Room to Read's annual New York Gala benefits 60,900 children, celebrates the power of "The Room" as a catalyst for education and opportunity

The evening honored CVC and Stanley Hainsworth, with performances by Rhonda Ross and DJ Jazzy Jeff   

NEW YORK (May 12, 2026) — Room to Read, an international education organization nurturing foundational learning skills in children, held its annual New York Gala at 583 Park Ave on Monday, May 11. The event — themed “THE ROOM: Where every corner offers the promise of a better future” — brought together more than 300 guests from the finance, consumer, entertainment, and media industries to celebrate the transformative power of education and raised investments that will benefit 60,900 children through Room to Read’s literacy and gender equality programming.

In her remarks, Room to Read CEO Dr. Geetha Murali said, “Education inequity predicts income, health, and stability. So, this is not charity. This is infrastructure. This is architecture. Build it well and the return compounds, across generations.”

The evening served as a celebration and recognition of Room to Read’s longtime supporters who have been pivotal in the organization’s growth and impact as it has benefited children across 29 countries, including 17 million children in 2025 alone. Room to Read recognized CVC, a leading global private markets manager, and Stanley Hainsworth, founder and chief creative officer of Tether, as honorees for their longstanding commitment to education equity and Room to Read’s mission.

Cathrin Petty, co-head of North American Private Equity and Global Head of Healthcare at CVC, accepted the Champion Award in recognition of the firm’s partnership with Room to Read. Rolly van Rappard, chair and co-founder of CVC, also delivered remarks in a special video message.

“CVC is honoured to be recognised with the Champion Award. We believe in the transformative power of education. Our long-term partnership with Room to Read has focused on supporting their ambition to scale the impact of proven literacy models in Asia and Africa and will continue to expand our reach and impact,” the firm shared.

This recognition is particularly fitting, given Cathrin’s strong advocacy for literacy as a strategic priority of the CVC Foundation, and her commitment to long-term, impact-led philanthropy in the communities where CVC operates worldwide. CVC has supported Room to Read since 2021, significantly expanding its investments in late 2024 to scale literacy outcomes in Indonesia, contributing to more than 1.5 million children across the country benefiting from Room to Read’s programming. Building on this momentum, CVC is extending their partnership to South Africa in 2026 through its ‘Education for All’ initiative, further supporting communities in a country where the firm has a significant local presence.

Hainsworth was presented with Room to Read’s Changemaker Award in recognition of his visionary creative leadership. A master of brand storytelling whose work has shaped some of the world’s most iconic companies — including Nike, Starbucks, LEGO and Tatcha; as well as founding the design agency, Tether — Hainsworth has brought that expertise to Room to Read, leading its recent brand evolution and strengthening how the organization connects with global audiences. Hainsworth has served on Room to Read’s global board since 2023.

The celebration continued with a powerful performance from headliner Rhonda Ross, whose original songs inspired the audience and amplified why Room to Read’s mission matters. Ross was followed by a show-stopping set from DJ Jazzy Jeff to close out the show. Sonny Kalsi, president and CEO of SLC Management and Room to Read global board member, opened the evening with a surprise set to bring THE ROOM to life.

Additional notable attendees included Samantha Barry, Marley Dias, Demi Singleton, Ubah Hassan, Bianca Lawson, The Bradley Sisters, Mohsin Zaidi and Nandana Dev Sen.

The event was hosted by Room to Read’s North America regional board and members of Room to Read’s global board of directors. Regional board members from around the world were also in attendance. Additional speakers included EB Kapnick, managing director and head of Americas Technology M&A, Morgan Stanley; Vantha Chea, Cambodia country director, Room to Read; and Laurie McMahon, chief development and communications officer, Room to Read.

Sponsor support for the event included: Amangiri, Amanyara, Blossom Box Jewelry, Clear Communication Academy, Elemis, Il Buco Family, Quilling Card, Tatcha and The Hari London. BCL Entertainment supported performances for the evening.

Red carpet and event photos are available here.