Ford's Theatre Society Honors President Abraham Lincoln at Annual Gala

Ford's Theatre Society honored the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln at its Annual Gala on Sunday evening, June 4, 2017, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). For more than 40 years, the Society has hosted this bi-partisan event, which provides crucial support to the non-profit's theatrical and education programs.

"Lincoln believed fervently in the Union: a country that was more united by our commonalities than divided by differences," said Paul R. Tetreault, director of Ford's Theatre Society. "Since Ford's reopened in 1968, it has been a venue where people on both sides of the aisle can come together to find common ground, and our annual gala has traditionally been attended by representatives throughout the various branches of government. Every president since Jimmy Carter has attended a Ford's Theatre gala, and the recognition of our leaders and the enduring support of our donors enable us to share the story of Lincoln's legacy with more than 650,000 on-site visitors a year and many more around the world online."

The gala performance was attended by President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump; Vice President Mike Pence and Mrs. Karen Pence; and numerous dignitaries including: Senators Roy Blunt, Bob Corker, Richard Durbin, Lindsey Graham, Patrick Leahy and Ed Markey; House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Representatives Debbie Dingell and Peter Roskam; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson; Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross; and Secretary of Veteran Affairs David Shulkin.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lincoln Medal to Peyton W. Manning and Ronald O. Perelman, who, through their body of work, accomplishments and personal attributes, exemplify the lasting legacy of Abraham Lincoln.

The gala performances included "Americans, That's Who" by Larry Gatlin, "Good Girl Down" by Angaleena Presley, "Wheels of a Dream" from Ragtime performed by Kevin McAllister and Nova Y. Payton, "First Try" and "Home" by Johnnyswim, "Say a Prayer" by Ricky Skaggs, "Change the World" by GorDon Kennedy and Ricky Skaggs, and the words of Abraham Lincoln spoken by David Selby. The performance also featured the Soldiers' Chorus of the United States Army Field Band. The performance was followed by a seated dinner at the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum (750 Ninth Street NW).

First Lady Melania Trump served as the honorary chair of the gala celebration. Honorary co-chairs were Mrs. Janna Ryan, Ms. Iris Weinshall, Mrs. Abigail P. Blunt, Mrs. Judy McCarthy, Mr. Paul Pelosi, Mrs. Kasey A. Crowley, Mrs. Marlene A. Malek, Mrs. Doreen M. Spiegel and Ms. Gloria Story Dittus.

The Ford's Theatre Annual Gala benefits the Ford's Theatre Society and its programming, including Ford's Theatre theatrical and education initiatives. This event is made possible by the generous support of lead sponsor General Dynamics. Ford's Theatre gratefully acknowledges Gloria Story Dittus and Story Partners for their support of the 2017 Lincoln Medal Presentation, and Ovation as this year's Red Carpet Sponsor.

Lincoln Medal

The Lincoln Medal is an annual award given by the Ford's Theatre Society to a person or persons who, through their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes, exemplify the lasting legacy, and mettle of character embodied by the most beloved President in our nation's history, President Abraham Lincoln.

Peyton W. Manning earned his place among the greatest quarterbacks in history by setting records in nearly every passing category and leading both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos to Super Bowl titles. He remains the NFL's only five-time Most Valuable Player and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection. Off the field, Manning's PeyBack Foundation works to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth, providing more than $13 million in grants and programs, and generating youth leadership and growth opportunities for underserved, abused and neglected children. Since its inception in 1998, Manning's scholarship program at the University of Tennessee has provided four-year scholarships to a total of 33 students participating in the university's honors program. Additionally, his involvement with the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent makes possible comprehensive family-centered care for thousands of pediatric patients in need of a range of services, including intensive care. For these and other contributions, Manning has been honored with the Byron "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award (2005), the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year (2005) and the Bart Starr Award (2015).

As a prominent businessman, investor and philanthropist, Ronald O. Perelman has been a transformative force in the arts community, in higher education, in the medical community and with youth. Perelman has provided support to institutions including Ford's Theatre, Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum, Apollo Theatre and New York City's upcoming 90,000-square-foot high-tech Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center. The new center will produce and present dance, theatre, chamber music and more. Perelman has demonstrated a unique commitment to the arts, education and entrepreneurship. In addition to serving on the Ford's Theatre Board of Trustees, Perelman's financial support has made possible initiatives including The Lincoln Legacy Project, The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign, and ongoing and future digital initiatives. These invaluable contributions have helped transform this historic institution and exemplified the importance of making a difference in our society-in keeping with the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln.

Past recipients of the Lincoln Medal include civil rights activist Diane Nash; Former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice; CongressmanJohn Lewis; The Honorable John D. Dingell; Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel; human rights activist Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Justice Albie Sachs; filmmaker George Lucas; actors James Earl Jones, Morgan Freeman, Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier; Dr. Maya Angelou; singer Aretha Franklin; and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Former Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court.

Ford's Theatre Society

One of the most visited sites in the nation's capital, Ford's Theatre reopened its doors in 1968, more than a hundred years after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Operated through a partnership between Ford's Theatre Society and the National Park Service, Ford's Theatre is the premier destination in the nation's capital to explore and celebrate Abraham Lincoln's ideals and leadership principles: courage, integrity, tolerance, equality and creative expression.

The Ford's Theatre Society was founded under the guidance of executive producer Frankie Hewitt, who, during her 35-year tenure, established Ford's as a living, Working Theatre producing performances that highlighted the diversity of the American experience. Since the arrival of Paul R. Tetreault as Director, critics and the theatregoing public have recognized Ford's for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the nationally acclaimed Big River to the world premieres of Meet John Doe, The Heavens Are Hung In Black, LiberTy Smith, Necessary Sacrifices, The Widow Lincoln and The Guard, Ford's Theatre is making its mark on the American theatre landscape. In the past decade, the mission of Ford's Theatre Society expanded to include education as a central pillar. This expansion led to the creation and construction of the Center for Education and Leadership, which opened in February 2012. Currently, under the leadership of Board of Trustees Chairman Eric A. Spiegel, the Society is building Ford's Theatre into a national destination for exploring Lincoln's ideas and leadership principles and finding new ways to bring Lincoln's legacy to life for the 21st-century learner.

For more information on Ford's Theatre and the Ford's Theatre Society, please visit www.fords.org.