The David Prize on Feb. 13 announced the recipients of its annual Surprize, awarding five New Yorkers $5,000 each in unrestricted funding, as nominated by the previous year’s David Prize winners.
The Surprize supports individuals whose work is positively impacting New York City across social justice, education, sustainability and the arts.
The 2026 Surprize recipients include: Jeffrey Beauchamp (nominated by 2024 winner Meghan Finn), Craig Shepard (nominated by 2024 winner Diana Imbert), Dr. Elliot Gan (nominated by 2024 winner J.C. Hall), Mikel Banks (nominated by 2024 winner Greg Purnel), Tara Sansone (nominated by 2024 winner Mi Jong Lee).
The David Prize, an initiative of The Walentas Family Foundation, is an annual initiative that awards $200,000 to five individuals across New York City’s five boroughs. The Surprize extends this mission by empowering the previous year’s David Prize winners to select one New Yorker of their choice, totalling five individuals to receive $5,000 in no-strings-attached funding. By placing trust directly in the hands of previous recipients, the initiative decentralizes decision-making and enables the Prize to learn from the values, criteria, and processes winners use to identify impactful individuals, organizers said.
“The Surprize reflects our belief that New Yorkers know best how to support one another,” said Erika Augustine, executive director of The David Prize. “These small but flexible awards celebrate the bold, community-led work that often goes unfunded and can create outsized impact when they’re placed in the hands of people who are deeply committed to their communities.”
Jeffrey Beauchamp
Also known as Coach B, Beauchamp founded Sports United, a youth sports program providing instruction and enrichment to hundreds of children annually in Flatbush and surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods. A tireless community leader, he goes beyond the basics by supplying uniforms, organizing trips to professional games, and securing new venues for play. With $5,000, Coach B hopes to expand the program’s reach and deepen enrichment opportunities for more students in the community.
Craig Shepard
Shepard is the founder of FOOD WITH FAM, a 100% mutual aid organization rooted in reciprocity that reimagines New Yorkers’ relationship to food and community. Through volunteer-led distributions of fresh local produce and prepared meals, FOOD WITH FAM partners with local farms and restaurants to reduce waste while providing nourishment, economic relief, and meaningful human connection—particularly in NYCHA communities. Craig intends to use the funds to directly support food access across the city, with every dollar going toward feeding New Yorkers and strengthening neighborhood bonds.
Dr. Elliot Gan
Gan is a professional beat maker and educator who developed a Therapeutic Beat Making model that harnesses hip-hop’s healing power to support youth in schools and juvenile justice settings across the Bronx and Brooklyn. He regularly offers workshops pro bono, including within alternative-to-incarceration programs, emphasizing the therapeutic benefits of music production on mental and physical health. Following the loss of federal funding, Dr. Gan aims to expand free community programming and train additional local practitioners.
Mikel Banks
Banks is a longtime New York City musician and member of the late Greg Tate’s iconic band Burnt Sugar, and has been a vital presence in the city’s poetry and music scene since the 1990s. While living with advanced muscular dystrophy that limits his ability to perform regularly, Banks continues to raise funds for artists with disabilities whenever possible. Mikel hopes to use the $5,000 to provide critical support for medical and daily living needs as he continues contributing to New York City’s cultural life.
Tara Sansone
Sansone is launching a workforce development initiative designed to mentor emerging fashion designers and connect them with resources and industry opportunities. Her work focuses on supporting young designers who lack access to traditional networks, particularly in an industry where barriers to entry remain high. Following the award, Sansone plans to formalize the program, expand mentorship offerings, and create clearer pathways into the garment industry for the next generation of designers.
