MDA's Wings Over Wall Street® 2008
For Wings 2008, we were honored to have our event Co-Chaired by Ray Tierney from Morgan Stanley and Matt DeSalvo of Credit Suisse, and we welcomed a new Presenting Sponsor, RBC Capital Markets. Wings 2008 honorees were Dr. Christopher Henderson (Diamond Award), Phil and Laura Carlo (Spirit Award), and former Wings Co-Chair Mary McDermott-Holland (Beier Award). Phil, who was unable to make the event, gave a moving speech on his video acceptance, followed by a fantastic video of former and present ALS patients and Wings committee members preceding the research minutes auction.
WNBC Sportscaster Bruce Beck hosted, with auction assistance from My 9's Giovanna Drpic. Among the fantastic items were a live puppy and a chance to have Ray Tierney be your golf caddy at Maidenstone! In spite of the disruption on Wall Street and with the economy in general, Wings supporters came out in great numbers to help find a cure for ALS. Demonstrating the commitment of the Wall Street community along with all Wings supporters from various walks of life and industries, Wings 2008 grossed over $900,000.
MDA's Wings Over Wall Street® 2009
In 2009, Wings celebrated its 9th Anniversary by moving its venue to the fabulous Gotham Hall in New York. Co-chaired again by the remarkable Ray Tierney and Matt DeSalvo, Wings was honored again to have RBC Capital Markets as our Presenting Sponsor. Wings 2009 honorees were Leonard and Clair Tow (Spirit Award), Kerry Flynn-Berry (Beier Award), and Dr. Jinsy A. Andrews (Diamond Award).
Wings 2009 was hosted by CNBC's Joe Kernen and LX.TV's Sara Gore, and Fox 5 / My9’s Giovanna Drpic acted as the auctioneer for the live and research minutes auctions along with Joe Kernen. Entertaining the large crowd was the band, Aged Inventory, and the NYC Fire Department's Emerald Society's Pipes and Drums, which opened the proceedings. Helping to keep the momentum for a successful event high were pre and post-events like Bar Night, Jeans Day, and two fabulous charity trading days sponsored by BTIG and ICAP. With the continued support of the Wall Street, insurance, financial services, legal, construction, and many other industries and, of course, caring people, Wings 2009 netted over $850,000, brining its 9 year total over $8 million solely for ALS research.
To start Wings 2010 off right, Wings has partnered with the New York City Triathalon and is sponsoring an MDA-ALS team.
MDA's Wings Over Wall Street® 2010
In 2010, Wings celebrated its 10th Anniversary. It's hard to believe that Toni's vision has reached its tenth year and that Wings has turned into a major ALS research funding event and a destination event for the Wall Street Community. We were again at Gotham Hall in New York City and our host was Natalie Morales from NBC's Today Show. Co-chairing Wings 2010 were Michael Marrale from RBC Capital Markets and Angela Sun from Bloomberg. Award recipients were the late Tony Judt (Spirit Award), Ray Tierney (the Beier Award), and Dr. Nicholas Maragakis (the Diamond Award).
A great Bar Night and Jeans Day kicked off Wings. The house was packed on a cold September 30th with an enthusiastic crowd and tons of great auction items. Our goal was to reach $10 million in our tenth anniversary, but we fell a little short. Gratefully, however, with the support of Wall Street, the ALS community, the New York City community, the insurance, financial services, and legal industries, and many other friends, we raised over $800,000, bringing our ten-year total to over $9 million in net funds for ALS research.
MDA's Wings Over Wall Street® 2011
With Wall Street and the US economy still struggling, Wings worked hard in its 11th year to provide funds to the ALS researchers. Nearly 450 Wall Street executives, civic and business leaders attended Wings 2011 at Gotham Hall in New York City. This amazing group of financial services industry notables came together and raised nearly $625,000.
The Wings gala opened with the New York Fire Department’s Pipe and Drums band and introductions of the event’s co-chairs Angela Sun of Bloomberg and Todd Trimmer of Weeden & Co. Joe Kernen of CNBC’s Squawk Box hosted the festive evening, first recognizing Angel Sponsors Bloomberg, Credit Suisse and Weeden. Kernen then helped with the presentations of four extraordinary service awards, as well as an energetic research-minute auction.
Serge Przedborski, M.D., Ph.D, Professor of Neurology and Pathology at Columbia University, received the prestigious Diamond Award, named in honor of WOWS co-founder Toni Diamond, for his scientific leadership in the fight against ALS. Matthew De Salvo, Head of US Equity Cash Trading and Sales Trading at Credit Suisse, was recognized with the Michael P. Beier Award, named in honor of former WOWS chair Michael Beier, for being “someone who inspires, encourages and motivates others with devotion and energy to find a cure for ALS.” Beth Gottlieb, Director, Knight Capital Americas, L.P., was presented the Humanitarian Award for her “extraordinary personal and public support to help find a cure for ALS.” The Homes Family accepted the Spirit Award on behalf of Harlan Homes for having “demonstrated extraordinary commitment and dedication to the eradication of ALS by raising awareness, advocating for funding and promoting research for a cure.”
Wings 2011 put the total raised to eradicate ALS at over $9.6 million.
Wings History continues on Page 4