True leaders in the community, Lynne and Michael Wolitzer’s engagement and compassion know no bounds. Lending their time, talent, and resources to a myriad of worthy causes, Lynne and Michael have a special place in their hearts for helping Holocaust survivors. Ensuring that survivors live out their final years with comfort and dignity is of great importance to Lynne and Michael, which drew them to Selfhelp. Lynne has been a member of Selfhelp’s Board of Directors since 2021 and more recently joined the Selfhelp Community Services Foundation Board. She is also on the Board of UJA-Federation of New York, the Vice Chair of UJA’s Caring Department, and serves as Co-Chair of the UJA Community Initiative for Holocaust Survivors. Michael is on the Board of the Association to Benefit Children. Together, they are very active on multiple boards at Duke University, their proud alma mater.

Professionally, Michael is a Partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where he is Head of the Investment Funds Practice. He was named the “Lawyer of the Year” in Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law in New York City for 2018 by Best Lawyers. Lynne previously worked in advertising and marketing. Lynne and Michael have three children, Alexandra, Ashley and Ryan, and enjoy spending time with their granddaughter Miriam, their pride and joy.

To say Suri Kasirer is a powerhouse would be an understatement. The driving force behind Kasirer, the number one government relations and lobbying firm in New York City, Suri is a lifelong champion of people, progress, and policy. The daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Selfhelp is near and dear to Suri’s heart. Her father, Rabbi Moshe Kasirer z”l, was a guiding light in her life, and his Holocaust experience inspired her life’s work creating change and using influence for good. For Suri, that change can be seen all around the city in the hundreds of wide-ranging projects Kasirer has spearheaded over the past 25 years. Year after year, Suri is recognized by Crain’s New York Business and City & State as one of the most influential leaders in New York City. Suri was also honored with the Landmark Award at 92NY’s 2022 Extraordinary Women Awards. Among the most meaningful awards bestowed upon her, Citizens Union honored Suri as a 2018 Gotham Great, and she was a recipient of the National Organization for Women (NOW) Women of Power & Influence Award. 
 
In addition to her passion for Selfhelp, Suri is involved in numerous organizations. Suri is the Vice President of Citymeals on Wheels and serves on the board of directors of the New York League of Conservation Voters, the Women’s Leadership Forum and as Secretary of the New York Building Foundation. She is a member of the steering committee for the Association for a Better New York and a member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate, and the Downtown Lower Manhattan Association. 
 
Suri lives in Manhattan with her husband, Bruce, and their three children.

Dedicated to revitalizing communities and enhancing lives, BFC Partners is a full-service, real estate development firm with a community-first approach. Over the last three decades, BFC has been at the forefront of developing high quality affordable, mixed-income, and market rate housing where residents can feel at home. Selfhelp is privileged to be partnering with BFC on its newest affordable housing residence at 475 Bay Street in Staten Island, The Pearl, which will open in the spring. The residence will provide 270 new affordable units, including 138 set aside for formerly homeless older adults.

But BFC’s work does not end with developing buildings; they are actively committed to advancing the lives of those living in the communities they serve. Their initiatives range from providing school supplies and Thanksgiving dinners to nursing homes, to organizing workshops and job fairs. BFC takes immense pride in giving back to New York City.

Selfhelp is honored to recognize BFC’s outstanding partners with the Lifeline of Hope Award: Donald Capoccia, Joseph Ferrara, Brandon Baron, and Winthrop Wharton.