The Bowery Mission's 2026 Valentine Gala

Our 27th Annual Valentine Gala was held Thursday, February 12. We celebrated The Bowery Mission’s steadfast commitment to meeting urgent needs and providing a transformative community for all who come through our doors. This year, we were honored to recognize the Louvet family — Agathe, Didier, Christine, and Patrice — for their extraordinary dedication to the Mission.

Thanks to your generosity, we raised nearly $2.6 million and counting, which will directly support The Bowery Mission’s services. 450 attendees enjoyed an evening of dinner, dancing and connecting with friends new and old at The Plaza. We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us in keeping The Bowery Mission a place where neighbors experience God’s love and the care of a community committed to loving our neighbor, as they begin a journey out of homelessness into a life of restoration.

"For someone sleeping in a subway tonight, The Bowery Mission might be the only place where someone knows their name."

— Christine Louvet

Since the 1870s, The Bowery Mission's iconic Red Doors have stood as an archway of welcome, care and healing for New York neighbors facing homelessness and hunger. Our Annual Valentine Gala raises vital funds for meals, shelter, and our transformative residential programs that help men and women step into renewed independence. We also invest in the next generation through Mont Lawn City Camp, offering year-round enrichment that culminates in an unforgettable summer in the Poconos.

At this year’s Gala, we heard from our very own Tara Charnow, a graduate of The Bowery Mission's Residential Programs, who now serves on our staff as our Alumni Relations Coordinator. Tara came to our program after a season of profound loss, when life felt unbearable. With the care she found at The Bowery Mission, she began to rediscover hope and strength. Learn more about her path to healing through the Mission — and how we extend that care to everyone who walks through our Red Doors.

"I never expected to need The Bowery Mission but it was there for me when I needed it."

– Tara Charnow, Alumni Relations Coordinator

Honoring

The Louvet Family

• Originally from France, two brothers, Didier and Patrice, and their spouses, Christine and Agathe, made New York City their home more than a decade ago. In their search for meaningful ways to give back to their community, they discovered The Bowery Mission, whose work of compassion and dignity deeply resonated with them. Read More

  For the past ten years, their support has been as heartfelt as it has been hands-on. They’ve served meals, joined daily activities and raised funds — most notably by running multiple New York City Marathons on behalf of the Mission. Their children, extended families and networks have all been inspired to join in, making their commitment a true family affair. Even during the challenging days of COVID-19, they stood by the Mission, ensuring New Yorkers in need continued to receive food, shelter and care.

  For Didier, Patrice, Christine, and Agathe and their kids, giving back is more than an act of service — it’s a source of joy and purpose, a way to live out their own “American Dream.” By leading with generosity and heart, they are not only helping transform lives today, but also passing down a legacy of empathy and community to the next generation.

  Beyond their philanthropic work, they are active professionally: Patrice is CEO of Ralph Lauren and a board member at Danone and HSS; Christine is Chairperson of LUCA, a nonprofit supporting college access, Agathe is founder of SpringVoice, a strategy/market research firm and an Executive Coach, and Didier is a Finance Executive at global logistics company SATS.