On October 18, 2023, 700 TEAK supporters gathered at The American Museum of Natural History to celebrate The TEAK Fellowship’s 25th Anniversary Gala and Salute Change Makers Championing TEAK. Our largest gala to date, the event brought together an amazing group of TEAK Fellows, alumni, family members, teachers, school partners, donors, and friends and raised over $2.5 million for our free ten-year program.
We recognized three inspiring change makers at the Gala: TEAK Founding Board Co-Chair Robert S. Kaplan, longtime partner and funder Lone Pine Foundation, and the amazing Luis A. Miranda, Jr. and Lin-Manuel Miranda. You can watch our tribute honoree videos below.
The evening featured remarks from TEAK Founder Justine Stamen Arrillaga, Board Co-Chairs Matthew Stopnik and Robert Kalsow-Ramos, Executive Director Dr. Denise Brown-Allen, and amazing performances by Freestyle+ and TEAK Fellows Ahmed Diallo (Class 20), Celine Lubin (Class 21), Christian Brown (Class 24), Emely Ombalino (Class 24), Melanie Gomez (Class 22), and Mikai Spencer (Class 19). In addition, TEAK Class 19 Fellow Jonathan Rodriguez gave a beautiful tribute to TEAK’s late Board Chair Marc Becker, whose absence and legacy was deeply felt.
We are so grateful to everyone who supported and attended the gala, which will enable TEAK Fellows to continue to use their opportunities to change their lives and the world around them. Thank you and we look forward to the next 25 years of transforming lives and lifting communities!