NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2025 — As disasters grow more frequent and devastating, Ready Responders and other community volunteers selflessly step into danger to save lives and bring hope to those who need it most. World Cares Center (WCC), the leading non-profit that trains disaster-response volunteers, will host its annual Stars Under the Stars fundraiser on September 25 at Fornino, Brooklyn Bridge Park.
At a moment when public funding for grassroots organizations has become scarce, this event is designed to get private donors and corporations to support the cause so WCC can continue to provide essential training, protective equipment, and assistance to local communities recovering from disasters.
Each year, World Cares Center trains over 2,000 volunteers through the Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential, a free certificate program to enhance the knowledge and skills to work safely and providing a common standard for volunteering in disaster incidents. Funding is a critical lifeline that equips these brave responders and community volunteers with the essential training and resources to continue their heroic, life-saving work when every moment matters.
This year, World Cares Center is proud to honor Richard Cooper with the 2025 Ready Responder Lifetime of Leadership Award at the Stars Under the Stars fundraiser. As the Global Head of Market Transformation at Fusion Risk Management, Richard leads efforts to help organizations around the world strengthen their operational resilience. With more than two decades of experience, particularly in the financial sector, he has played a key role in guiding businesses through crisis, managing risk, and shaping more agile and responsive operations.
“We are pleased to honor Richard for both his professional and personal commitment to building community resilience and setting the standard for what it means to lead with strategy, purpose, and impact, and we are grateful to have his support,” said World Cares Center Founder Lisa Orloff. “Please join us in giving well-deserved recognition to Richard and celebrate all our volunteers and partners supporting World Cares Center’s ongoing mission to train and support the volunteers that put themselves on the front line to care for others in times of crisis.”
Under a beautiful evening sky and against the backdrop of the captivating New York City skyline, Stars Under the Stars is an evening filled with friends and colleagues committed to the safety of our Ready Responders and honoring the outstanding contributions of volunteers and partners while enjoying Tito’s Cocktails, craft beer from Brooklyn Brewery and a special menu prepared by Chef Michael Ayoub of Fornino. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in live and silent auctions.
Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels, offering valuable brand exposure while directly contributing to training and equipping responders offering organizations the opportunity to align with a meaningful cause. Those that cannot attend but wish to support the mission can donate online.
About World Cares Center:
Founded in 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster, New York City-based World Cares Center (WCC) empowers communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters through training, support, and volunteer coordination. Since its founding, WCC has been dedicated to fostering resilience and preparedness in communities around the globe. Learn more: https://worldcares.org/.
