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.
Honorees
Elisa Gambino
Journalist & filmmaker
Elisa Gambino
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
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.
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.
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
Deborah Schumann – The Jewell Foundation
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