East Harlem Developers Donate Meals To Metropolitan Hospital

EAST HARLEM, NY — Real estate developers are partnering with neighborhood restaurants to deliver hundreds of meals to frontline healthcare workers at East Harlem's Metropolitan Hospital.

Ron Moelis of L+M Development Partners and Jonathan Rose of Rose Companies have pledged $100,000 to fund the delivery of 180 lunches and 180 dinners to hospital staff every day until the coronavirus outbreak subsides in New York City, a spokesperson for the developers said. The developers are working in partnership with 20 neighborhood restaurants.

"L+M Development Partners is committed to supporting the communities where we work and proud to provide funding for this initiative," L+M CEO Moelis said in a statement. "We care deeply about East Harlem, and saw this as a critical opportunity to assist the dedicated hospital workers who are working so hard to keep everyone safe, while at the same time the helping local East Harlem businesses that are struggling to survive."

Developer and homeless shelter operator the Acacia Network is also donating $15,000 as part of the partnership, brining the total donation amount to $115,000.

The development firms first brought their idea to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and local City Council Member Diana Ayala, who connected them with neighborhood nonprofit Union Settlement. The service provider, which was already working with struggling restaurants, agreed to serve as a link between the developers, restaurants and the hospital.

"Union Settlement is proud to be part of this initiative, which helps local businesses stay open, while at the same time providing much-needed meals to our health care heroes at Metropolitan Hospital," David Nocenti, executive director of Union Settlement, said in a statement.

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