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[mpc_icon_column alignment=”left” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.91)” padding_divider=”true” padding_css=”padding-top:70px;padding-right:60px;padding-bottom:70px;padding-left:60px;” title_font_preset=”preset_13″ title_font_color=”#333333″ title_font_size=”36″ title_font_line_height=”1″ title_font_transform=”capitalize” title_font_align=”left” title=”Can Do 2017” title_margin_divider=”true” title_margin_css=”margin-bottom:1em;” content_font_preset=”preset_13″ content_font_color=”#333333″ content_font_size=”16″ content_font_line_height=”1.7″ mpc_icon__disable=”true” mpc_divider__disable=”true” animation_in_type=”transition.slideLeftIn” animation_in_offset=”60″ animation_in_duration=”900″ animation_in_delay=”0″]

Food Bank For New York City’s annual Can Do awards dinner is a celebration of our city’s most dedicated anti-hunger champions. Hosted by Mario Batali and Michael Symon and  presented by Bank of America at Cipriani Wall Street, this year’s gala raised 10 million meals to support the 1.5 million New Yorkers who rely on Food Bank and our network of 1,000+ charities.

This year’s resonating theme was the power of legacy in our fight against hunger, and how it is shaping the hunger story for all New Yorkers—from our most affluent to our most vulnerable. As Food Bank President & CEO Margarette Purvis said at the podium, the legacies we create “start with the simple ways we show up and act.” This year, we celebrated the current actions and future legacies of three bold honorees: Sultana Ocasio, (on behalf of The Muslim Women’s Institute of Research and Development), Lauren Bush Lauren, and Tanya Fields. 

 

Photos: Getty Images and Ken Goodman[/mpc_icon_column]

