Einstein Spirit of Achievement Awards Luncheon
Things might seem a lot different than when the first Spirit of Achievement Awards were originally created by the Women’s Division of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1954, but the mission remains the same. First hosted by a group of active supporters at the Pierre, the event was the very first “Benefit Luncheon” in Manhattan. Today it continues to be the longest-running annual luncheon dedicated to raising funds for comprehensive research at Einstein. The awards, held this year at the iconic Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center on May 17th, continue to honor outstanding individuals in fields such as philanthropy, the arts, business, and journalism.
What started as a mother-daughter luncheon honoring Marlene Dietrich and her daughter, Maria Riva, is now considered a powerhouse luncheon for modern-day women in all fields, from acting to journalism to medicine. Past honorees include Marlene Dietrich, Eleanor Roosevelt, Meryl Streep, Barbara Walters, Sharon Stone, Christine Baranski, Anne Bancroft, Jane Pauley, Gloria Steinem, Twyla Tharp, Candice Bergen, Barbara Corcoran, Hoda Kotb, Cynthia Nixon, Whoopi Goldberg, Cindy Crawford, Katie Couric, Vera Wang, Iris Apfel, Shirley MacLaine, Elsa Peretti, Joyce Carol Oates, Diane Von Furstenberg, Patricia Field, Susan Lucci, Glenn Close, Diane Sawyer, Nora Ephron, Evelyn Lauder, Jill Martin, Donna Karan, and many others.
This year’s Co-Presidents of the Women’s Division included Terri Goldberg and Trudy Schlachter, with Luncheon Co-Chairs Carol Roaman and Andrea Stark. Honorees in attendance were Dr. Ana Maria Cuervo, Fern Mallis, Laurie M. Tisch and Tisch’s daughters, Carolyn Tisch Blodgett and Emily Tisch Sussman.
Change-Maker Spirit of Achievement Honoree Ana Maria Cuervo, MD, PhD, is the
Robert and Renée Belfer Chair for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases,
Professor of Developmental and Molecular Biology and of Medicine and
Co-Director, Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Both she and her husband were in the middle of the war on COVID-19, and Dr. Cuervo continues to showcase what it means to be a woman warrior.
Philanthropic Spirit of Achievement Honorees Laurie M. Tisch, Founder and President, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, and her daughters, Emily Tisch Sussman, Executive Vice President of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Veteran Political Strategist and Podcast Host, “Pivot” and Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, Executive Vice President of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Strategic Advisor and Former Chief Marketing Officer of Peloton, exemplify what it means to support causes which affect their community.
Innovator Spirit of Achievement Honoree, Fern Mallis, Creator of New York Fashion Week, was teary eyed as she recalled the obstacles and uncertainties we have all overcome, as well as those who suffered most from the pandemic. She also described how young and up and coming designers found ways to reach a new audience online and became creative with mask making during these difficult times.
Since its inception, the Women’s Division has raised over $100 million and has established a wing for prenatal studies and research in birth defects and a clinical research institute for child development at Einstein, and funded major research in immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy in cancer. The dedicated members of the Women’s Division of Albert Einstein College of Medicine are a driving force in aiding medical research and education for the development of innovative treatments and cures for life-threatening conditions.
