ABC’s Co-Founder and Executive Director Gretchen Buchenholz was again honored as a finalist in the NYC Imagine Award’s leadership category. As described on the Imagine Award’s website, these leaders display “innovation in driving organizational change and social impact.”

Over the past four decades, Gretchen has exemplified innovation and dedication as she changed state and federal policies to better protect children. She has established replicable and scalable models to provide all children and all families with high quality education, family support services, and health and mental health care.

With nearly 250 applications submitted for consideration in 6 categories, including Innovation, Leadership Excellence, Rising Star, Social Impact, Arts & Culture and DEIA, Gretchen is one of four finalists in the Leadership category. Finalists were chosen by NYC business and nonprofit professionals during preliminary judging, and each organization will receive a $1,000 grant provided by Webster Bank.

This marks the third NYC Imagine Awards, and each year ABC has been nominated as a finalist. In the inaugural awards, ABC was honored in the social impact category, and for the past two years, Gretchen has been a finalist in the Leadership category.

“The Imagine Awards honors the best of the best, so being named an Imagine Award finalist is a big deal,” said NYC Imagine Awards founder Ken Cerini of Cerini & Associates. “All of the finalists are incredible with extremely effective, innovative, and impactful operations … they are truly making a difference for all of us.”