AAUW NYC Metro Holiday Social: Community, Connection, and Momentum

The raffle winners!

Our 2025 AAUW NYC Metro Holiday Social was a joyful reminder of what makes this community so special, and why we’re heading into 2026 with so much excitement and momentum.

The event brought together an incredible mix of new faces and familiar friends: high school students, college and graduate students, early-career professionals, and longtime AAUW members, all sharing a commitment to advancing equity for women and girls in New York City. This intergenerational, interdisciplinary energy is at the heart of what we do, and it was on full display throughout the night.

We are deeply grateful to our Vice President of Policy, Ariah Tough, for hosting us in her beautiful home, and to her two wonderful daughters, who generously helped serve food and drinks all evening and made everyone feel welcome. 

We were also honored to be joined by Suzanne Mercer Young and Sandy Camillo, President and President-Elect of the New York State AAUW Board. Their presence underscored the strong connections between our branch and the wider AAUW community across the state.

A highlight of the evening was our raffle, which raised over $200 in support of AAUW NYC Metro branch programming; a testament to the generosity and enthusiasm of our members and guests. We also loved reconnecting with alumni of our programs, including former Leadership & Governance Intern and Girls for STEM workshop assistant coordinator Bella Mayer, whose continued involvement reflects the lasting impact of this work.

More than anything, the night was a celebration of community: of women showing up, supporting one another, and building the relationships that power our advocacy, programming, and impact. Thank you to everyone who joined us, contributed, and helped make the evening such a success.

If this gathering was any indication, 2026 is going to be an extraordinary year for AAUW NYC Metro!