[ultimate_carousel slide_to_scroll=”single” slides_on_desk=”1″ slides_on_tabs=”1″ slides_on_mob=”1″ speed=”500″ autoplay=”off” arrow_size=”30″ next_icon=”ultsl-arrow-right6″ prev_icon=”ultsl-arrow-left6″ css_ad_caraousel=”.vc_custom_1492774055534{padding-right: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;}”][mpc_image preset=”preset_0″ image=”9030″ image_link=”|||” image_size=”full” image_opacity=”100″ image_border_divider=”true” image_inner_border_gap=”0″ effect=”none” image_hover_opacity=”100″ image_hover_border_divider=”true” overlay_overlay_effect=”slide-up” overlay_background=”rgba(40,40,40,0.67)” overlay_enable_lightbox=”true” overlay_icon_type=”character” overlay_icon_character=”“My hope is that we’ll be able to turn this world from one needing FEED to a world that is well fed and nourished.“
Lauren Bush Lauren
FEED” overlay_icon_color=”#ffffff” overlay_icon_size=”18″ overlay_url_icon_type=”character” overlay_url_icon_character=”Read My Story” overlay_url_icon_color=”#ffb05c” overlay_url_icon_size=”18″ overlay_icon_border_divider=”true” overlay_icon_border_css=”border-radius:5px;” overlay_icon_margin_divider=”true” overlay_icon_margin_css=”margin-top:7px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:7px;margin-left:0px;” overlay_icon_padding_divider=”true” overlay_icon_padding_css=”padding-top:55px;” overlay_padding_divider=”true” overlay_padding_css=”padding-right:30px;padding-left:30px;” mpc_ribbon__disable=”true” mpc_ribbon__preset=”mpc_preset_2″ mpc_ribbon__alignment=”bottom-left” mpc_ribbon__disable_corners=”true” mpc_ribbon__font_preset=”mpc_preset_20″ mpc_ribbon__font_color=”#f7f7f7″ mpc_ribbon__font_size=”17″ mpc_ribbon__font_line_height=”1.5″ mpc_ribbon__font_transform=”none” mpc_ribbon__font_align=”center” mpc_ribbon__text=”Alexandra – Volunteer, Staten Island” mpc_ribbon__background_color=”#49ac7d” mpc_ribbon__padding_divider=”true” mpc_ribbon__padding_css=”padding-top:15px;padding-right:25px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:25px;” mpc_ribbon__margin_divider=”true” mpc_ribbon__margin_css=”margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:0px;”][mpc_image preset=”preset_0″ image=”9077″ image_link=”|||” image_size=”full” image_opacity=”100″ image_border_divider=”true” image_inner_border_gap=”0″ effect=”none” image_hover_opacity=”100″ image_hover_border_divider=”true” overlay_overlay_effect=”slide-up” overlay_background=”rgba(40,40,40,0.67)” overlay_enable_lightbox=”true” overlay_icon_type=”character” overlay_icon_character=”“The work we do never feels daunting, it feels like love.“
Tanya Fields
The BLK ProjeK” overlay_icon_color=”#ffffff” overlay_icon_size=”18″ overlay_url_icon_type=”character” overlay_url_icon_character=”Read My Story” overlay_url_icon_color=”#ffb05c” overlay_url_icon_size=”18″ overlay_icon_border_divider=”true” overlay_icon_border_css=”border-radius:5px;” overlay_icon_margin_divider=”true” overlay_icon_margin_css=”margin-top:7px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:7px;margin-left:0px;” overlay_icon_padding_divider=”true” overlay_icon_padding_css=”padding-top:55px;” overlay_padding_divider=”true” overlay_padding_css=”padding-right:30px;padding-left:30px;” mpc_ribbon__disable=”true” mpc_ribbon__preset=”mpc_preset_2″ mpc_ribbon__alignment=”bottom-left” mpc_ribbon__disable_corners=”true” mpc_ribbon__font_preset=”mpc_preset_20″ mpc_ribbon__font_color=”#f7f7f7″ mpc_ribbon__font_size=”17″ mpc_ribbon__font_line_height=”1.5″ mpc_ribbon__font_transform=”none” mpc_ribbon__font_align=”center” mpc_ribbon__text=”Alexandra – Volunteer, Staten Island” mpc_ribbon__background_color=”#49ac7d” mpc_ribbon__padding_divider=”true” mpc_ribbon__padding_css=”padding-top:15px;padding-right:25px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:25px;” mpc_ribbon__margin_divider=”true” mpc_ribbon__margin_css=”margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:0px;”][mpc_image preset=”preset_0″ image=”9028″ image_link=”|||” image_size=”full” image_opacity=”100″ image_border_divider=”true” image_inner_border_gap=”0″ effect=”none” image_hover_opacity=”100″ image_hover_border_divider=”true” overlay_overlay_effect=”slide-up” overlay_background=”rgba(40,40,40,0.67)” overlay_enable_lightbox=”true” overlay_icon_type=”character” overlay_icon_character=”“We operate a food pantry where we believe in providing a safe place for people in need and being more connected to the people we serve.“
Sultana Ocasio
MWIRD” overlay_icon_color=”#ffffff” overlay_icon_size=”18″ overlay_url_icon_type=”character” overlay_url_icon_character=”Read My Story” overlay_url_icon_color=”#ffb05c” overlay_url_icon_size=”18″ overlay_icon_border_divider=”true” overlay_icon_border_css=”border-radius:5px;” overlay_icon_margin_divider=”true” overlay_icon_margin_css=”margin-top:7px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:7px;margin-left:0px;” overlay_icon_padding_divider=”true” overlay_icon_padding_css=”padding-top:55px;” overlay_padding_divider=”true” overlay_padding_css=”padding-right:30px;padding-left:30px;” mpc_ribbon__disable=”true” mpc_ribbon__preset=”mpc_preset_2″ mpc_ribbon__alignment=”bottom-left” mpc_ribbon__disable_corners=”true” mpc_ribbon__font_preset=”mpc_preset_20″ mpc_ribbon__font_color=”#f7f7f7″ mpc_ribbon__font_size=”17″ mpc_ribbon__font_line_height=”1.5″ mpc_ribbon__font_transform=”none” mpc_ribbon__font_align=”center” mpc_ribbon__text=”Alexandra – Volunteer, Staten Island” mpc_ribbon__background_color=”#49ac7d” mpc_ribbon__padding_divider=”true” mpc_ribbon__padding_css=”padding-top:15px;padding-right:25px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:25px;” mpc_ribbon__margin_divider=”true” mpc_ribbon__margin_css=”margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:0px;”][/ultimate_carousel]
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You may hear it said more and more often, “the future is female.” At the 2017 Can Do Awards, Food Bank proudly declared that the future is NOW! This year was the first to celebrate all female honorees. With up to 60% of the people in need of emergency food being women, hunger is most certainly a women’s issue. At Can Do, we are celebrating her champions.

