Breakthrough New York to Honor Grand Slam Winner Chris Evert and Others at Fourth Annual Gala

April 15, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
breakthrough new york

Breakthrough New York will hold its fourth annual Gala on Tuesday, April 19, honoring three inspiring leaders: Grand Slam Winner and ESPN Analyst Chris Evert, Credit Suisse Managing Director Maria Chiodi, and Edgehill Endowment Partners Co-Founder and Managing Partner D. Ellen Shuman.

The Gala will be held at 583 Park Avenue at 63rd Street in Manhattan. The event starts at 6:00 PM with cocktails, followed by dinner and a trivia contest at 7:00 PM. To purchase tickets, visit www.breakthroughnewyork.org or email events@btny.org for further information.

The Gala is chaired by Maria Hackley, Bonnie Litt, Alisa Mall, Nina Saslove and David Sherman. A special recognition will be made for Liz Sherman in celebration of her years of dedication and leadership as Breakthrough New York’s Board Chair.

Gala attendees also will be pitted against students in an engaging trivia competition, Are You Smarter Than a Breakthrough New York Student? At the event, Breakthrough New York will celebrate the work of three individuals who have shown a commitment and enthusiasm to support student success:

Maria Chiodi, Managing Director, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC. Maria has a story that resonates with our students. Her mother was a first-generation American, and she was the first in her family to graduate from high school, attend college and later earn a law degree.  She believes in the power of education to change lives and her professional achievements are a testament to that.

Chris Evert, winner of 18 Grand Slam tennis titles and ESPN Analyst. Chris is one of the most extraordinary athletes of our time.  She set an astonishing number of records during her career, including a .904 winning percentage, the highest in tennis history. She is credited with helping to build women’s professional tennis, and since her retirement, has shown an outstanding commitment to social causes, primarily in service of children.

D. Ellen Shuman, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Edgehill Endowment Partners. Ellen has spent her entire career working with non-profit institutions.  Her remarkable investment strategies have been an asset to colleges, foundations and other mission-based organizations that benefit society as a whole and create opportunities for countless individuals.

Breakthrough New York transforms the lives of talented kids from low-income backgrounds by providing educational support from middle school through college into careers and inspires talented young people to enter careers in education through our students-teaching-students model. The nonprofit’s goal is to create leaders who break the cycle of poverty in their families and affect positive change in their communities. Learn more at www.btny.org.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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