News

We are pleased to share the recent article from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, "Training Tomorrow’s Leaders: Graduate Education at GSK", highlighting the work of the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSK). Established nearly twenty years ago, GSK offers a unique environment that brings together outstanding students and world-class scientists to advance discoveries in cancer research. The Foundation remains proud to support this community of emerging scientists as they pursue innovative approaches to understanding and treating cancer. “Opportunities like those provided by GSK empower students to take bold steps in cancer science,” said Mr. Gerstner. “Their curiosity and dedication continue to inspire me, and I take tremendous pride in the discoveries they make about today’s most pressing biological and clinical challenges.”

Saint Luke’s Catholic Church in the South Bronx was recently featured in The Good Newsroom for its expanded food pantry and community hall renovation, supported by Gerstner Philanthropies. The project tripled storage capacity, added accessibility features, and created new space for programs such as English classes and job training. The upgraded facility enables Saint Luke’s to provide fresh produce, dairy, and other essentials to hundreds of families each week—advancing its mission to serve the community with dignity and compassion.

Supported by Gerstner Philanthropies, the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) has awarded $700,000 in multi-year transformational grants to expand food access in Eastern Massachusetts. These initiatives are designed to strengthen community-based responses to food insecurity and build lasting capacity across the region. The South Shore Food Bank/Weymouth Food Pantry will use the grant to double warehouse space and launch a regional food rescue program, while the YMCA of Greater Boston will establish a choice-based, grocery-style pantry with expanded hours and integrated social services. “The Greater Boston Food Bank plays an indispensable role throughout Eastern Massachusetts, providing fresh, nutritious food to our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Dr. Elizabeth Gerstner. “We are proud to support these important projects both on the South Shore and in Boston.” These transformational gifts were made possible due to a three-year, $1M commitment to GBFB to support food access and emergency food programs in high-need areas of Boston.

Memorial Sloan Kettering has announced the 2025 Cohort of the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholars Program, honoring four Gerstner Scholars: Brinda Alagesan, MD, PhD, Phillip Choi, MD, PhD, Alexander Goglia, MD, PhD, and Quinlan Sievers, MD, PhD. Established in 2021, the program supports outstanding early-career physician-scientists working to advance translational cancer research. This year also marks the graduation of the program’s inaugural 2022 cohort, with 11 physician-scholars supported to date. Congratulations to the classes of 2025 and 2028!

We are proud to share "Intervening at the Edge: Lessons from Helping Hands", a new report by United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) highlighting the impact of our Helping Hands program from 2019–2024. Gerstner Philanthropies has partnered with UNH through the Helping Hands program to provide emergency cash assistance to low-income New Yorkers facing sudden crises. Administered through UNH’s settlement house network, Helping Hands grants have helped prevent evictions, restore stability after illness or job loss, and cover urgent needs such as rent, utilities, and essential household items. Since 2019, over $5.3 million has been distributed across nearly 3,700 grants and 84.7% of recipients remained stably housed one year after receiving assistance.