2022 Benefit

Published Jul 15, 2022

Against

All Odds

A Food & Water Watch Benefit to Protect our Planet

Thursday, September 29, 2022

On September 29, Food & Water Watch hosted Against All Odds, our annual benefit to protect our planet.

About the Event

Members joined us in New York City for a celebration, while hundreds more tuned in from across the country for our virtual program. The evening featured speakers including Congressman Jamaal Bowman and stories from community activists who were instrumental in important victories this year. U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón closed the night with a reading of her poem, Salvage – a stirring reminder of what we’re protecting, and to never give up hope.

We’re fighting for three fundamental goals: safe food, clean water and a livable climate for all. We’ve proven that when we work together, we can take on corporations that endanger these rights – and win. They may have deep pockets, but we have dedicated champions like you on our side.

Against All Odds was a celebration and a call to action. Because of you, our grassroots movement has the power to win – no matter the odds.

Join Us Virtually


8-9pm ET / 5-6pm PT

All registrants will receive an access link to join

OR

Join Us in
 New York City


7-9pm ET at The Century Association

Food, drinks and celebration on the terrace!

Honorees

Elisa Gambino
Elisa Gambino

Journalist & filmmaker

Elisa Gambino

Watch video to meet Elisa

Elisa Gambino is a journalist and filmmaker who spent her early career chronicling world events for CNN, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the wars in Bosnia and conflict in Somalia. Her work in Somalia was recognized with a News and Documentary Emmy Award. Since founding One Production Place in 2001, Elisa has directed award-winning shorts that examine health equity, climate change and racial justice. She also directed Welcome to Pine Lake in 2020 and Wasteland in 2022, which draws important links between factory farms, our waste and the human right to clean water and sanitation.

Bill Gee and Sue Crothers
Bill Gee and
 Sue Crothers

Lifelong
 environmental activists

Bill Gee and Sue Crothers

Watch video to meet Bill and Sue

Bill Gee and Sue Crothers are lifelong environmental activists. Together, they built one of the first sustainably designed homes in Illinois and founded the Manaaki Foundation, which supports environmental and social justice causes. Sue is a founding member of the One Earth Film Festival and Director of the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest. Bill, as former co-owner of a commercial bakery (and a beekeeper!), is passionate about building a sustainable food system and is a member of Food & Water Watch’s Advisory Council.

Interested in becoming a sponsor?

Your sponsorship strengthens the grassroots power needed to solve the most pressing food, water and climate issues of our time. With your gift, you make things possible like:

  • Funding cutting-edge research on food, water and climate issues.
  • Organizing software tools
  • Training for new Food & Water Volunteer Network volunteers.

Highlights from Against All Odds

The evening featured speakers including Congressman Jamaal Bowman and stories from community activists who were instrumental in important victories this year. U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón closed the night with a reading of her poem, Salvage – a stirring reminder of what we’re protecting, and to never give up hope.

Get Your Tickets

Join us Virtually Join us in New York City

Ally

$50.00 (fully tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • Link to join virtual conference live on September 29, 2022
  • Membership in Food & Water Watch, includes newsletter
Defender

$150.00 ($125 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • All Ally benefits, plus:
  • A special Food & Water Watch branded t-shirt
  • Access to a special pre-event virtual reception to celebrate with fellow guests
  • Listing on event materials.
Activist

$500.00 ($465 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • All Defender benefits, plus:
  • A branded protest sign to customize for your next rally.

Virtual Sponsorships

Committee

$1,000.00 ($930 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • Listing on event materials
  • A hand-picked bottle of wine and a Food & Water Watch branded t-shirt shipped to you for the event
  • Access to a special pre-event virtual reception to celebrate with fellow guests
  • Champions Circle Membership in Food & Water Watch, includes special updates and invites to events.
  • Helps fund organizing software tools.
Chair

$2,500.00 ($2,430 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • All Committee benefits, plus:
  • Special access link for you to share with family and friends
  • Leaders Circle Membership in Food & Water Watch, includes special updates, invites to events, access to leadership, and a copy of the Book of the Year
  • Helps fund training for new Food & Water Volunteer Network volunteers
Benefactor

$5,000.00 ($4,930 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • All Chair benefits, plus:
  • Special recognition during the event
  • Helps fund organizing materials for rallies, canvassing and trainings.
Lead Sponsor

$10,000.00 ($9,930 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • All Benefactor benefits, plus:
  • Opportunity to introduce a guest speaker at the event
  • Helps fund cutting-edge research on food, water and climate issues.

