Leake & Watts Gala to Honor Board Member Agnes Hassell and BNY Mellon Chairman/CEO Gerald Hassell

Bill Evans of WABC-TV Returns as Gala Emcee

Leake and Watts Services, the award-winning nonprofit New York social services agency, will honor Gerald and Agnes Hassell at its Annual Awards Gala to be held at The Pierre on Thursday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Hassell has been a dedicated member of the Leake & Watts board of directors since 2006; Mr. Hassell, who is the Chairman & CEO of BNY Mellon, has actively supported his wife’s work with the agency, which provides education and other services to more than 8,000 at-risk children, adults, and families in the Greater New York area.

“Agnes and Gerald are both passionate about helping the most vulnerable among us,” explains Alan Mucatel, executive director of Leake & Watts. “Their commitment to our agency has been extremely important, and their effort has helped move our organization forward and expand services to meet emerging needs in the community.”

“My husband and I believe that Leake & Watts’ educational services are essential, because when you give people education, they can take care of themselves for the rest of their lives.”

Ms. Hassell says she and her husband were drawn to Leake & Watts because of the organization’s focus on education. “My husband and I believe that Leake & Watts’ educational services are essential, because when you give people education, they can take care of themselves for the rest of their lives.” she notes. “Leake & Watts is educating children, adults, and families to manage their lives, which can be quite complex due to poverty, disabilities, or trauma. Through its evidence-based programs, the agency teaches people they can rise above difficult situations and can be successful.”

A Fun Night with a Serious Purpose

The evening begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. WABC-TV Senior Meteorologist Bill Evans, a long-time Leake & Watts supporter, will lead the festivities as emcee. There will be presentations from youth served by Leake & Watts, which operates 43 programs at 23 locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Westchester. After that, guests will eagerly await the live auction, which will offer, among other things, a home-cooked dinner at the Hassell’s home in Chappaqua.

“I am a fearless cook,” explains Ms. Hassell, who cooks with an Asian flair that reflects her childhood in the Philippines. Ms. Hassell uses her impressive culinary skills to raise money for only a few select causes, and that includes Leake & Watts because “it does amazing things,” she says.

The Gala’s major sponsors include Gala Chairs Beth and Tom Renyi; Gerald and Agnes Hassell; BNY Mellon; Emmet, Marvin & Martin, LLP; Fidelity National Title; Buck Consultants; Prudential; Susan and Rod Benedict; Margery E. Ames, Hana Ben-Shabat; Chubb Group of Insurance; Matthew & Caroline Del Percio; Joseph and Lesley Hoopes; José M. Jara; Nick and Lisa Preddice; Crossan and Peggy Seybolt, and USI Insurance Services. Additional sponsorship packages are available.
For additional information, the public is invited to contact development@ leakeandwatts.org or call 914-375-8711.

About Leake & Watts
Founded as a Manhattan orphanage in 1831, Leake & Watts operates programs serving more than 8,000 children, adults, and families throughout New York City and Westchester County. Programs include early childhood education, foster care and adoption, specialized education services, a home for teenage mothers in foster care, behavioral/mental health support services, and juvenile justice services. Leake & Watts also operates residences for adults with developmental disabilities and a Preventive Services program to stabilize at-risk families so children can remain in their parents’ care.
Leake and Watts Services, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Middle States Association, and the Better Business Bureau. It is the recipient of the New York Community Trust 2014 Gold Nonprofit Excellence Award for Overall Management Excellence. The organization’s administrative offices are located in Yonkers. For more information, the public is invited to visit www.leakeandwatts.org, find it on Facebook www.facebook.com/leakeandwatts, and follow it on Twitter twitter.com/leakeandwatts.