Urban Resource Institute to Host Virtual Annual Celebration: Rise Up! on Wednesday, October 19 

Urban Resource Institute to Host Virtual Annual Celebration: Rise Up! on Wednesday, October 19

Virtual event will feature speakers and honorees who share the URI mission to end domestic violence and homelessness and empower vulnerable populations  

New York, October 5, 2022—Urban Resource Institute (URI), the largest provider of domestic violence residential services in the United States and a leading provider of homeless services in New York City, will host its annual Celebration: Rise Up! virtual fundraising event on Wednesday, October 19 from 7 – 8 p.m. EST. The FREE hour-long virtual event will be streamed on the URI website with a lineup of notable speakers and honorees — in particular, women of color — who share the URI commitment to a world free of domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty. 

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning news anchor and author Cheryl Wills, the evening’s program will include Vanessa L. Gibson, Bronx Borough President and this year’s Visionary Award Honoree; the incomparable Tina Perry, President of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), who will deliver the Keynote address; and performances by award-winning Sing Harlem! Choir, founded by renowned Vy Higginsen, including a powerful solo performance by choir Artistic Director Knoelle Higginson.  

The evening will also offer inspiring personal stories of former URI clients who have risen up from the trauma of domestic violence and homelessness and built safe, stable futures. The Celebration will especially focus on URI’s Economic Empowerment Program that gives clients the tools to transform their lives through economic stability and financial freedom.  

“Every day URI is privileged to empower our clients to rise up from violence, homelessness, and poverty, and to move from trauma to triumph. Each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and on the cusp of Homelessness Awareness Month, we gather to celebrate the resiliency of our clients, the impact of our staff, and the commitment of the supporters and partners who make our work possible,” said Nathaniel Fields, Chief Executive Officer of URI. “This year, we are especially proud to spotlight our Economic Empowerment Program, which gives clients the confidence and the capacity to achieve safe futures built on economic freedom and stability.”  

To reach a broader audience and through the generosity of sponsors and supporters, the virtual program is free to participants, with registration on the Event web page and simple streaming on the night of the event. Significant fundraising has been achieved by generous sponsors, including Heights Advisor, Kleanix Facilities Services, and Churchgate Protective Services, and URI welcomes additional sponsorship and donations. Funds raised will help URI continue providing life-saving prevention, intervention, and emergency services for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and homelessness.  

For more information or to register for the 2022 URI Celebration: Rise Up! please visit urinyc.org/events/2022-uri-celebration/ or contact URI directly at events@urinyc.org  

About Urban Resource Institute (URI):
Urban Resource Institute (URI) transforms the lives of domestic violence survivors and homeless families by empowering individuals, families, and communities, particularly communities of color and other vulnerable populations, to end cycles of domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and trauma by increasing safety and resiliency. As the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the US and a leading provider of homeless services, URI’s programs impact more than 40,000 individuals annually through prevention, intervention, education, and direct services in both residential and non-residential settings in New York. URI is recognized as a thought-leader with influence across the U.S. and beyond. For more information, visit www.urinyc.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call NYC’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.

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