2008 SPIRIT OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD HONOREES

The Spirit of Achievement Awards Luncheon is the flagship fundraiser sponsored by the Women’s Division of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Held annually in New York City, the event raises money to support medical research and education programs at Einstein by honoring outstanding individual women in fields such as philanthropy, the arts, business, government and journalism.

Started in 1954 as part of the initial campaign to raise funds to launch the new medical college, the Spirit of Achievement Luncheon was the first event of its kind.

The list of names associated with the Spirit Luncheon is dazzling. Honorees have included Marlene Dietrich, Margaret Mead, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Hayes, Meryl Streep, Katie Couric, Dana Reeve, Candace Bushnell, Barbara Walters, Alma Powell, and Sharon Stone, to name a few.

An early supporter of the Spirit Luncheon was Lizette Sarnoff, whose husband David was the founder of NBC. Thanks to Mrs. Sarnoff, Johnny Carson and Bob Hope served as masters of ceremonies and Danny Kaye once arrived as a surprise guest. In 1974, after her death, the Women’s Division established the Lizette H. Sarnoff Award for Volunteer Service, in her honor. The award is presented each year at the luncheon.