George Stonbely has been a prominent presence in New York City’s business and philanthropic communities for more than four decades. After helping pioneer the digital-signage industry in Times Square in the late 1970s, he devoted an increasing portion of his work to nonprofit leadership and charitable initiatives. For many years, he led the Snowflake for Humanity Foundation, which partnered with UNICEF and helped raise millions of dollars in support of its humanitarian mission. His family has also maintained a longstanding commitment to New York’s performing and musical arts.

The Arts Emergency Fund was founded by George Stonbely under the NYACA Foundation to support smaller nonprofit arts organizations facing financial hardship, diminished funding, or threats to their continued operation. He is joined in this effort by his Chief of Staff, Joshua Torres, a photographer and artist originally from California who has lived and worked in New York City for nearly a decade. Joshua’s professional background includes managing independent galleries and working directly within the city’s arts community. Together, George, Joshua, and their team are building an initiative designed to strengthen nonprofit organizations across the visual, performing, musical, dance, and theatrical arts—helping preserve the institutions, artists, and cultural programs that give New York its creative character.