Liz Neumark, the founder of the Great Performances catering company, is shaping the future of women’s history in New York City.
Neumark founded the catering company in the ‘80s, and the original goal was to offer serving jobs to women in the arts between their gigs. Today, Great Performances is the largest catering company in North America — not to mention the exclusive caterer for many artistic institutions in the city, like Riverdale’s Wave Hill. They recently celebrated 44 years of business — or, as they called it, “40 plus 4.” They reached 40 years of business during the pandemic, four years ago, which is when they relocated to Mott Haven. During those 44 years, the company has built up enough trust to cater many important events in the city.
While Neumark has plenty of accolades, her dedication to her businesses and the communities that surround them is her lasting impact.
Neumark has used Great Performances to lend a hand during some of the city’s most critical times of need. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she kept the servers employed by having them deliver food to elderly New Yorkers instead of working gala events. After 9/11, the company worked with the Red Cross to provide meals to the city’s residents. She has also put a lot of her effort toward the city’s children through the Sylvia Center for the last 17 years.
The Sylvia Center, which Neumark founded and also relocated to Mott Haven, works to improve the lives of children ages 4 through 18 by teaching them how to cook using high quality ingredients. According to the 2022 Food Metrics Report, 2.2 million New Yorkers — particularly women and girls — were at risk for food insecurity. Without access to healthy food, kids are at risk for future diet-related diseases and don’t get the chance to learn to prepare a healthy meal. Neumark’s work has changed that outlook for many kids in the city.
“40 + 4” years of Great Performances isn’t just about catering — it’s about the influence that Liz Neumark has had on both women’s history and many peoples’ lives.
