinical services, economic empowerment, and shelter.

We believe that freedom from gender violence is a basic human right.

 

27th Annual Abely Awards

Recognizing those working to end gender violence.

Please join us to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our 2024 Abely honorees, The Honorable Madeline Singas and Karen King.

Established 27 years ago, the Abely Awards honor the memory of Maryellen Abely, an alumna of Columbia Law School, an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, and a pro bono attorney at Sanctuary for Families’ Legal Center.

Maryellen was a tireless advocate for the rights of victims of domestic abuse and one of the first pro bono attorneys at the Legal Center. After a long battle with cancer, she died in 1995. In remembering Maryellen, we celebrate the contributions of pro bono attorneys, law students, and legal assistants whose efforts enable Sanctuary to serve thousands of domestic violence victims each year.

2024 ABELY HONOREES


ABELY LEADING WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO SAFETY AWARD
The Honorable Madeline Singas
Associate Judge
New York Court of Appeals


ABELY PRO BONO AWARD
Karen King
Partner
Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC

Cult Leadership and Control at Sarah Lawrence

Join us for an in-depth discussion of the Hulu documentary “Stolen Youth,” which explores how one man was able to exert a terrifying degree of control over a group of vulnerable students at an elite college, the trauma bonds that thwarted their escape, and how survivors can heal and thrive. You’ll hear from two of the survivors, as well as experts on trauma bonding and trafficking and the documentary’s director.

College is supposed to be a time of learning and growth. For a group of young adults at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York, it was a time of brutal domination at the hands of Larry Ray.

Join us for an in-depth discussion of the Hulu documentary “Stolen Youth,” which explores how one man was able to exert a terrifying degree of control over a group of vulnerable students at an elite college, the emotional and psychological bonds that thwarted their escape, and how survivors can heal and thrive. You’ll hear from two of the survivors, as well as experts on trauma bonding and trafficking and the documentary’s director.

Please note this is not a full screening. While clips may be shown, we encourage you to watch the documentary in full ahead of the panel discussion.

Click here to learn more about our panelists and moderators.

PANELISTS

Zachary Heinzerling
Director, Stolen Youth

Daniel Levin
Survivor, Stolen Youth

Alexi Meyers
Director, Anti-Trafficking Policy, Sanctuary for Families

Dr. Chitra Raghavan
Professor of Psychology, Director, MA Program in Forensic Mental Health Counseling

Felicia Rosario
Survivor, Stolen Youth

MODERATOR

Dorchen Leidholdt
Director, Legal Center, Sanctuary for Families 

Pillars of Change

Join us on April 20 as we celebrate our 2023 Pillars of Change honorees and recognize all of our volunteers for their dedication to Sanctuary and survivors of abuse.

Every year, Sanctuary partners with over 3,000 volunteers, interns, and pro bono attorneys to provide direct services to more than 7,200 adult and child survivors of gender-based violence. We are proud to engage volunteers in various activities, from children’s tutoring to translation services, interview preparation with clients, to organizing drives to provide necessary in-kind donations to our shelters.

Learn more about volunteering at Sanctuary and join us to make a difference.

 

2023 Pillars of Change Honorees

Marvin and Laura Reiskin: For going above and beyond to leverage their established networks to create upskilling opportunities for Economic Empowerment Program participants.

Simon Kwon: For his incredible commitment as a volunteer tutor for some of the most vulnerable student-aged clients at Sarah Burke House at the height of the pandemic.

Ariella Rosenthal: For her phenomenal work providing individual trauma-informed counseling, advocacy, and case management to clients between the ages of five and twenty-one years old.

Valentina Ramia: For her sensitive, skilled, and steadfast support to survivors within Sanctuary’s Immigration Intervention Project.

Learn more about our honorees’ outstanding contributions here.