Health Care heroes, your next meal is on us: TRD initiative helps industry give back

It’s a humbling time. For the last decade, the real estate industry has been humming along. We’ve seen historically low-interest rates, record foreign investment and the largest development project in U.S. history come to life. There have been immense challenges, of course, but real estate has remained a great force for wealth creation. And with the world reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, it’s time to make that wealth count for good.

As a major platform in the industry, The Real Deal wanted to leverage our readers, the wealthiest in the country, to help in some way. And boy did they respond.

Health care workers putting their lives on the line to treat our most vulnerable is an act of public service this country will not soon forget. And as a New Yorker and a former restaurant worker myself, I know that it’s the restaurants that give this city its unique energy. We wanted to use the power of our city’s restaurants, many now financially struggling, to show our appreciation for those on the front lines.

We’re proud to announce the TRD Health Care Heroes Initiative. This platform allows real estate professionals to show their appreciation for front-line workers at New York City hospitals and nursing homes by selecting a restaurant of their choice to serve a meal to a hospital. The restaurant will get 100% of the contribution and the health care facility will get 100% of the food.

Here’s how it works: A TRD Health Care Heroes Initiative supporter will pledge money to a local restaurant. That restaurant will be connected with a New York hospital or nursing home nearby to provide that amount in food for staff and emergency medical workers.

Meir Cohen, principal of Cohen Equities and a major investor and owner, is kicking things off with the first meals to be sent to Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the U.S. and one pummeled with Covid-19 cases. In exchange, the restaurant will craft hundreds of delicious, well-deserved meals for the emergency medical workers at Bellevue.

For TRD readers who wish to help our effort, please contact Liana at LG@therealdeal.com for information on supporting. We look forward to recognizing your efforts on our social media as well as on our website to our 4 million monthly readers, your peers and partners. And, in true TRD fashion, as soon as we’re able to physically get together again, we will throw a party for everyone who took part.

Thank you for your support this far. We hope you can help us support the city’s restaurants while paying tribute to our health care heroes.

—Amir Korangy, TRD Publisher