On September 25, 2024, Building Skills NY held our third annual Best of Building Skills NY fundraiser. Each year we honor the hard-earned career progressions of the New Yorkers we serve, along with the impactful organizations that work together to make these journeys happen.   

This year’s event took place at the Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater in Harlem and brought together more than 150 local real estate, construction, and workforce development leaders. The support of this community, including sponsors like Lettire Construction and Brookfield Properties, allowed us to raise about $160,000 in support of our city’s job seekers.  Check out the program highlights below. 

BSNY’s Shining Stars

BSNY program participants Shawauna Berry, Abdoulaye Diop, and Darren Whitfield received the Glenn Hilzen Building Futures Award in recognition of their hard work and dedication. Each honoree has leveraged our services to overcome unique barriers and forge careers they can be proud of in construction and the skilled trades.  

Community-Based Collaboration 

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards delivered a rousing keynote that emphasized preparing city residents for not only jobs, but lasting careers. Commonpoint CEO Danielle Ellman accepted the Workforce Partner Award; our fruitful skills training partnership has equipped hundreds of New Yorkers with critical construction education and credentials. 

Industry-Driven Impact 

Each of the 2,200 job placements we’ve made since 2016 has stemmed from the active engagement of our employer partners. We are proud to recognize the construction and real estate organizations who lead the way on local hiring, including BFC Partners (recipient of the Jay Kriegel Impact Developer Award), Lettire Construction (recipient of the General Contractor of the Year Award), and Building Efficiency Services (recipient of the Employer of the Year Award).