BOSTON –The International Institute of New England raised $2.1 million at its 41st annual Golden Door Award Gala honoring Srikant M. Datar, Dean of Harvard Business School.
The Golden Door Award is presented each year to an immigrant who has made outstanding contributions to American society. Past honorees have included I.M. Pei, Yo-Yo Ma, The Honorable Margaret Marshall, Henri Termeer, and Joseph E. Aoun.
A graduate with distinction from the University of Bombay, Datar has received great recognition for his academic work and teaching and is a leader in the field of business management.
The event drew over 450 guests, including top leaders in life sciences, finance, and technology; United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III; and four past Golden Door Award honorees: Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna and the gala’s Host Committee Chair; Reshma Kewalramani, CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals; Noubar Afeyan, Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering; and Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur.
The program included compelling Suitcase Stories performances from renowned Ukrainian Violinist Liubomyr Senyshyn and IINE Senior Program and Contract Manager Sabyne Denaud, as well as a heartwarming tribute to the Dean from his former Harvard Business School student, Lisa Skeete Tatum, Founder and CEO of Landit. Generous sponsors of the gala included Bancel Philanthropies, Loulou Foundation, Bristol Myers Squibb, BainCapital, Moderna, and Pfizer.
The $2.1M raised will strengthen the International Institute of New England’s ability to support refugees and immigrants who come to the region seeking safety and a new start. “Over the past few years, the number of families we serve has doubled. People fleeing humanitarian crises from around the world, including in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Haiti, are arriving at our offices in unprecedented numbers, all seeking life-saving support,” said CEO Jeff Thielman. “The need is remarkable – and it is growing every day. These funds are essential to the continuation of our services, and we are so grateful for the support.”
The International Institute of New England has been a leader in welcoming and supporting refugees and immigrants in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for more than a century. The organization creates opportunities for success for over 5,000 people from 100 countries worldwide each year through resettlement, education, career advancement, and pathways to citizenship.
