31st annual celebration gala

ABOUT CELEBRATION

November 12, 2025 |  6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Ziegfeld Ballroom

Now in its 31st year, the Youth INC Celebration Gala will honor Stratton Heath of Oak Hill Capital and Kathleen McCabe of PJT Partners with the John C. Whitehead Leadership Award.
Celebration Gala raises critical funds to support transformational nonprofits leaders and their teams with the Coaching, Connections, and Capital to build strong and sustainable organizations that create thriving futures for over 300,000 youth.

The John C. Whitehead
LEADERSHIP AWARD

Youth INC to award Stratton Heath and Kathleen McCabe with the John C. Whitehead Leadership Award

Youth INC is proud to honor Stratton Heath of Oak Hill Capital and Kathleen McCabe of PJT Partners with the John C. Whitehead Leadership Award at our 31st Annual Celebration Gala. This recognition celebrates their visionary support in expanding Youth INC’s impact, their unwavering commitment to strengthening nonprofits, and their shared belief that investing in community-based organizations creates lasting, transformative change for young people.
Read the Press Release

The John C. Whitehead
LEADERSHIP AWARD

The John C. Whitehead Leadership Award is Youth INC’s highest honor and recognizes individuals who have helped advance social change through philanthropic community engagement.

The eponymous award honors the life and legacy of John C. Whitehead, who made an indelible mark on Youth INC as well as New York City. The award commemorates Whitehead’s humanitarian legacy and vision for the future of young people.

Trail blazers

Partner in Impact Award

Youth INC celebrates the incredible impact of our nonprofit partner, Trail Blazers

For over 130 years, Trail Blazers has cultivated inclusive and accessible activities for youth to enjoy and learn about the world around them. Their values emphasize the importance of teamwork and accountability in the growth of young people and a commitment to progress our communities.

The organization's mission is to help young people grow by connecting with nature. Their various camps, after-school, and leadership/workforce development programs create spaces where youth can engage deeply with themselves and each other free from tech-heavy environments, allowing them to develop the skills and values needed to thrive as adults.

Read the Press Release

Learn More

Trail blazers

Youth INC celebrates the incredible impact of our nonprofit partner, Trail Blazers

Nonprofit Partner: Trail Blazers

For 130 years, Trail Blazers has cultivated inclusive and accessible activities for young people to enjoy and learn about the world around them. Their values emphasize the importance of teamwork and accountability in the growth of our youth and a commitment to progress in our communities.

The organization's mission is to help young people grow by connecting with nature.Their various camps and programs create spaces where youth can engage deeply with themselves and each other free from tech-heavy environments, allowing them to develop the skills and values needed to thrive as adults

CelebrATION VICe-CHAIRS

Will Boothby
Partner
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kevin Callaghan, Managing Director, Berkshire Partners
Kevin Callaghan
Managing Director
Berkshire Partners
Mrs. John C. whitehead
John Connaughton
Global Head of Bain Capital Private Equity & Co-Managing Partner
Bain Capital
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Mark fedorcik
Co-head of Investment Bank
Deutsche Bank
Adena Friedman
President & CEO
Nasdaq, Inc.
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Jon Gray
President and COO
Blackstone
Jeff Holzschuh
Jeff Holzschuh
Chair, Institutional Securities Group
Morgan Stanley
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Julie Jones
Chair
Ropes & Gray
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Chris Kanoff
Global Head of Investment Banking
Jefferies & Company
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Thomas H. Lee
Founder & Chairman
Lee Equity
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Gregg Lemkau
CEO
MSD Capital
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Ros L'Esperance
Co-Head of Global Banking
UBS Investment Bank
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Ken Moelis
Chairman & CEO
Moelis & Company
Steve Orr, Orr Group
Steve Orr
Co-founder and Managing Partner
Orr Group
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Kevin Penn
Managing Director
American Securities
Richard Schifter, TPG Capital
Richard Schifter
Senior Advisor
TPG Capital
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Alan Schwartz
Executive Chairman
Guggenheim Partners
Mrs. John C. whitehead
David Solomon
Chairman and CEO
Goldman Sachs
Paul J. Taubman
Founder, Chairman & CEO
PJT Partners
Ted Virtue, MidOcean Partners
Ted Virtue
Founder & CEO
MidOcean Partners
Mrs. John C. whitehead
John Waldron
President & COO
Goldman Sachs
Robert Weaver, Advent International
Robert Weaver
Managing Director & Global Co-Head of Limited Partner Services
Advent International
Jonathan Weiss, Wells Fargo
Jonathan Weiss
CEO of Corporate & Investment Banking
Wells Fargo
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Noah Wintroub
Global Chairman
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Mrs. John C. whitehead
Barry M. Wolf
Executive Partner
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Event Co-Chairs

