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Save the Date: Join us on Wednesday, May 31 for our 2023 Gala honoring Hon. Adrienne E. Adams and LaRue R. Gibson, Jr.

NYC Outward Bound Schools will host its annual Gala at 583 Park on Wednesday, May 31. We will be honoring Hon. Adrienne E. Adams, Speaker of the New York City Council, and LaRue R. Gibson, Jr., Managing Director and Partner, LRG Wealth Advisors, for their inspiring commitment to NYC’s public school students. As is tradition, the Gala will be led by our students and include the presentation of the R. Gaynor McCown Excellence in Teaching Award.

The event begins at 6:30pm with cocktails and a silent auction, and continues at 7:30pm with dinner and an engaging, student-led program. This year’s event will celebrate and introduce our new three-year strategic vision, and highlight the ways in which we foster deeper learning in classrooms, in the outdoors and in life. Funds raised from the Gala go toward ensuring that we can continue our work to engage students in equitable, immersive and joyful learning experiences.

Meet our Honorees

Hon. Adrienne E. Adams

Speaker, New York City Council

Hon. Adrienne Eadie Adams is the Speaker of the New York City Council, leading the most diverse and first women-majority Council in city history as the body’s first African American Speaker. She is also the first woman to represent Council District 28, which includes the neighborhoods of Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village and South Ozone Park.

In the City Council, Adams previously served as Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Co-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus. Prior to serving in the City Council, Speaker Adams served as Chair of Queens Community Board 12, a Trustee of the Queens Public Library, and Co-Chair of the Jamaica NOW Leadership Council.

She previously worked as a Corporate Trainer and a Child Development Associate Instructor. A mother and grandmother, Speaker Adams lives in Jamaica with her husband.

LaRue R. Gibson, Jr.

Managing Director and Partner, LRG Wealth Advisors, a Hightower Advisors Firm

With over 33 years of experience as a financial advisor, LaRue Gibson provides clients with sophisticated wealth management and investment strategies, as well as personalized attention and services tailored to their individual needs. He specializes in developing financial plans and asset allocation strategies for retirement, college/education funding, estate planning, survivor protection, income protection, tax planning and liability management.

Prior to Hightower, LaRue served as a Senior Vice President of Investments and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch for nearly 28 years.

LaRue earned his Bachelor of the Arts degree in Chemical Engineering from Yale University.

He proudly serves on the boards of several charitable organizations in the New York City area, including NYC Outward Bound Schools (Vice Chair), The Lois Bronz Children’s Center, and The Disability Opportunity Fund (Chair). He is a proud father of two and currently lives in Westchester County.

Gala Chairs

Carole & Norm Barham

Vicki & David Foley

Alphonse Lembo

Pamela & Gifford Miller

Nancy & Burt Staniar

Gala Vice Chairs

Patricia L. Francy

Jane Greenman

Timothy Greensfelder & Sari Granat

Bonnie & Brad Klein

Jonathan Miller, Miller Ryan, LLC

Lisa Moran & Scott Ainsbury

Richard & Carolyn Stopol

Ginger & Geoff Worden

*List updated as of 3/22/2023

Purchase Your Ticket or Table

Use the form below to buy tickets or tables now via credit card.

Avoid transaction fees by paying by check, wire or stock transfer. To do so, complete this Pledge Form and email it to [email protected]. We particularly encourage this for $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 tables.

Questions? Contact Beth at [email protected] or (929) 233-7831.

Browse Photos & Videos from Past Years

Gala 27_Students and Honorees on Stage

2022 Gala

After a two-year hiatus, we once again hosted our in-person Gala at 583 Park on Tuesday, May 24. We honored David C. Banks, Schools Chancellor, NYC Department of Education, and Gregory Worrell, Scholastic Incorporated Senior Consultant: Education.

2021 Gala

Our first-ever Virtual Gala took place on May 19, 2021, honoring three champions of educational equity —Hon. Mark Treyger, Dr. Lester Young, Jr., and Richard Stopol. Watch a full video recording of the Virtual Gala.

2019 Gala

Our 2019 Gala took place on May 16 at 583 Park Ave, honoring Pamela and Gifford Miller. Browse through the photo gallery and watch a video highlighting the two teachers recognized with the Gaynor McCown Excellence in Teaching award.

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