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The Trust turns 100

Join us in celebrating a century of doing good. Share your vision for the future, attend free events, and more.

For New York. Forever.

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What's your vision for New York’s future?

As The Trust looks towards its next 100 years of philanthropy, give us your ideas—in 100 words or less—on how to help make our community a better place to live, work, and play. 

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100 Things You Didn’t Know About New York

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Designing Miss Piggy
The State University of New York College of Optometry building.
20/20 Vision: The Birth of SUNY College of Optometry
A frontview of Bloomingdale’s.
Fashion & Philanthropy: Bloomingdale's
Harlem Lacross players hold their jerseys.
A Sports Legacy: Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development
A headshot of Edna Lavey.
A Patient Educator with a Famous Student: Edna Lavey
Two volunteers tending to plants in a community garden.
Safeguarding the Environment: Elise Jerard
Entenmann’s Pop’ems pumpkin donut holes.
Sweet Generosity: William Entenmann
The Waterfront Alliance on a boat in the New York Harbor with the Statue of Liberty in the background.
Improving our Coastline Through the Waterfront Alliance
Gael Greene holding a sign that says “Dr Love St.”
She Co-Founded Citymeals on Wheels: Gael Greene
Two dancers rehearse together on a CUNY campus.
For Education Forever: CUNY
An advertisement that shows ears of corn and says, “Seeds 1910 Bulbs Garden Tools. M.H. Brunjes and Son 1581 Myrtle Ave. Brooklyn, NY.”
Seeds of Generosity in Queens and Brooklyn: The Brunjes Brothers
A 19th century view inside Rosa Klauber’s handmade lace business with the caption “Detail-Verkaufsraum.”
Intimate Ingenuity: The Klauber Legacy
Two women inside a VW Beetle.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: World-Wide Group
Theodore Dunham, Jr. with a piece of astronomical equipment.
Stargazer: Theodore Dunham, Jr.
An 20th century advertisement for different types of umbrellas, including holiday umbrellas, a Magic Folding Umbrella, and a Manning’s Folding Umbrella.
We've Got You Covered: Umbrellas
A young Elizabeth Scott Harms.
An Advocate for Women: Elizabeth Scott Harms
A news headline that reads, “Tooker Personality Totals $1,655,693. Appraisal of Sugar Man’s Estate Shows $345,992 in Assets Taxable in New York. Four Charitable Legacies.”
Sugar Executive Supports Healthcare: Nathaniel Tooker
A 20th century portrait of Charles Leopold Bernheimer.
A Generous Adventurer: Charles Leopold Bernheimer
A city sign that reads, “Lefrak City” with tall buildings and vehicles in the background.
A Roof Over Their Heads: Lefrak City
The Andromeda galaxy.
Investing in Astronomers: Lancelot M. Berkeley
The Saw Mill River running through Westchester. Photo courtesy of Urban Waters Learning Network
Westchester Restoration: The Saw Mill River
Child petting a goat holding its head out through a fence.
A Piece of Old New York: Queens County Farm Museum
Closeup of George Gallantz.
Father of Sports Law: George Gallantz
Large trees full of leaves.
Keeping New York City Green: Hejaz Tree Conservation Fund
A comic clip illustrating Eleanor Egan Franklin’s journey as a war correspondent.
Artist, Journalist & Advisor: Eleanor Franklin Egan
Ballet dancers performing in drag on stage in costume.
A Twist on Ballet: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
An outdoor table set on the cover of Lee Bailey’s Country Weekends book.
An Elevated Taste: Lee Bailey
A 20th century view of the Fraunces Tavern.
New York City's Oldest Restaurant: Fraunces Tavern
Students holding signs protesting school closures in Virginia following the 1954 Brown v. Board US Supreme Court decision.
Fighting for Racial Justice: The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
The Brooklyn Public Library in the 1940s.
More Than Books: Brooklyn Public Library
A 19th century view of the American Museum of Natural History.
Creatures of the Past: Museum of Natural History