Anu Aiyengar
Anu Aiyengar
Co-head of Global M&A
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
William Derrough
William Derrough
Managing Director and Co-Head of Recapitalization and Restructuring Group
Moelis & Company
Stratton Heath
Stratton Heath
Partner
Oak Hill Capital
Douglas Kaden
Douglas Kaden
Managing Partner
SDC Capital Partners
Barbara Marcin
Barbara Marcin
Youth INC Board Vice President
Emmett McCann
Emmett McCann
Managing Director
Oaktree Capital Management
Robert McCooey
Robert McCooey
Vice Chairman
Nasdaq
Evan Wildstein
Dhananjay M. Pai
President & COO
P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP
Daniel Pine
Daniel Pine
Managing Principal
CS Capital Advisors
Kenneth Prince
Kenneth Prince
Head of Capital Markets, Americas
Advent International Corporation
Adrianne Shapira
Adrianne Shapira
Managing Director
Eurazeo
Wray Thorn
Wray Thorn
Partner
Focus Impact Partners
Evan Wildstein
Evan Wildstein
Partner
Kohlberg & Company
  • Anu Aiyengar, Co-head of Global M&A, JP Morgan Chase & Co.
  • William Derrough, Managing Director and Co-Head of Recapitalization and Restructuring Group, Moelis & Company
  • Stratton Heath, Partner, Oak Hill Capital
  • Douglas Kaden, Managing Partner, SDC Capital Partners
  • Emmett McCann, Managing Director, Oaktree Capital Management
  • Robert McCooey, Senior Vice President, Nasdaq
  • Daniel Pine, Managing Principal, CS Capital Advisors
  • Kenneth Prince, Head of Capital Markets, Advent International Corporation
  • Adrianne Shapira, Managing Director, Eurazeo
  • Wray Thorn, Founder and CEO, Clear Heights Capital
  • Evan Wildstein, Partner, Kohlberg & Company

Benefit committee

  • Sid Assomull, Chief Operating Officer, Bank of America
  • Jeb Bent, Investment Director, Capital Group
  • Dan Gardella, Director, Financial Sponsors Group, William Blair
  • Jeanette Gorgas, Board Director, Youth INC

Past HONOREES

Mike Arougheti

Ares Management Corporation
2024 Honoree

Sen. Bill Bradley

Allen & Company, LLC
2023 Honoree

David Mussafer

Advent International
2022 Honoree

Adena Friedman

Nasdaq
2021 Honoree

Roger Ferguson

TIAA
2020 Honoree

Alan D. Schwartz

Guggenheim Partners
2019 Honoree

Dhananjay M. Pai

P. Schoenfeld Asset Management
2018 Honoree

George P. Stamas

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
2018 Honoree

Evan & Amy Wildstein

2017 Honoree

Wray Thorn & Melissa Francis

2016 Honoree

Jeffrey R. Holzschuh

Morgan Stanley
2016 Honoree

Paul J. Taubman

PJT Partners
2015 Honoree

John E. Waldron

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
2014 Honoree

Alexander Navab

KKR & Co., L.P.
2013 Honoree

Jonathan G. Weiss

 Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
2012 Honoree

Win Neuger

AIG
2011 Honoree

Richard P. Schifter

TPG Capital
2010 Honoree

See the full list

Roger Ferguson

TIAA

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company

Evan Wildstein

Board Co-President,
Kohlberg & Company
See the full list

EVENT committee

Past Top Sponsors

Ares Management
BlackRock
Goldman Sachs Gives
J.P. Morgan
Jeffries
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Oak Hill Capital
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Proskauer
RBC Capital Markets
Sixth Street
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Anchor Sponsors

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supporting nonprofits

Young people thrive when nonprofits do.
At Youth INC, we partner with nearly 90 community-based organizations across New York City, helping them become stronger, more sustainable, and better equipped to serve their communities. Together, we are reaching over 300,000 young people with the opportunities and resources they need to succeed in school, in careers, and life.

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