2021 Spring Gala: Music of the '80s

On June 9, 2021, the Museum was pleased to honor LL COOL J, Cyndi Lauper, and Kevin Liles with the Gotham Icon Award in celebration of how they have paved the way for the next generation in their respective industries. We truly enjoyed hearing from each honoree and watching tribute videos in honor of their legacies.

We were thrilled to finally have been able to welcome many guests back to the Museum. Though we missed seeing some of you, we are glad to present a virtual presentation of the Spring Gala: Music of the '80s.

To keep everyone safe, this year's gala was reimagined as smaller event for gala and exhibition donors of $25,000+. Guests were required to show proof of vaccine and/or negative COVID test.

We also could not have asked for a more fitting occasion to unveil New York, New Music: 1980-1986, the Museum’s new blockbuster exhibition examining the emergence of different pivotal music genres and their influence on New York’s broader cultural landscape in the 1980s. 

Gotham Icon Award Presentation

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EVENT DONORS

Event Co-Chairs
Lucinda H. Bhavsar ● John R. Heller ● Naml Lewis ● Doris P. Meister ● William C. Vrattos

Diamond Record
James G. Dinan & Elizabeth R. Miller ● Heather & William Vrattos

Platinum Record
Lucinda & Avanish Bhavsar ● Goldman Sachs ● Robert L. Goldstein ● Lorna B. Goodman ● M&T Bank ● Doris & Gil Meister ● Tracey & Ken Pontarelli

Gold Record
Elizabeth Belfer ● Citi ● Robert Finger/Fogarty Finger Architecture ● Tom & Deban Flexner ● Leslie & Mark Godridge ● Elizabeth Graziolo ● Patricia & John R. Heller ● Stephanie & Stephen Hessler ● Robert A. & Elizabeth R. Jeffe ● Stephen J. Ketchum/Sound Point Capital Management, L.P. ● Stanford G. & Sandra T. Ladner/Butler Snow ● Ronay & Richard L. Menschel ● Jennifer Shin & Jason Berg ● Mitchell S. Steir ● U.S. Bank ● Mr. & Mrs. Edward K. Weld

Top 10
Arnold & Porter ● Boston Consulting Group ● Andrew L. Farkas/Island Capital Group & C-III Capital Partners ● Budd & Jane Goldman ● Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel ● LPL Financial ● McKinsey & Co. ● Newton P.S. & Polly Merrill ● Kate & Robert Niehaus ● Mary Ann & Bruno A. Quinson ● Robert & Donna Shafir ● Sullivan & Cromwell LLP ● Daryl Brown Uber & Bruce Uber ● UBS Financial Services, Inc. ● Peter & Sophia Volandes

Top 100
David Geffen Foundation ● Todd DeGarmo/STUDIOS Architecture ● Deloitte ● Leah Johnson & Gerrard Bushell ● Kevin Liles/300 Entertainment ● Arthur J. Rosner ● Lizzie & Jonathan M. Tisch ● Stine Welhaven & Nathan Romano

Performer
A&E Real Estate ● Kurt & Angelique Cellar ● Clifford Chance LLP ● Andrea Henderson Fahnestock & George A. Hambrecht ● Elba Galvan & Inson Wood ● Joni Geuther & Josephinea Wilber/PwC ● Vicki Gross ● Dilcia & Naml Lewis ● Tiffany & Claus Moller

Music Enthusiast 
Justin & Sallie Abelow ● Michael & Alexa Chae ● Rosemary Conder ● Harriet Flehinger & Stephen Bentkover ● Meghan Force​​​​ ● Sergio Galvis & Lee White Galvis ● Monica & Holcombe Green ● John & Amy Jacobsson ● Anne Simone Kleinman & Thomas Wong ● John Lambert ● Emmie Lee ● Leslie Leva ● Stewart Manger ● McGuireWoods LLP ● Taylor McKenzie ● John & Cynthia Moncure ● Jane B. & Ralph A. O'Connell ● Claudia Overstrom ● Will & Alison Pappas ● Emily & John Rafferty ● Nina Rappaport ● Inge Reist ● Oliver Ryan ● Rosita Sarnoff & Beth Sapery ● Jennifer & Thomas Sheehan ● Dina & Charles Simonian ● Bernard Stahl ● Fariba Talebi ● Susan Volante ● Martha & Alex Wallau ● Chris White & Francesca Olivieri ● Laura Bowne Whitman ● Keith & Marla Wofford 

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SPONSORSHIP LEVELS & BENEFITS

This annual spring event raises funds to support the Museum's mission of fostering understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future.

Any contribution you can give makes possible so much good work, from content-rich exhibitions that celebrate and interpret the city, to field trips and out-of-school time programs offered by our Frederick A.O. Schwarz Education Center, to the stewardship of our extraordinary collections.

Please note that donor benefits are subject to change based on NYS & NYC COVID-19 guidelines.

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ABOUT THE GOTHAM ICON AWARD

The Gotham Icon Award celebrates individuals who have paved the way for the next generation in their respective industry. The inaugural Gotham Icon Award was presented to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 2020.

Past Gotham Icon Award Recipients
Sharene Wood ● James Wesley ● Seth Rudetsky ● Leah Scondotto ● Dr. Elizabeth Awerbuch ● Dr. Michelle Ng Gong ● Dr. Félix Matos Rodríguez ● Owen D. Thomas ● Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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For more information, please contact: Jackie Zirman ● Director of Special Events ● 917.492.3414 ● jzirman@mcny.org