Our 2013 Winter Wish Gala took place last week, raising $1.95 million to help us support families and teens struggling with substance abuse issues. With 500 distinguished guests and friends, we celebrated our work – made possible due to our dedicated volunteers and generous donors -at the historic Gotham Hall in New York City.

Sade Baderinwa of WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News emceed the event, which recognized three special honorees: Bill Koenigsberg, CEO and founder of Horizon Media; Clear Channel (represented by Richard Bressler, President and CFO); and Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Groups. The 2013 MLB Commissioner’s Play Healthy Awards were presented to outstanding coach Steve Carter of Maryland and exemplary teen athlete Garrett Burk of California.

We honored R&B singer, songwriter and actor Mario Barrett with our Special Tribute Award to express our gratitude for his dedication to The Partnership and to helping kids affected by substance abuse through his charity, The Mario Do Right Foundation.

Also in attendance was teen filmmaker Cyrus Stowe, who directed “Out of Reach,” a powerful 25-minute documentary that uncovers the truths about prescription drug abuse as part of our Medicine Abuse Project.

We’d like to thank all of our generous sponsors, donors, honorees and guests for making the 2013 Winter Wish Gala a success.

View photos from the 2013 Winter Wish Gala >