Wings Over Wall Street marks 25 years of ALS fundraising on June 25
Funds from this year’s silver gala will support MDA’s ALS research efforts
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) will celebrate the 25th anniversary on June 25 of its Wings Over Wall Street Gala, an annual fundraiser to support research for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The event will take place at the Edison Ballroom in New York City, starting at 6 p.m. ET, and includes a cocktail reception, dinner, and an awards program to recognize leaders in ALS research and advocacy. As in past years, the gathering will be hosted by longtime supporter Bill Ritter, ABC Eyewitness News anchor.
Individual tickets are $500 each, with other sponsorship options also available. Those unable to attend can support the initiative by making a donation.
MDA, a nonprofit focused on accelerating research and improving care for people with neuromuscular diseases, also celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
“This year, we not only mark 25 years of fighting ALS, but celebrate MDA’s 75 years of legacy and resilience,” Warren J. Schiffer, Wings Over Wall Street co-founder, said in an MDA press release. “My family and so many others have lost loved ones to this disease. This night honors their memory and the powerful movement we’ve built together to end ALS.”
Funds raised at this year’s silver anniversary celebration will support MDA’s ALS research initiatives, including those conducted at the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center of Columbia University Medical Center in New York, and The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Honoring the advocates
Among those being honored in the awards ceremony is Dan Doctoroff, founder of the nonprofit medical research foundation Target ALS, who will receive the Spirit Award for his leadership in ALS research and advocacy.
Doctoroff, a former deputy mayor of New York City, lost his father and uncle to ALS and was diagnosed himself in 2021. Since its launch in 2013, Target ALS has raised more than $350 million for research, while supporting academic and industry collaborations to accelerate progress.
“I won’t stop until I can’t anymore. I’m dedicating my life to battling this disease,” Doctoroff said. “This award is a reflection of the collective work of our partners and the incredible people living with ALS who inspire action every day.”
The Diamond Award, named in honor of Wings Gala co-founder Toni Diamond, recognizes a scientific leader who drives progress toward eliminating ALS. It will go this year to Michael Benetar, MD, PhD, for his research on ALS prevention and biomarker development.
Benetar is a professor at the University of Miami and a principal investigator of the Pre-fALS study and the CReATe Consortium, which conduct observational research to advance understanding into ALS. His research has focused on presymptomatic ALS detection, early treatment, and prevention.
“Dr. Benatar’s work in ALS early treatment is helping to redefine what’s possible in neurodegenerative disease research,” said Sharon Hesterlee, PhD, MDA’s chief research officer. “We are proud to honor him during this momentous occasion for MDA and the entire ALS community.”
Finally, Dorothy Deutsch and Christine Pendergast will be recognized with the Beier Award, named after the late Wings Gala co-chair Michael P. Beier, for their commitment to ALS advocacy.
Both women have worked to carry on the advocacy legacy of their husbands, David Deutsch and Christopher Pendergast, who were lost to ALS. Among these initiatives is the Midwinter Night’s Dream fundraising campaign, led by students in the New York school district where both men worked.
Christine Pendergast continues to participate in the ALS Ride for Life, an annual wheelchair ride across Long Island that was founded by her late husband to raise funds for ALS research, patient and caregiver services, and awareness initiatives. It has raised more than $10 million.
To date, MDA has invested more than $178 million toward ALS research, with millions more going toward patient advocacy and care initiatives. Wings Over Wall Street has contributed to that mission, having raised more than $13.2 million over 25 years.
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