On Tuesday, June 29, United Way of New York City’s (UWNYC) Young Leaders Council came together for the annual Summer Soiree: Virtual Speakeasy Edition. Over 90 guests joined as we toasted to Harlem’s rich history with a tasting of black owned spirit brands and a cocktail demonstration led by Karl Franz Williams. 

This past year, UWNYC launched the Together We Thrive Network: Black Business Network (TWT) to support small Black-owned businesses, like 67 Orange Street, our partner for this year’s Summer Soiree. The TWT is a coalition that provides access to capital, networks and technical assistance to support survival, success, and the sustainability of Black-owned businesses. 

This year’s virtual celebration raised nearly $25,000 towards UWNYC programs in support of our City’s underserved communities as we continue to recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic.