The Riverside Hawks celebrated another successful year of empowering youth through basketball and academics at the 2024 Hope, Health, and Hoops Gala, hosted by Chris Broussard at New York’s Mandarin Oriental.
This inspiring event honored the late Dr. Emily Anderson for her dedication to education and the Hawks’ mission.
The evening began with an elegant cocktail reception in the Mandarin Oriental’s 36th-floor ballroom, offering stunning views of New York City. Hosted by award-winning journalist and sports commentator Chris Broussard, the event attracted prominent business leaders, Riverside Hawks supporters, coaches, players, and other VIP guests.
“… providing a safe space for young boys and girls …”
The room opened at precisely 7:15 PM and guests took their seats for the start of an unforgettable program that reflected the great work the organization has been doing for the past 63 years – providing a safe space for young boys and girls, most of whom come from the underserved communities of Harlem, Washington Heights and the Bronx. Over the years the organization has used basketball as a hook and academics as the tool to help its student athletes move through the educational pipeline and into private high schools and some of the best colleges and universities in the country. Under the leadership of newly appointed Executive Director Aswan Morris the organization’s future legacy is assured.
Dr. Emily Anderson, one of the most beloved and longest serving members of the Riversideside Hawks Board of Directors, passed away this summer. She was a big proponent of injecting academic values into the program. Understanding that not every child who was a student athlete at Riverside, would go on to become a basketball superstar, Dr. Anderson, a devoted educator, believed that the value of a good education would set the children on the road to lifelong success. The organization now provides free tutoring, TACHS & SSAT Prep, high school placement support, SAT/ACT Prep and writing classes. The organization has also partnered with Mt. Sinai to connect minority youth with opportunities in Medicine including internship programs, and since 2019, the Riverside Hawks organization has hosted the only free annual showcase in NYC for high-performing student athletes.
“… tireless participation in enriching the program.”
Dr. Emily Anderson’s impact, her legacy and her long-term commitment to the Riverside Hawks program was celebrated at this year’s gala with the introduction of a Scholarship Fund named in her honor. Her husband, Clarence and daughters Victoria and Vanessa were on hand to accept the posthumous recognition for her tireless participation in enriching the program.
Gil Addo, SVP of Specialty Care Solutions | CVS Health and Co-founder of RubiconMD, a wholly owned subsidiary of CVS Health was among this year’s honorees; recognized for his work in providing solutions and much-needed access to world-class medical care for individuals who need it most and often lack the financial resources.
Another of the evening’s honorees, a longtime supporter and distinguished member of the board of Riverside Hawks, the President and Chief Executive Officer of MSC Industrial Supply Co., Erik Gershwind thanked his son Jake for opening the door to his involvement with the program. Though Jake could have chosen any one of the basketball programs available to him, he wanted to be a part of Riverside because of their proficiency on the court and the level of coaching he witnessed. It was enough for Mr. Gershwind to take a deeper look at the program his son was enamored with and become more engaged with the organization that he praised during his speech.
“… help in making you the best version of yourself.”
Chair of the Board of Riverside Hawks, Phil Isom, who is also Chair of the Private Funds practice at the global law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP., was the night’s third honoree. In his speech, he highlighted the importance of mentors who see your worth, open doors, guide you toward good decisions, and help in making you the best version of yourself. Growing up in public housing did not define Phil, but it did serve as an incentive to become a lifeline for other young people growing up in similar circumstances as his own. As chair of the organization, Phil has been fully hands on, generous both financially and with his time. He has demonstrated his passion for the organization and the young student athletes who constantly impress and inspire him.
The Riverside Hawks Class of 2030 team were once again feted for their outstanding AAU National Championship win, making it the second time this team, under the guidance of Coach Hector Almodóvar, brought home the trophy. And this year’s Coach of the Year Award was handed to Coach Robert Dunn for his outstanding contributions to the program.
The night would not have been complete without an injection of much needed humor, thanks to comedian Chuck Nice who was there to lead the “pledge moment”. He began with the obvious – Tuesday night, November 5 th ’s loss – of his favorite Voice contestant that is, who was sent home. And the laughs did not stop there as he commanded the room and raised an impressive amount to add to the overall total, which will help the organization to maintain its record of success on the court and academically.
- 100% high school graduation, class of 2023-2024
- 100% going on to higher education, class of 2023-2024
Funds raised through the gala will enable the organization to continue providing important financial support in the form of millions in college scholarship dollars and hundreds of thousands in prep-school support to young people who would otherwise not have the means to continue their educational journey.
“… the opportunity to grow as a player and a person …”
Riverside Hawks alum Omar Cook, now an Assistant Coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, stands as a testament to the program’s impact. He credits Riverside with providing him the opportunity to grow as a player and a person, a foundation that has allowed him to excel in the NBA and beyond.
If you would like more information on the program or are interested in donating, visit
www.riversidehawks.org.
The Riverside Hawks
Founded by the Riverside Church in 1961, the Riverside Hawks have been a staple program in the Harlem community. We utilize basketball as a vehicle to improve academic outcomes and in turn, improve the career prospects of our young participants. Over time, the Riverside Hawks has expanded its programming to support not only its basketball players but any young person in our local community and surrounding areas. The Riverside Hawks Board and The Riverside Church leaders have fortified the program and provided the infrastructure to allow for the hire of staff that can focus on the academic needs of our boys and girls student-athletes while incorporating rigorous basketball training that has turned out some top athletes.
Photo credit: 1-5) Riverside Church.
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