Central Park SummerStage Benefit Party, Honoring Questlove, Raises Nearly $1 Million

The City Parks Foundation's 2025 Dinner & Dance Party Benefit, held this past Thursday, has been declared a major success, raising close to $1 million. These essential funds will be channeled directly into the foundation's extensive roster of free public offerings, which include arts, sports, and environmental education programs accessible to residents in all five boroughs of New York City. This signature annual gala is a pivotal component of the organization's broader mission to energize and maintain the city's indispensable park system.

Central Park's famed SummerStage—an open-air performance space that has been a cultural hub since its inception in 1986—provided the backdrop for the dual-award ceremony. The foundation bestowed its Icon Award upon the versatile artist Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, while the People & Parks Award was granted to Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment (BSE), the parent organization for the Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets, and the WNBA's New York Liberty. Questlove, the Philadelphia-born co-founder of The Roots, is renowned not only as a drummer and DJ but also as the director of the acclaimed documentary "Summer of Soul," which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2022.

In a heartfelt and often humorous acceptance speech, Questlove reflected on his long-standing connection to SummerStage, sharing memories of attending shows as a fan and later performing there himself. He even quipped about a past slip-up where he mistakenly called New York his "hometown." The award was presented by legendary New York DJ Stretch Armstrong, a frequent SummerStage performer, who lauded Questlove as a vital cultural historian. The foundation specifically highlighted his work in bringing the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival to light in "Summer of Soul" and The Roots' recent free concert for a crowd of over 7,000 in Queens, underscoring his commitment to making the arts available to everyone.

Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment was honored for its substantial philanthropic investments in Brooklyn, focusing on health, education, and community betterment. This recognition points to an increasing movement where major commercial entities are directly funding local quality-of-life initiatives. "When cultural icons and corporate leaders pool their resources to address community needs, the positive impact resonates across the entire urban landscape," an event coordinator remarked, emphasizing the synergistic potential of such partnerships.

The formal program gave way to a vibrant party, with Questlove delivering a dynamic DJ set that seamlessly blended pop, hip-hop, R&B, and rock classics, ensuring the dance floor remained packed. A simultaneous silent disco was organized for the first-ever Young Philanthropists After Party, offering a modern alternative for younger attendees. The 2025 benefit was steered by a dedicated chair committee that included Angela Barkan, Joe Killian, Roland Merchant, and Greg Williamson.