Get Your Tickets

Join us Virtually Join us in New York City

Defender

$150.00 • 1 ticket to in-person event

($70 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • Food and drinks for the evening
  • Membership in Food & Water Watch, includes newsletter
Campaigner

$250.00 • 1 ticket to in-person event

($170 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • Food and drinks for the evening
  • Membership in Food & Water Watch, includes newsletter
Activist

$500.00 • 2 tickets to in-person event

($340 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • Food and drinks for the evening
  • Membership in Food & Water Watch, includes newsletter

NYC Sponsorships

Committee

$1,000.00 • 2 tickets to in-person event

($840 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • Food and drinks for the evening
  • Champions Membership in Food & Water Watch, includes special updates and invites to events
  • Listing on event materials
  • Helps fund organizing software tools.
Chair

$2,500.00 • 2 tickets to in-person event

($2,340 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • All Committee benefits, plus:
  • Leaders Circle Membership in Food & Water Watch, includes special updates, invites to events, access to leadership and a copy of the Book of the Year
  • Helps fund training for new Food & Water Volunteer Network volunteers.
Benefactor

$5,000.00 • 4 tickets to in-person event

($4,680 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • All Chair benefits, plus:
  • Reserved high top table for reception and seating for formal program
  • Special recognition during the event
  • Helps fund organizing materials for rallies, canvassing and trainings.
Lead Sponsor

$10,000.00 • 6 tickets to in-person event

($9,480 tax-deductible)

See Perks

  • All Benefactor benefits, plus:
  • Celebratory bottle of wine for you and your guests
  • Opportunity to introduce a guest speaker at the event or make welcome remarks to kick off the night!
  • Helps fund cutting-edge research on food, water and climate issues.

Our Sponsors

This evening of celebration was made possible by
the care and generosity of our sponsors. Thank You!

Lead Sponsors

Marilyn and Don Allan

Bill Gee and Sue Crothers

Nancy Hughes

Elizabeth and Mike Kelley

Karen and Dr Alan Warren

Benefactor

Lynne and Karen Azarchi

Madeleine Glick

Alan T. Messer

Chairs

Arden Down

Kathleen Lockwood

Craig Merrilees

Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman

Diana Wege

Amy Wolf and Bennett Baumer

Committee

Helen Altieri

Pam and George Brandman

Gloria and Steven Foster

Mrs. Susan E. Gladstone

Jay Halfon

Candee Kane

Dr. Judy Kramer

Carol A. Kurtz

Ann H. Logan

Lisa Schubert

Paul and Carol Soderholm

Susan Weltman and Steven Jervis

Elsa Wood

JSA Sustainable Wealth Management


Our Supporters

Activists

Amy Jones

Lara and Ron Katzman

Barbara C Kyse

Janet Mardfin

Jon Pope

Paula Rogovin

Harriet Shugarman

JM Stauffer

Ms. Joyce Thibodeaux

Mary Thomas

Chief Marketing Partners

Sobel Bixel: Consulting for Nonprofits

Defenders

Ann A. Albence

Susan Beachy

Bonita Beard

Elisabeth Beckstead

Jill Blaustein

Barbara W. Brandom, MD

Alex Chanler

Phillip Chonigman

Judith Clark

F. Lee Clayton

Jonae B. DeLong

Sarah Edwards

Melissa Elstein

Elisa Gambino

Daniele Gerard

Eric Greenberg

Fred Harrison

Lorna Henkel

Marion Hunt

Mitchell Jones

Laura K

Jacquelyn Kendall

Jennifer Kolarsick

Ilene Kramer

Doug Lakey

Jeanne Large

Dr. Rebecca R. Leas

Kyle and Genevieve Lipson

Rachel Makleff

Joe Miceli

Kathleen Michels

Daniel Michaud

John Nelson Jr.

Anne and Fred Osborn III

Christy Pennoyer

Israel Perla

Jim and Elaine Peters

Susan C. Peters 

Kim Richman 

Bruce Rosen

Clare S. Rosenfield

Christy Sacks

Ken Schles

Mark Schlosberg

Donna Skibbe

Barbara Stomber

Margaret Wallace

Jackie Weisberg

Jane Torrence

Tamara Tripp

Kitty Ufford-Chase

Margaret Wallace

Al and Barbara Wurth

Emily Wurth