Indego Africa's 2025 Gala

September 30, 2025 | NYC

Indego Africa invites you to celebrate the power of opportunity & the exceptional women we partner with at our second Annual Gala.

Join us as we bring together supporters, partners, and philanthropists for an inspiring evening of storytelling, impact, optimism and action.

This year’s event will be hosted by our partners at Riverpark, an elevated restaurant inspired by local and sustainable ingredients with an expansive view of the East River. Weather permitting, cocktail hour will take place on their seasonal terrace.

Since 2007, Indego Africa has worked with vulnerable populations across Rwanda and Ghana to create long-term economic opportunities through education, access, and artisan craft. 

The Details

Date: September 30, 2025

Venue: Riverpark, 450 East 29th Street

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

  • 6:00 PM: Welcome Cocktails
  • 7:00 PM: Seated Dinner & Program

Dress Code: Festive Attire Encouraged

Unable to Attend? Your Support Still Makes a Difference!

Even if you can’t join us in person, your contribution can have a tremendous impact. 100% of your donation is invested in artisan-owned businesses and the women who run them, funding steady work, education, and ongoing retraining programs.

Donate Now and be a part of something transformational. Your generosity helps create a financially independent future for generations of African women.

Who We Are

For nearly 20 years, Indego Africa has been propelling the creation and growth of sustainable artisan-owned businesses in Africa.

Our model's power lies in it's focus - the growth of community based, women-owned businesses.

Known to play an important role in reducing intergenerational poverty, they also play an important part in preserving the rich cultural traditions & diverse artisan skills abundant in Africa.

94%

Report their income has increased since partnering with Indego Africa

100%

Say their confidence has increased since partnering with Indego Africa

77%

feel confident they have the skills to run a business

Visionary Award

Indego Africa's Visionary Award celebrates individuals who champion and amplify our core values.

These individuals work to expand access to opportunities, promote ethical craftsmanship, or otherwise display the integrity and character that betters their communities in meaningful ways.

2025 Visionary Award Honorees

Brooke Cucinella

Brooke Cucinella

Global Head of Litigation & Regulatory Inquiries at Citadel and Citadel Securities
Brooke E. Cucinella is the Global Head of Litigation & Regulatory Inquiries at Citadel and Citadel Securities. Before joining Citadel in 2022, Brooke was a Litigation Partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where she represented companies, boards, and executives in government and internal investigations and high profile disputes. While at Simpson Thacher, Brooke was on the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Southern District of New York ("SONY"), where she was appointed to represent indigent criminal defendants, as well as victims and witnesses. From 2012 to 2018, Brooke served in the DOJ as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for SONY, where she was a senior member of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. As a federal prosecutor, she tried multiple significant securities cases, as well as public corruption and cases involving violent crimes, and oversaw numerous investigations involving a wide range of complex financial crimes, including accounting fraud, insider trading, market manipulation, wire fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud, money laundering and public corruption. Brooke has been recognized by the publication as a National "Litigation Star" in White Collar Crime and as a New York "Litigation Star," and was ranked as one of the "Top 250 Women in Litigation" in the U.S. by Euromoney's Benchmark Litigation. She is is also recognized by The Legal 500 in Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense, where sources say she "works incredibly hard, is dedicated to her clients, and brings the eye of a seasoned investigator and prosecutor." She was also named to Crain's New York Business's "Notable Women in Law" for 2021.
Rich Tucker

Rich Tucker

Managing Director & Global Co-Head of Technology Legal at Goldman Sachs
Rich Tucker is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, where he serves as Global Co-Head of Technology Legal, overseeing the firm’s AI, Cybersecurity, Privacy, Data Governance and Technology Contracting practices. Before joining Goldman, Rich was a Senior Vice President at CLEAR, the secure identity company and for over a decade served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, leading high-profile prosecutions as Chief of the National Security and Cybercrime Section. His work included major cases involving terrorism, cyberattacks, and international smuggling of sensitive technologies. Throughout his career, Rich has worked closely with federal agencies and nonprofits on security, privacy, and digital governance, supporting the non-profit Cyber Counsel Group to support in-house cybersecurity lawyers and contribute to a safer and more resilient digital world. A frequent speaker on these topics, he has received multiple honors, including two Director’s Awards from the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys and recognitions from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. Rich also serves on the board of Hopeland; a non-profit pioneering solutions to prevent parent-child separation and unify families with the aim of creating a world where every child grows up in a safe, loving family.

Gala Host Committe

Dominique Schulte

Amanda Rubin

Livia Nguyen

Justine Lee

Karen Yelick

Dana Coppolino

Ryan Lester

Dan Sacks

Mark and Rebecca Pankoff

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Gala Event Committee

Helen Gugel - Chair

Dana Coppolino

Justine Lee

Matt Mitro

Lindsay Abrams Richter

Amanda Rubin

Dominique Schulte

Suwha Hong

Sara Wohlers

Emily Jones

2025 Event Sponsors

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email fundraising@indegoafrica.org

Highlights from our 2024 Gala

Joe's Pub - 10.1.24

Celebrating the Power of Opportunity: Gala 2024

Emelienne's Story