Where New York Meets the World
Nestled in the heart of New York City, the 92nd Street Y (newly renamed 92NY) is revered as a center of arts and enrichment. Now, two years out from its 150th anniversary, it has launched a host of ambitious new programs celebrating culture and connections.
Founded in 1874 by a group of German Jewish professionals and businessmen to serve the social and spiritual needs of the American Jewish community, 92NY today receives over 300,000 visitors annually from around the world.
Coming out of a global pandemic, 92NY has announced $200 million in renovations to its digital infrastructure and physical campus, including Roundtable, a new online destination for learning and discourse, and the historic Buttenwieser Hall, one of 92NY’s two primary performance spaces.
COVID-19 disrupted many programmatic activities but 92NY has emerged from the pandemic stronger and better able to support the communities it serves.
“The pandemic challenged 92NY to reimagine how we carry out our mission of enrichment and community building — a mission which is desperately needed today,” said Seth Pinsky, CEO of 92NY.
“In the darkest moments of the pandemic, we came to realize that the only viable option over the long-term was to embrace transformational change. We are now rapidly effectuating this evolution, reimagining our organization from top to bottom — from how we present who we are to a worldwide audience, to how we connect with people, whether it be in-person or online,” he said.
The Blavatnik Family Foundation has long supported 92NY and its commitment to Jewish life and community. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation has supported 92NY in its efforts to provide support to elderly, at-need patrons.
“92NY is a truly remarkable hub connecting diverse voices and educating patrons at all stages of life,” said Len Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries and head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation. “We’re proud of the long-standing support we’ve provided 92NY in the past and we look forward to our continued partnership.”
92NY is ensuring that it can expand upon its history and tradition of supporting the broader Jewish community with the establishment of the Rabbi Peter Rubinstein Fund for the Jewish Future at 92NY. The fund will build upon the strong foundation that Rabbi Rubinstein established at 92NY during his tenure as director of the 92NY Bronfman Center for Jewish Life and allow 92NY to significantly enhance all areas of Jewish programming. It also will allow 92NY to invest in transformative new initiatives and innovative ideas, bringing the Jewish community together from around the corner and around the world.
“For nearly 150 years, 92NY has been a touchstone institution for New York City and the world. We’re an institution that believes that remarkable first acts can and should be followed by even more remarkable second acts,” Pinsky said. “Because of the support of our donors — including the Blavatnik Family Foundation — we are building on the past and looking to the future, ensuring that 92NY will continue to enrich the lives of everyone in our community, for generations to come.”