From Shared Experience to Shared Impact

One of the most meaningful moments of Angela’s career came while helping lead a record-breaking gala for Volunteers of America-Greater New York, honoring A$AP Rocky.

After learning about his childhood experience living in one of the organization’s family shelters in Harlem, Angela recognized an opportunity to create something far more meaningful than a traditional celebrity appearance.

Before the gala, she helped facilitate A$AP Rocky’s return to the family homeless shelter where he had once lived, where he served Thanksgiving dinner to families currently experiencing homelessness. What emerged was not simply a publicity moment, but a deeply human story centered on resilience, lived experience, and the importance of investing in vulnerable communities.

The authenticity of that experience transformed the energy surrounding the gala. Rather than focusing solely on celebrity, the evening became rooted in connection, visibility, dignity, and hope — helping donors connect emotionally with the mission in a much more powerful way.

The result was one of the most successful fundraising events in the organization’s history, elevating visibility, strengthening donor engagement, and reinforcing the power of storytelling to inspire meaningful community impact.