A large marble lion sculpture in front of the New York Public Library.
Knowledge & History: The New York Public Library
Two engineers turning a bolt with a long wrench.
The Engineers Who Built NYC: The Moles
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Amsterdam Avenue.
Worship & Wonder: St. John the Divine
A 19th century view of Seamen’s Church Institute of New York, 25 South Street.
Supporting Seafarers: Seamen’s Church Institute
A group of women gather around a microphone labeled “WNYC.”
NYC's First Radio Station: WNYC
Grasslands and forestry surrounding water.
Preserving a Unique Ecosystem: Long Island Pine Barrens Society
A wide-view of the Julliard School building.
Opera Scholarships at Juilliard
Dr. Coco Lazaroff smiling.
Grand Dame of Opera: Dr. Coco Lazaroff
Adults and children raising their arms.
The Future Looks Bright: Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York
Doug Jones
Fostering the Joy of Live Theater: Doug Jones
Guitarists perform on the Apollo Theater stage on Amateur Night.
An American Musical Institution: Apollo Theater
An interior shot of the New York Hall of Science
Big Machine Summer: Jane Fearer Safer
Joyce Matz smiling while wearing a “Had a great day at Coney Island” pin.
Defending Historic Architecture: Joyce Matz
A handwritten bill of sale document transferring ownership of an enslaved person.
Digitizing Black History: Staten Island Museum
A choir of children singing.
A Community Institution: Third Street Music School
Horace Hagedorn holding a box of Miracle-Gro plant food.
In Bloom: MiracleGrow
Mural art of a person planting flowers in sidewalk cracks.
Building Intergenerational Wealth: Grow Brooklyn
Protestors in the street holding signs in support of immigrant rights.
Supporting Orgs that Serve Immigrants: The Fund for New Citizens
Firefighter running towards a burning building.
Responding to Tragedy: September 11th Fund
A pile of oyster shells in water.
Myriad Mollusks: NY Harbor Oysters
Voter filling out a form.
Your Vote is Your Voice: GoVoteNYC
Henry Kissinger speaking at a podium.
Henry Kissinger's Charitable Legacy: The Kissinger Scholarship Fund
Mobility instructor feeding a guide dog a treat.
Pups on Duty: Guiding Eyes for the Blind
A horse rider sits atop a horse as a group of people applaud.
Equestrian Therapy: Gallop NYC
Children participating in reading and drawing programs in the park.
Equity & Opportunity in the 1980s: Summer Arts Program
People walking around inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
5,000 Years of Art & History: Metropolitan Museum of Art
1960s “Things go better with Coke” advertisement with a couple drinking glasses of coke.
Legendary Adman: William “Bill” Backer
A lake with boats on the water, surrounded by red, orange, green, and yellow trees.
Preserving New York's Iconic Green Space: Central Park Conservancy
A group of teen photographers.
Supporting Diverse Visual Artists: The Studio Museum in Harlem
A portrait of a young Frieda Mueller Loehmann.
A Designer and Entrepreneur: Frieda Mueller Loehmann
People looking down at the Amorphophallus titanum, or the "corpse flower” from above.
Thriving Nature for Thriving Humans: New York Botanic Garden
A piping plover in flight.
Fostering Local Biodiversity: NYC Plover Project
A group of men walking down the street holding signs in support of LGBTQ+ rights in 1976.
Bringing LGBTQ+ History Out of the Closet: NYC LBGT Historic Sites Project
People and Muppets sitting on the steps of the Sesame Street set in the late 1900s.
The Birth of Sesame Street: Sesame Workshop
A closeup of Wilhelm Loewenstein.
Feeding the Hungry: Wilhelm Loewenstein
A vintage painting of four women sitting around a table with flowers and fruits placed on it.
A Painter Ahead of Her Time: Florine Stettheimer
A field of tall wheatgrass along a lake in Freshkills Park.
From Landfill to Staten Island Sanctuary: Freshkills Park
A closeup of Isabel McKenzie.
Preserving New York's Architectural History: Isabel McKenzie
A large group of people fill the street, holding signs and a flag that states “Act Up” in 1980.
Early and Ongoing HIV/AIDS Funding
A closeup of LuEsther Mertz.
