BNI Chapter 12 members are not just referring business to each other, they are also pitching in to help other members raise money for a wide variety of charitable causes. In 2022 alone, chapter members helped each other raise over $28,000 for the fight against life-threatening illnesses; helping NYC’s homeless; and building financial literacy for women.
A little over a third of the money raised in 2022 went to fight cancer and other diseases which have touched the lives of chapter members.
“Support from friends is immeasurable and it means so much to me,” said Mark D. Friedman, Chapter 12’s Manhattan realtor, who raised over $10,000 from BNI 12 members for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Chapter members also helped Mr. Friedman raise over $30,000 in the previous five years for the American Cancer Society’s Taste of Hope NYC event.
Chapter members also contributed to The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, a cause which Kelley Joyce, the chapter’s career & business coach, supports in honor of her father.
Also in 2022, the Ali Forney Center held its inaugural dance-a-thon, a fund raiser to provide meals for homeless LGBTQ youth in NYC. Adrien Allred, the chapter’s architect, participated in the event, raising almost $7,000 from BNI 12 members to help the Center.
BNI members contributed $10,000 to the gala of Savvy Ladies, a non-profit offering free financial education for women, which was founded by Stacy Francis, Chapter 12’s financial planner & wealth manager.
“It has meant so much to me to watch Savvy Ladies grow over the years, and to have had the support of this BNI chapter all along the way – in addition to the Gala support we received from the chapter this year,” Ms. Francis said.
As 2023 begins, chapter members are looking forward to helping each other more with referrals, while also serving our communities.
“I support many charities and the chapter has always been generous and in turn it makes me feel even better to refer supporters,” Mr. Friedman said.