WE LITERALLY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM: 

THE DURST ORGANIZATION

We’re thrilled to share that this year’s Project First Day drive will be held August 4th - 8th at 114 West 47th Street—a space generously provided by The Durst Organization, who both own and manage the building. Their ongoing support makes it possible for Projects With Care to reach underserved children and their families across New York City with compassion, respect, and renewed hope. 

Our partnership with The Durst Organization began 15 plus years ago, when they first offered space within their real estate portfolio to facilitate our Stockings With Care holiday drive. Since then, they have continued to donate space annually, playing a vital role in helping us bring joy and dignity to families during the holiday season.

In recent years, their support has deepened even further. For the past three years, they have extended their commitment to our Project First Day initiative—helping ensure children start the school year with the confidence, tools, and care they need to succeed.

What sets The Durst Organization apart is not just their generosity, but the way they embrace our mission as if it were their own. From day one, they’ve made us feel like part of their family—always welcoming, always encouraging, and always showing up with kindness and heart. Their team treats our work with the same care and importance as we do, making each collaboration feel personal and purposeful.

As Projects With Care continues to expand its programs, having reliable access to space from The Durst Organization remains essential. Over the past two years, Project First Day has more than doubled—growing from 670 children to 1,500—while Stockings With Care has expanded from 2,030 in 2023 to serve 3,000 children this year. At every step, The Durst Organization has been there, providing the assistance needed to make this growing impact possible.

But it’s not just space they provide. The Durst Organization also actively involves themselves—and their residential and commercial tenants—in our work. Through elevator screens in their buildings, email outreach, and word of mouth, they help amplify our mission and connect us with Santas, Sponsors, Good Neighbors, and volunteers. This outreach has become an invaluable part of our success. Knowing we can count on a steady stream of kind-hearted individuals referred our way gives us the confidence to scale our programs and meet the rising needs of the communities we serve.

At the heart of this extraordinary partnership is The Durst Organization’s identity as a family-run business with more than 110 years of history. Their deep roots in New York City are evident not only in their iconic buildings, but in the steadfast relationships they cultivate and the values they live by. They don’t just serve the community—they are intrinsically a part of it.

Their commitment to blending architecture with communal and green spaces, backing of the arts, and championing sustainability reflects a lasting investment in creating inclusive, vibrant environments that will stand the test of time. This approach is grounded in the guiding principle Joseph and Rose Durst built the company on back in 1915: “to leave each place better than you found it.”

As Projects With Care looks to the future, we are profoundly grateful to walk alongside a partner like The Durst Organization—one that not only supports our work, but truly believes in it. Their enduring partnership inspires us, strengthens us, and reminds us of what’s possible when community is at the heart of everything we do.