 Lauren Bush Lauren, Founder and CEO of FEED, founded the impact-driven lifestyle brand as a tangible way for her peers to fight childhood hunger. Tanya FieldsExecutive Director of The BLK ProjeK,  founded the Bronx-based food justice and health organization that serves underserved women of color and is committed to urban farming and the elimination of food deserts. The Muslim Women’s Institute for Research and Development (MWIRD) is a faith-based, community service organization that serves the community through an interfaith approach of women’s leadership and provides emergency food and hunger relief to over 10,000 families a year.

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“Hunger and food insecurity are far more widespread than people know. I ask you to think about that. When it’s cheaper to throw away food than give it to a hungry kid, we’ve got to do better.” 

—President Bill Clinton

In one of the most thrilling and inspiring moments of the evening, Mario Batali welcomed very special surprise guest President Clinton to the podium. The room erupted in a standing ovation before quieting to hear the former president’s poignant remarks. President Clinton spoke briefly but powerfully to the scourge of hunger in our city and our nation, and applauded Food Bank For New York City’s continued service of our neighbors.

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[vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”EVENT HIGHLIGHTS” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23333333″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1492774387545{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
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Can Do 2017 raised 10 million meals!

More than 700 people joined Honorary Chair & Co-Host Mario Batali, Co-Host Michael Symon and Estelle to support the Food Bank’s fight against hunger, including: President Bill Clinton, Michael J. Fox, Al Roker, David Burtka, Katie Lee, Kelly Bensimon, Action Bronson, Joy Bryant, Dominic Fumusa, Carla Hall, Billy Crudup, Cesare Casella, Lela Loren, Jarobi White, Amirah Vann, Adrian Martinez, Christine Evangelista, Elle Varner, Willie Colon, Adam Gettis and others.

[vc_custom_heading text=”THANK YOU” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:90|text_align:center|color:%23333333″ google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1492742690454{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][mpc_textblock content_width=”100″ font_preset=”mpc_preset_88″ font_color=”#666666″ font_size=”28″ font_transform=”none” font_align=”center”]

Thanks to the generosity and support of our partners & friends, the 2017 Can Do Awards Dinner raised

[/mpc_textblock][mpc_counter preset=”preset_0″ title_font_preset=”preset_11″ title_font_color=”#333333″ title_font_size=”50″ title_font_line_height=”1″ title_font_transform=”uppercase” title=”MEALS” counter_font_preset=”preset_11″ counter_font_color=”#333333″ counter_font_size=”100″ counter_font_line_height=”1″ value=”10000000″ duration=”5000″ delay=”250″ enable_grouping=”true” decimals=”0″ decimal=”” addon_font_preset=”preset_11″ addon_font_color=”#333333″ addon_font_size=”100″ addon_font_line_height=”1″ addon_v_align=”middle” addon_gap=”1″ mpc_icon__disable=”true” mpc_icon__icon_type=”image” mpc_icon__icon_image_size=”medium” mpc_icon__padding_divider=”true”][mpc_textblock content_width=”100″ font_preset=”mpc_preset_88″ font_color=”#666666″ font_size=”28″ font_transform=”none” font_align=”center”]

for the 1.5 million New Yorkers in need!

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[vc_custom_heading text=” THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23333333″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1492785863807{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 40px !important;}”]

Presenting Sponsor

[mpc_grid_images images=”9107,9105,9104,9106,9108,9102″ cols=”6″ gap=”0″ image_size=”large” image_opacity=”100″ effect=”none” image_hover_opacity=”100″][ultimate_spacer height=”25″]
[vc_custom_heading text=”Here’s What You CAN DO” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23333333″ google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1492785742358{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 40px !important;}”][mpc_textblock content_width=”100″ font_preset=”preset_12″ font_transform=”none” font_align=”left”]Hunger is not a choice, but it is solvable. Can Do celebrates how we all can make an impact in the fight against hunger—but it doesn’t stop there. There are opportunities all around us to recognize and act on the needs of our hungry neighbors. Food Bank is grateful for every gift of time, talent, and treasure we receive. Choose the impact you wish to make below and join our mission to end hunger in New York City.[/mpc_textblock][ultimate_spacer height=”25″]
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