Inspiring Hope 2025

On Wednesday afternoon, May 21, The Bowery Mission hosted our 9th Inspiring Hope Spring Benefit Lunch. We were inspired to hear from Jeannie Gaffigan, who facilitated a thought-provoking discussion, highlighting how The Bowery Mission supports women on a journey from homelessness to independence. We are grateful for such a partner and friend who cares so deeply for The Bowery Mission community. We also celebrated Edna, who courageously shared her story and reflected on the care and healing she experienced while at The Bowery Mission — and how she is enjoying new life and independence now by God's grace.

With the help of friends like you who gathered at the iconic Rainbow Room, we raised more than $210,000 of critical funds for our programs for women. Donations will benefit women like Edna, who are experiencing homelessness, providing a caring and safe environment where they can experience God’s love and heal from past trauma, overcome barriers to independence and achieve personal goals for life and work.

"...support from our broader community is so essential. The women see our faces every day, but when volunteers and supporters come in — who don’t have to be here but are choosing to show up — it sends a powerful message: You matter."

– Funmi Adebayo, Clinical Supervisor

For women in crisis, The Bowery Mission offers a safe haven and supportive community where they can experience God’s love and heal from the pain of experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and other traumas. For those in need of immediate support, we offer meals, showers, clothing and overnight shelter at our two downtown Manhattan campuses. Women who are ready to take next steps toward independent living may join our longer-term Residential Program for Women, based in West Harlem.

"At my lowest point, I was alone in a city that didn’t see me. But at The Bowery Mission, I wasn’t invisible anymore. Through morning prayer circles, group sessions and shared meals, I began to understand the power of community."

— Edna, Program Graduate

Host

Jeannie Gaffigan
Producer, writer, philanthropist, mother of five and New York Times best-selling author

• Jeannie Gaffigan is a director, producer, and comedy writer. She co-wrote eight comedy specials with her husband, Jim Gaffigan, the last six of which received Grammy nominations. Jeannie was the head writer and executive producer of the critically acclaimed THE JIM GAFFIGAN SHOW, loosely based on her and Jim’s life. She collaborated with Jim on the two New York Times Bestsellers, DAD IS FAT and FOOD A LOVE STORY. Jeannie’s own book, WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU PEARS, debuted on the New York Times Bestsellers List. Read More

  Jeannie, with the help of her two eldest children and some other crazy moms, created THE IMAGINE SOCIETY, INC., a not-for-profit organization that mentors youth-led service groups, including her own post-Confirmation youth group, THE SAINT PATRICK’S WARRIORS. Most impressively, Jeannie grew a tumor on her brain stem roughly the size of a pear.

  Jeannie presently lives in New York City with her five children, which feels more like 6 children if you include her husband Jim.

Contact Us

For more information about this or any other events, please contact events@bowery.org.