TFFJ’s Annual Gala, FEAST 2022

By: Aliya Brown

FEAST 2022 was an incredible success! After a two year break and one virtual gala due to the pandemic, nearly 300 attendees gathered in-person on June 7th, 2022 to celebrate TFFJ’s accomplishments to date, and a ‘growing’ future. The gala featured a guest appearance and speech by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, celebrated Student Honorees and Youth Food Justice Award recipients from MLK, Jr. Educational Campus and Urban Assembly Unison School and a concert by The Steve Miller Band.

Thanks to our sponsors and donors, this year’s gala raised nearly $1.1M to expand our programming and build additional hydroponic farms in Far Rockaway. This incredible feat would not have been possible without everyone whose remarkable efforts brought this event to life. Feast 2022 featured interactive dining from Pinch Food Design featuring recipes from Executive Chefs Shenarri Greens (Cadence) and Alix Pulido (Eterea), Executive Chef and Owner Toya Henry (Pimento), Culinary Director Francis Jereza (Fuku), and Pastry Chefs Camari Mick (Musket Room) and Renata Ameni (Crown Shy).  The gala also included a silent auction with priceless prizes, and mystery bags filled with amazing gifts from Pipcorn Heirloom Snacks, Momofuku, The Lemon Perfect Company, Carbone Fine Food, Packed with Purpose, Harlem Candle Co., The Urban and The Mystic, Barnes & Noble, Inc., MacRostie Winery and more!

A sincere thank you to our guest Mayor Eric Adams for his powerful speech about the importance of healthy eating and its impact on his own life and our communities, and our incomparable host for the evening, DJ Irie. We’re truly grateful for all of the supporters and generous corporate donors that helped make Feast 2022 a night to remember, and a testament to our collective power to create a more sustainable future: Iris and Michael Smith, Nina and Gary Wexler, Randy & Carol Stern, Lorraine Schwartz, Gladstone Place Partners, Mara Burros Sandler/Be Forward Productions, Jennifer Finer/Värde Partners, Alejandro Munoz-Suarez/Fuku, Bloomingdale’s, Faith Kates/Marcy Warren, Shoshana & Israel Schachter & Denise Rich.

It’s not too late to support our mission, help us to make hydroponic farming the standard for a sustainable future. Make a donation and pledge your support today.

Click here to read the press release.

Aliya Brown is the Senior Communications & Content Manager at Teens for Food Justice.