Scarsdale Residents Rally Around Bottom Line as Nonprofit Celebrates 15 Years in New York

Bottom Line New York Executive Director Gabrielle Gilliam (left) with Scarsdale resident and board member Shilpa Spencer at a recent community reception in Spencer’s home.When Bottom Line New York celebrates its 15th anniversary at a Manhattan gala on November 5, the Scarsdale community will have a presence that goes beyond the guest list. Local residents are lending their leadership, opening their homes to introduce friends to the cause, and even providing the flowers for the evening.

Among them is Scarsdale resident Amy Sapirstein, owner of Eye Candy Florals, who is donating floral arrangements for the anniversary celebration. Her contribution offers a particularly local touch to an event honoring an organization whose work is centered on opportunity: helping students from first-generation and under-resourced backgrounds navigate college, earn degrees and launch careers.

The celebration, called 'Cheers to 15 Years,' will take place Thursday, November 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lever Club at Lever House on Park Avenue. The event will honor Punit Mehta and Sarah Binder Mehta and present an inaugural Founder's Award to Ruth Genn.

Bottom Line launched its New York operation in 2011 with an office in Downtown Brooklyn. Today, according to the organization, it supports nearly 2,500 students from all five boroughs each year. Its Success program serves approximately 1,700 college students at 21 colleges across New York State.

Its work is designed to address a challenge that does not end with receiving a college acceptance letter. Bottom Line's Access program provides personalized guidance to high school students as they apply to college and evaluate their options. Its Success program continues that support once students enroll, helping them work toward graduation and prepare for their careers. The organization also offers Bluprint, which extends virtual support to additional students.

For Scarsdale residents Shilpa Spencer and Riaz Jivrag, both members of Bottom Line's board, supporting that mission means helping more people learn what the organization does and why sustained guidance can matter. Several other board members also have ties to Westchester.

Last month, Spencer hosted a cocktail reception at her Scarsdale home for approximately 40 guests. Bottom Line New York Executive Director Gabrielle Gilliam attended, along with several board members and staff members. The gathering offered neighbors an opportunity to hear about the nonprofit's work in a more personal setting and consider how they might get involved.

Afterward, Spencer followed up with guests, encouraging them to attend the gala, explore volunteer opportunities, consider a donation or introduce Bottom Line to corporate philanthropy contacts. She also invited those interested in deeper involvement to learn about the organization's Regional Advisory Board. The message was simple: supporting students can take many forms, and community members do not need to wait for a major fundraiser to contribute.

That same spirit is reflected in Sapirstein's donation through Eye Candy Florals. By contributing her business's creative services to the gala, she is showing how a local entrepreneur can use her professional talents to support a broader charitable mission. Her flowers will be part of an evening bringing together students, alumni, supporters and partners to recognize 15 years of Bottom Line's work in New York.

A number of Scarsdale residents are expected to attend, including Spencer, Jivrag, Berit Berger, Seema Jaggi, Rachel Lemberg, Sapirstein and Yuki Hirose, along with former resident Wendy MacMillan. Their participation reflects the growing circle of local supporters who have connected with Bottom Line through board service, philanthropy and community outreach.

The case for investing in that work extends beyond graduation. In research announced by Bottom Line this month, students offered its advising earned approximately 8 percent more by ages 26 to 27 than comparable students who were not offered the support, a difference of about $3,700 annually. The finding underscores the organization's focus on helping students translate educational opportunity into longer-term economic mobility.

As Bottom Line New York marks this milestone, its Scarsdale supporters are helping turn a citywide anniversary into a local story of generosity and connection. From a gathering in a neighbor's living room to floral arrangements at Lever House, their contributions are reminders that a community can help open doors for students far beyond its own borders.

More information: bottomline.org/new-york/ | Gala details: bottomline.org/new-york/ny-annual-benefit/

To learn more about Bottom Line and how to get involved, contact Shilpa Spencer at [email protected].