Calendar of charitable events in NYC
Donate your time or a little extra cash to these worthy causes this spring.
Fri Apr 20 2012
Earth Day Times Square
- Critics choice
- Free
Broadway between 42nd and 44th Sts. Subway: N, Q, R, 42nd St S, 1, 2, 3, 7 to 42nd St–Times Sq. The closed-off streets will feature Earth Day exhibits plus the CO2 E Drive, a runway show for eco-friendly cars.
- Location TBA
- Until Fri Apr 20
EarthFair at Grand Central
- Critics choice
- Free
Check out environmental demonstrations inside Vanderbilt Hall (Thu 19, Fri 20, Sat 21), plus live music and children’s events outside (Fri 20, Sat 21).
- Grand Central Terminal, Vanderbilt Hall 42nd St, between Vanderbilt and Lexington Aves
- Until Sat Apr 21
New York Cares Day
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Join thousands of volunteers who will work together to beautify more than 10 miles of the city’s waterfront. Visit newyorkcares.org to register for a volunteer site.
- Location TBA
- Sat Apr 20
Cocktails for a Cure
- Critics choice
Swill cocktails at the open bar, peruse the auction items, and play a few games of minigolf, with proceeds going to the Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York.
- Greenwich Village Country Club 110 University Pl, between 12th and 13th Sts, 10003
- Fri May 3
Wildlife Conservation Society’s Walk/Run for the Wild
- Price band: 1/4
This 5K run through the Bronx Zoo raises cash to benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society’s goal of saving lions and preserving their habitat.
- Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society 2300 Southern Blvd, at Fordham Rd
- Until Sat Apr 27
Relay for Life
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
The American Cancer Society hosts a series of walkathons throughout the summer. In April, assemble a team of your own or join an existing one for NYU’s all-night walkathon. In early June, a daytime event at the Red Hook Ikea is yet another opportunity to raise funds (and maybe even pick up a new bookshelf). A final event on June 23 celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Middle Village Relay for Life event, whose theme is “Decade of Hope.”
- Juniper Valley Park Juniper Blvd, at 77th St
- Sun Apr 29 - Sun Jun 24
Walk MS NYC
- Critics choice
- Free
Fulton St at South St. Subway: A, C to Broadway–Nassau St; J, Z, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Fulton St. This three-mile walk starts and ends at South Street Seaport and raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New York City.
- Location TBA
- Sun May 5
Cycle for Survival
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
Burn calories and raise money for ovarian cancer research at this event: SoulCycle will donate its studio space and instructors to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund for a one-hour indoor cycling class.
- SoulCycle 103 Warren St, at West St
- Sun May 5
Taste of Hope
- Price band: 4/4
- Critics choice
A general-admission ticket gets you samples of wine, food and cocktails from New York restaurants including Beauty & Essex, Il Laboratorio del Gelato and the Smith. Everything benefits the American Cancer Society.
- 82Mercer 82 Mercer St, between Broome and Spring Sts
- Thu May 9
EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
This celebrity-studded event supports a variety of women’s cancer beneficiaries, including the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and CancerCare.
- Times Square Broadway, between 42nd and 47th Sts
- Sat May 4
TD Five Boro Bike Tour
- Critics choice
Starts at Battery Pl at Greenwich St. Regular registration for this 40-mile, cross-borough bike ride is closed, but you can still ride to raise money for one of the many designated charity groups, including the ASPCA, God’s Love We Deliver and Planned Parenthood in New York City. Or work as a volunteer, which guarantees you a spot in next year’s ride (though you’ll still have to pay registration).
- Location TBA
- Until Sun May 5
Bark for Life
- Critics choice
Participants are encouraged to bring their canine friends to this Relay for Live event and enjoy a walk through Riverside Park, plus doggie games and dress-up contests. It’ll all raise money for the American Cancer Society. Meet at Riverside Dr at 108th St.
- Riverside Park Riverside Dr, between 72nd and 158th Sts
- Sun May 12
Stamp Out Hunger
- Critics choice
For one full day, all nonperishable food donations that are brought to designated post offices will be given to local charities to help end hunger nationwide. Visit helpstampouthunger.info for participating post offices.
- Location TBA
- Sat May 18
Walk-A-Thon for Girls' and Women's Health
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
This 5K jaunt through the East Village raises money to support the Lower Eastside Girl’s Club’s health, nutrition and environmental-education programming and ends with a health fair and block party at the First Street Park (1st St between 1st and 2nd Aves).
- P.S. 20 Playground 166 Essex St, between E Houston and Stanton Sts, 10002
- Until Sat May 12
Fight for Air Walk
- Critics choice
Battery Park, State St at Battery Pl. Subway: N, R to Whitehall St; 4, 5 to Bowling Green. Funds raised from this 5K walk will go toward the American Lung Association’s asthma, lung cancer and emphysema programs.
- Location TBA
- Sat May 25
AIDS Walk New York
- Critics choice
- Free
Join a team or walk as an individual to raise money for more than 40 HIV/AIDS organizations in the tristate area.
- Location TBA
- Sun May 26
The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Meet at Cadman Plaza Park, Cadman Plaza East at Prospect St, Brooklyn. Subway: A, C to High St. Join this national charity’s walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to bring awareness to preeclampsia, a little-known disease that affects pregnant women and newborns.
- Location TBA
- Sat Jun 15
Walk Now for Autism Speaks
- Critics choice
- Free
Meet at South Street Seaport, Fulton St at South St. Subway: A, C to Broadway–Nassau St; J, Z, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Fulton St. This national organization aims to increase autism awareness, and any money raised from this 1.2-mile walk will support research as well as autism advocacy and programs.
- Location TBA
- Sun Jun 9
Poets House Annual Poetry Walk
- Price band: 4/4
- Critics choice
Meet at the Brooklyn Bridge, Centre St at City Hall Park. Subway: J, Z to Chambers St; 4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall. This sunset walk across the Brooklyn Bridge will be enhanced by readings of works by Langston Hughes and Marianne Moore and a Galway Kinnell reading Walt Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.” Funds raised will benefit the Poets House programming.
- Location TBA
- Mon Jun 17