'Angel of the Arts': LuEsther T. Mertz
A commemoration of photos, candles, and flowers to honor Ali Forney and trans existence.
A Haven for LGBTQ+ Youth: Ali Forney Center
Wheelchair users of Access-A-Ride Reform Group hold signs and advocate for accessible public transportation.
Making Public Transportation More Accessible: AARRG!
A young Jadin Wong posing in costume in 1951.
A Trailblazer for Asian Performers: Jadin Wong
The Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Preserving Black History: Weeksville Heritage Center
A 19th century Victorian Grandma Drinks Crown Prince Coffees trade card, showing a painting of a grandson sitting on his grandmother’s lap.
Caffeinating Old New York: Ross W. Weir & Co.
A 20th century view of B. Altman and Company.
A Department Store Fortune Turned Charitable Legacy: B. Altman & Co.
Advocates holding signs in support of immigrant rights. A logo reads, “En Español.”
Independent Spanish-Language News: City Limits
A classical piano that reads “Steinway & Sons” under its logo.
Keys for Generations: Steinway & Sons
An illustration of Typhoid Mary with a headline reading, “Typhoid Mary, The Extraordinary Predicament of Mary Mallon, a Prisoner of New York’s Quarantine Hospital.”
Typhoid Mary Vs. William Hallock Park
Protestors on a sidewalk holding signs calling for fixes to the New York City subway system.
Strengthening Public Transportation: Riders Alliance
Comic strip of cartoon dolphin thanking humans for forming the Bronx River Alliance to clean up the Bronx River.
Bringing the Dolphins Back: The Bronx River Alliance
Vintage shot of Central Park and its barren trees during the winter.
From the Ozarks to Manhattan: James Foundation Trees
A closeup of Barbara Scott Preiskel.
A Pioneering Legacy: Barbara Scott Preiskel
Helen Merrill sitting cross-legged.
Cash Awards to Playwrights: The Legacy of Helen Merrill
Two bakers stand side-by-side in a kitchen as one pipes cream into a cupcake tray.
'Yes Chef!': Hot Bread Kitchen
Closeup of a young George T. Delacorte, Jr.
A Dream Beyond a Midsummer Night: Delacorte Theater
A 20th-century streetview of Lever House.
Innovative Businessmen and Dedicated Philanthropists: Lever House
An auditorium filled with graduating students from Silberman School of Social Work, wearing purple caps and gowns.
Patrons of Social Work: Lois & Samuel J. Silberman Grant Fund
Two people standing next to the Statue of Liberty’s torch in the restoration process.
Caring for the Torchbearer: Statue of Liberty
Aerial view of houses along the coast damaged after a storm surge.
Responding to Disaster: Superstorm Sandy
Closeup of a young Bonnie Cashin
Funding for the Avant-garde: Bonnie Cashin
A young person pushing an older adult in a wheelchair.
Committed to Accessibility: Wheelchairs for Visitors
The T’Shuvah Center’s residential building
Recovery Based on Jewish Principles: T'shuvah Center
A bird’s-eye view of two people observing plants while standing on the High Line.
Transforming Public Spaces: The High Line
An electric taxicab in 1900 with a driver and passenger.
*Beep Beep* Need a Ride?: Taxis
Two educators sitting on chairs in a classroom raising their hands, engaging with a group of young students sitting on the floor and raising their hands in response.
A Champion for Children's Literacy: Brooke Astor
A God’s Love We Deliver volunteer smiling while serving soup.
Fighting Hunger One Meal at a Time: God’s Love We Deliver
Woman walking past Zabar’s gourmet deli storefront.
Feeding New York City: Zabar's
Advocates holding signs and raising Pride flags in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Preserving LGBTQ+ History: Stonewall
Sally and Edward Van Lier standing side by side.
Patrons of the Arts in Life and Legacy: Sally and Edward Van Lier

Past Centennial Events

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At The Trust, we connect the most generous people—our donors, your clients—with people who are addressing the most complex and important challenges that face New Yorkers

Stephen Robinson, Trust board member, former U.S. District Judge, former partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP