A fundraiser held Saturday helped to educate, empower and inspire the next generation of female leaders.

The Cedarmore Corporation hosted its second annual “Lifting as We Climb - A Benefit for Girlz” at the North Ritz Club in Syosset. The event supports a series of youth events named in honor of its founder Cynthia Roberts, who passed away in January after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Her husband, Jeffery Roberts, the fundraiser and the events it supports are a part of her legacy of exposing children of color to all the possibilities education can afford them.

“They deserve an opportunity to do better, and through her platform, she opened the world to them," says Roberts.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the Girlz Talk Conference where they will welcome 350 girls for a day of workshops. It’s being held March 30 at Hofstra University.