Press Release: Gotham Dreams Gala

New York Comes Together: The Gotham Dreams Gala Unites the City in a Night to Remember 

Record-breaking second annual celebration raises $2.6 million and draws more than 600 guests to Cipriani 42nd Street 

Media Contact: Chris Gorman, pressoffice@mcny.org | 917.492.3482

NEW YORK, NY (June 18, 2026) — The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) hosted its second annual Gotham Dreams Gala on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street — a record-breaking evening that raised more than $2.6 million in support of the Museum's mission and drew over 600 of New York's leading civic, business, cultural, and philanthropic figures.

Hosted by Matt Brown, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Founder, CEO, and Chairman of CAIS, and wife Marisa Brown, the evening honored Alex Rodriguez, entrepreneur, investor, and Major League Baseball All-Star and Most Valuable Player; Ja Rule, the Queens-born, Grammy-nominated artist and entertainer; and Laurie M. Tisch, civic leader and visionary philanthropist. The gala also presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Kathryn Wylde in recognition of her 44 years of transformative leadership helping shape New York City's business and civic agenda through the Partnership for New York City. Award-winning actor and native New Yorker Erich Bergen served as Emcee. The celebration came during a moment of renewed civic pride for New York, with the city energized by the New York Knicks’ recent NBA Championship victory.

Matt Brown opened the night with an electrifying speech, drawing a direct line from the Museum's founding vision in 1923 to its present-day mission — paying tribute to the Museum's founder and his great-grandfather, Henry Collins Brown, and the enduring legacy he set in motion more than a century ago.

Special guests included Christine Schwarzman, Lara Spencer, Richard Haas, Ronay Menschel, Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams, and Gotham FC players Andrea Kitahata and Sarah Schupansky, among others.

Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, the Ronay Menschel Director and President of the Museum, delivered stirring remarks reflecting on the power of New York's stories and the institutions that preserve them. "The Gotham Dreams Gala is an opportunity to celebrate extraordinary New Yorkers whose passion, leadership, and commitment continue to shape the cultural and civic life of this city," she said. "This year's honorees embody the creativity, vision, and spirit that make New York such an inspiring place."

Matt Brown then led an entertaining fireside chat with the honorees, drawing out the personal stories and New York connections that defined each of their journeys. "Bringing together a dynamic group of New Yorkers who believe in celebrating the city's shared history while investing in our future is central to the spirit of the Gotham Dreams Gala," he said. "This event honors individuals who exemplify the energy, resilience, and ambition that define New York at its very best."

Emcee Erich Bergen closed the night by leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of "New York, New York" — but not before Ja Rule brought the house down with a performance of his beloved anthem "New York," a fitting tribute to the city and the culture it produced.

The Museum is grateful to lead sponsors FT Partners, Marisa and Matt Brown, and Heather and William Vrattos, and to its generous event hosts, benefactors, and supporters for the 2026 Gotham Dreams Gala: 

EVENT HOSTS 
50T Funds • Blue Owl • Butler Snow LLP • Cynthia and Bernard Curry III • Dechert • Ayla and Antonio Farnos • Stephanie Hessler • Hugo Boss • Cindy and Stephen Ketchum • Ronay Menschel • NormAi • Pfizer • Tracey and Kenneth Pontarelli • Pryor Cashman • Margaret Sung and Michael Schmidtberger • Third Point • Vista Equity

BENEFACTORS 
Ares Management • Bank of America • Elizabeth K. Belfer • Carlyle • Chopt Creative Salad Co. • Consello • Todd DeGarmo • Patricia and Alexander Farman-Farmaian • Meredith and Brian Feurtado • Fin Capital • Gilbane Building • Global Emerging Markets (GEM) • GoldenTree Asset Management • Goldman Sachs • Golub Capital • Google • Hearst • J.P. Morgan • Elizabeth R. and Robert A. Jeffe • JLL • Kensington Vanguard National Land Services • Kinderhook Industries, LLC • Lord, Abbett & Co. • Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment • National Basketball Association • Nuveen and Churchill Asset Management • Jennifer Prosek and Patrick LeBedis • RBC Capital Markets • Alex Roepers and Stacey Bronfman • Savanna • Toby Milstein Schulman and Judah Schulman • Silvercrest Asset Management Group • Stewart Title Guaranty Company • Stone Point Capital • The Sundheim Family Foundation • TD • Daryl B. and Bruce Uber • Wells Fargo • Wilmington Trust

SUPPORTERS 
AllianceBernstein • Alexander and Kate Brodsky • David and Lisa Canter • Fortress Investment Group • Susan Henshaw Jones and Richard Eaton • Dara and Tim O’Hara • The Nina and Mike Patterson Foundation • Brian and Emilia Pfeifler • Betsy and Rob Pitts • John and Valerie Rowe • Lise Strickler and Mark Gallogly Charitable Fund • Kathryn and Bill Tyree • The Yort Family • Nanar and Tony Yoseloff

About the Museum of the City of New York

The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world's most influential metropolis. Through exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, the Museum explores what gives New York City its singular character and global impact.

Image: Peter Reitzfeld Photography