85th Anniversary Gala

Since assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer at Sanctuary for Families in 2014, Judge Kluger has
secured substantial new sources of private and public funding, growing the agency budget from
approximately $15 million to $32 million today. Under her leadership, Sanctuary’s Legal Center launched
new programs to address the unique needs of college sexual assault survivors, incarcerated gender
violence survivors, and Orthodox Jewish survivors. Sanctuary has also expanded its innovative Economic
Empowerment Program, launched the first worker coop initiative, realigned the organization’s clinical
practice to a family-focused, evidence-based therapeutic model, and shifted all services to virtual
platforms to increase client accessibility. Most recently, Judge Kluger worked with staff and the Board to
develop a three-year strategic plan focused on impact, excellence, and equity.

Prior to joining Sanctuary, Judge Kluger served 25 years as a judge in New York State, ultimately as the
Chief of Policy and Planning, a position through which she oversaw New York State’s 300 problem-
solving courts. She currently serves on the Manhattan District Attorney’s Special Victims Division
Advisory Committee, the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV)
Advisory Council, the New York State Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts, and the advisory
board of New York Nonprofit Media. Judge Kluger is also a member of the Chief Judge’s Justice Task
Force and the Independent Commission on NYC Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform.

Recognized with numerous awards, Judge Kluger has received the New York State Bar Association’s 2013
Award for Excellence in Public Service, the New York Women’s Bar Association’s 2019 President’s Special
Award, and the Fund for Modern Courts’ 2020 Career Public Service Award. In 2022 and 2023, she was
featured in City & State’s Nonprofit Power 100.

French American Aid for Children is proud to honor Katherine Gage Boulud as the recipient of this year’s Simone Ailbert Smith Award for her excellent work advancing children’s nutrition education and promoting family meals in underserved communities.

Spoons Across America is dedicated to educating children, teachers, and families about the benefits of healthy eating. At the heart of their mission is a belief that every child deserves access to healthy, nutritious food as well as the knowledge to make informed choices about what they eat. Reaching over 20,000 children in New York City and across the nation, offering their Food Exploration Project free for Schools. SAA aims to create a generation of health-conscious individuals who appreciate the importance of balanced eating. They go beyond the classroom, including families, schools, and communities in a collaborative effort to promote better eating habits. The goal is not just to teach children about nutrition but to inspire a lifelong love for wholesome food.

As the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Spoons Across America, Katherine’s background as a chef in fine cuisine for Michelin starred restaurants and passion for nutrition are combined for the common goal of educating children to make healthier food decisions. Her work spans from teaching nutrition in classrooms to lobbying for food policy change with school boards nationwide and the Department of Education. She believes teaching children about healthy eating from a young age is fundamental in establishing the foundation for a healthy lifestyle and outlook on the world. Beyond her charity work, Katherine is the global brand ambassador for Boulud restaurants, assisting with special projects and community outreach. She is also a devoted wife and mother of two.