Celebrating 40 Years of Affordable Housing, Homeownership, and Financial Empowerment
Thursday, November 5, 2026
5:30 to 9:30 PM
The Waterview
215 Roosevelt Drive
Monroe, CT 06468
Join BNT for our 2026 40th Anniversary Gala, a special evening celebrating four decades of affordable housing, homeownership, financial empowerment, and community impact.
This milestone celebration will honor BNT’s history and recognize staff, board members, partners, and supporters who helped shape our work.
Cocktail attire encouraged.
Discount available for one personal guest reservation.
Major Sponsorships use the PDF form. Host Committee, table and seat reservations and donations may be completed online.
Dancing with Orquesta Afinke
We are excited to welcome Bridgeport-based Orquesta Afinke, one of the region’s most popular Latin bands, for an evening of live music and dancing.
Bring a personal guest and make it a night out. Each regular individual reservation includes the option to purchase a deeply discounted reservation for a personal guest.
Free Beginner Latin Dance Classes
Get ready to dance! BNT is offering three free beginner Latin dance classes with The Bachata Experience. Couples and singles welcome. Each person or couple may register for one class.
- October 1, 8:00 to 8:45 p.m.: Register here for Merengue
- October 22, 8:00 to 8:45 p.m.: Register here for Salsa
All classes will be held at The Bachata Experience, 40 Fairfield Avenue, Floor 2, Bridgeport.
September 17: Our first Merengue class was held. Watch the video!
A Look Back at Last Year’s Celebration
Why This Evening Matters
For 40 years, BNT has worked to end housing insecurity, income inequality and homelessness by creating safe, affordable housing, and providing comprehensive financial and housing counseling services.
In 2025 alone, BNT served more than 2,500 adults, youth, and families through education, counseling, youth financial literacy, and partner workshops. BNT also helped 118 households become homeowners, supported by approximately $37.3 million in mortgages and down payment assistance.
Today, BNT is growing its youth financial literacy work, expanding bilingual and in-person services, launching new housing stability tools, and rebuilding its affordable housing development pipeline. Sponsorship and reservation support for the 2026 Gala helps BNT continue this work during an important anniversary year.
2026 Honorees
Housing Leadership Award
Jillian Baldwin
Chief Executive Officer, Park City Communities, and President, Baldwin Holdings, Inc.
Community Impact Award
Jenita Hayes
Treasurer, BNT Board of Directors, and Manager of Grants & Events, Optimus Health Care
Thank You to the Early Sponsors Helping Make BNT’s 40th Anniversary Gala Possible
Diamond Sponsors
JPMorganChase
Wells Fargo
Platinum Sponsor
M&T Bank
Newtown Savings Bank
Gold Sponsors
Citi
Fairfield County Bank
Massoud Family Foundation
Webster Bank
Silver Sponsor
Bankwell
City of Bridgeport
New American Funding
TD Bank
Bronze Sponsor
CHFA
First County Bank
Ives Bank
DIAMOND
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
HOST COMMITTEE
Benefactor
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
Union Savings Bank
Cohen and Wolf, P.C.
PATRON
Avangrid
KeyBank
Optimus Health Care
ADVOCATE
Good Living CT at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Scott & Claire Burns
The Housing Collective
The Innovative CPA Group
HERO
Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders
Discount available for one personal guest reservation.
Major Sponsorships use the PDF form. Host Committee, Table and Seat Reservations and Donations may be completed online.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship packages include marketing and recognition benefits, with placement based on level.
Diamond Sponsor $20,000
Platinum Sponsor $15,000
Gold Sponsor $10,000
Silver Sponsor $5,000
Bronze Sponsor $3,500
Host Committee
Benefactor, Patron and Advocate names will be included in event materials, including email invitations and reminders. Hero names will be recognized on the BNT website and event slide. Logos are not included.
Host Committee Benefactor $2,500, includes three preferred reserved seats and a bottle of champagne
Host Committee Patron $1,500, includes two preferred reserved seats and a bottle of champagne
Host Committee Advocate $1,000, includes two reserved seats
Host Committee Hero $500, includes one reserved seat and event slide listing
Tables and Reservations
Table Reservation of 10 $1,500
Individual Reservation $175
Personal Guest Add-on Reservation $100
Nonprofit / Community Member Reservation $100, for nonprofit staff and invited community members
For questions or to reserve at any level, please contact Charlie Griggs at charles@bntweb.org or 203-290-4261.