Loading...

15 Million Reasons For Center’s Name Change

The 92nd Street Y’s (92Y) Center for Innovation and Social Impact will be renamed the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92Y. The change comes following a $15 million donation to the center from the Belfer family.

Laurence Belfer, CEO of the investment firm Belfer Management LLC, serves as a member of 92Y’s board of directors.

“Laurence has been our mentor and champion as we try to reimagine the role of the community center in the digital world,” said Henry Timms, 92Y’s executive director, via a statement. “The members of 92Y’s board of directors have actively encouraged a level of experimentation and ambition that supports and strengthens a great 92nd Street Y tradition — continually renewing our work and our values for new generations.”

The center has incubated a wide number of initiatives in recent years, including #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that generated $116.7 million in 2015. American Conversation, a multi-platform series that encouraged economic, political and cultural dialogue; Women inPower, a fellowship program geared toward social responsibility and impact among female leaders; and, the Social Good Summit, an annual event geared toward exploring how technology and new media can help solve pressing global issues, have also been created at the center.

The Belfer Center is being touted as a resource that will be able to foster more programming, advance existing initiatives and create additional opportunities for a wide range of organizations to come together and work toward social good.

Asha Curran, who has served as director of the center since its inception in 2013, has been appointed chief innovation officer and director of the Belfer Center.

“My hope is that this gift will allow 92Y to devote even more resources to creating great innovations while retaining the agility and sense of experimentation that has taken us this far,” said Belfer.