The David Prize has announced the five winners of its third annual prize. 

Established in 2020 by the Walentas Family Foundation, the David Prize celebrates individuals with ideas for creating a better, brighter New York City. The prize recognizes five individuals with the determination and vision to change the city’s communities, culture, and future for good. The winners will each receive $200,000 in unrestricted funding. 

This year’s winners include Karen Blondel, an advocate for NYC Housing Authority residents across the city and executive director of the Public Housing Civic Association; Talia Scott, founder of Legally BLK Fund, which supports and uplifts Black women applying to law school; Sam Rivera, founder of OnPoint NYC, which established the first two publicly recognized overdose prevention centers in the United States in 2020; Erika Sasson, restorative justice advocate with the Center for Justice Innovation; and Christine DeMaria, an advocate for sex workers, who aims to establish SWITCH (Sex Workers in Transition Compassionate Help), a nonprofit that will assist sex workers with legal resources and basic education. 

“Every year, the Prize hears from thousands of New Yorkers dreaming up a better, brighter city. The creative genius that lives across the five boroughs is really limitless and we're honored that so many take the time to share their work with us,” said David Prize executive director Erika Boll. “Today, we’re thrilled to announce five individuals that embody what makes New York such a special place to live. They have compassion and empathy, conviction in ideas that aren’t always popular, and have dedicated their lives to making New York better. The David Prize is grateful to play a small role in their journeys.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/LeoPatrizi)