Past Crown Awards Galas
The 15th Anniversary Crown Awards Gala
On November 18, more than 450 benefactors, faculty, and friends from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) community joined together to celebrate the 15th Anniversary Crown Awards Gala at The Glasshouse in New York City. This year’s Crown Award was presented to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and Andreas C. Dracopoulos, Co-President, to honor their support in establishing the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Center for Precision Psychiatry & Mental Health at Columbia University
14th Annual Crown Awards – November 13, 2023
The 2023 Crown Awards highlighted how Columbia is transforming health by driving discovery.
Honoree:
The 2023 Crown Award was presented to Dr. Carol and Gene Ludwig to honor their support of the new research building and establishment of The Carol and Gene Ludwig Center for Research on Neurodegeneration.
Benefit Co-Chairs:
Margo and John Catsimatidis
Karen and Kevin Kennedy
Cheryl and Philip Milstein
Sarah Billinghurst Solomon
Diana and Roy Vagelos
Lisa and Richard Witten
Benefit Committee:
Michael Barry
Michael and Shelley Carr
Grodman Family Foundation
K. Hovnanian Companies
Ann Kaplan
Sam and Vicki Katz
Dr. Arnold Lisio and Dr. Anne Moore
Joseph M. Murphy
The Russell Berrie Foundation
Marilyn Taub
Marie and Andy Unanue
Joe and Nancy Walker
The William J. Matheson Foundation
The Clyde and Helen Wu Family
Special Performance:
Kelli O’Hara
Tony Award-Winning Actress
13th Annual Crown Awards – November 14, 2022
The 2022 Crown Awards highlighted Columbia’s key community health programs to improve outcomes and care for all.
Honoree:
Celebrating Pfizer for their partnership to help increase the involvement of historically marginalized groups in clinical trials—both as research leaders and participants—through the Columbia-Pfizer Clinical Trials Diversity Initiative
Special recognition was also given to Johnson & Johns, the William J. Matheson Foundation, and Bank of America
Benefit Co-Chairs:
Margo and John Catsimatidis
Amy and Harris Diamond
Karen and Kevin Kennedy
Cheryl and Philip Milstein
Diana and Roy Vagelos
Benefit Committee:
Broadway Stages, Ltd.
Sherry and Neil Cohen
Ann F. Kaplan
Sam and Vicki Katz
A. Michael and Ruth Lipper
Dr. Arnold Lisio and Dr. Anne Moore
The Russell Berrie Foundation
Marie and Andy Unanue
Joe and Nancy Walker
The Clyde and Helen Wu Family
Lisa and Saky Yakas
Special Performance:
LaChanze
Tony and Emmy Award-Winning Artist
12th Annual Crown Awards: A Virtual Benefit – November 18, 2021
The 2021 Crown Awards highlighted Columbia’s efforts to address the effects of the pandemic on mental health, as well as healing in its aftermath.
Benefit Co-Chairs:
Margo and John Catsimatidis
Karen and Kevin Kennedy
Cheryl and Philip Milstein
Sarah and Howard Solomon
Diana and Roy Vagelos
Special Performance:
Adrienne Warren
11th Annual Crown Awards: A Virtual Benefit – November 16, 2020
Honoree:
Celebrating our front line heroes - the physicians, researchers, staff, students, and trainees - who responded so valiantly to the COVID-19 pandemic
The event also paid tribute to Dr. Lee Goldman for his 14-year tenure as Dean of VP&S and Chief Executive of CUIMC
Benefit Co-Chairs:
Margo and John Catsimatidis
Karen and Kevin Kennedy
Cheryl and Philip Milstein
Sarah and Howard Solomon
Diana and Roy Vagelos
Special Performance:
Brian Stokes Mitchell
10th Anniversary Crown Awards – November 18, 2019
Honoree:
Celebrating The Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust for its support of the Seymour, Paul, and Gloria Milstein Division of Cardiology
Benefit Co-Chairs:
Margo and John Catsimatidis
Karen and Kevin Kennedy
Cheryl and Philip Milstein
Dorette and Peter Sacripanti
Jeanie and Jay Schottenstein
Sarah and Howard Solomon
Diana and Roy Vagelos
Benefit Committee:
Eric Aroesty
Zack H. Bacon, III
Robert M. Calderoni
Jerome A. Chazen
Jesse A. Cohn
Alex Gorsky
Jeremiah and Connie Anne Harris
Gerald L. Hassell
Livia Helmer, MD
Michael G. Jesselson
Ann F. Kaplan
Samuel L. Katz
Christine Kibel
Hugh R. Lamle
Bryan Marsal
Kenneth Merlau
Eve and Stephen Milstein
Michael A. Mussallem
Jacob Richter, PhD
Louis Samson
Marie and Andy Unanue
Charlotte Kaiser Weinberg
John Wren
Special Performance:
Stephanie J. Block
2019 Tony Award Winner for Best Lead Actress in a Musical
9th Annual Crown Awards – December 3, 2018
Honoree:
Celebrating The Thompson Family Foundation for its support of Neurological Research
Benefit Co-Chairs:
Margo and John Catsimatidis
Karen and Kevin Kennedy
Cheryl and Philip Milstein
Diana and Roy Vagelos
Benefit Committee:
Loren Eng and Dinakar Singh
Helene and Ziel Feldman
Chris Haynes and Janine Schiavi
Dr. Frances Hoffman
David and Constance Littman
Dr. Carol Ludwig and the Honorable Eugene A. Ludwig
Eve and Stephen Milstein
Leonard Tow
Special Performance:
Leslie Odom, Jr.
Grammy and Tony Award Winner
8th Annual Crown Awards – December 4, 2017
Honoree:
Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Benefit Co-Chairs:
Karen and Kevin Kennedy
Cheryl and Philip Milstein
Sarah and Howard Solomon
Special Performance:
Renée Fleming
Grammy Award Winner and National Medal of Arts Honoree