Celebrating 25 Years of Impact: MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street Gala Honors Leaders in ALS Research and Advocacy

For a quarter of a century, MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street has brought the ALS community together in New York City, raising millions of dollars to advance research and improve care. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the annual benefit, an evening dedicated to honoring extraordinary individuals who are driving progress in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Funds raised will support MDA’s ALS research initiatives, including at the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia University and The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City’s Edison Ballroom, this year’s event recognizes Dan Doctoroff, who will receive the Spirit Award, and Dr. Michael Benatar, the recipient of the Diamond Award. Their contributions to ALS research and advocacy embody the relentless spirit that defines this event.

Dan Doctoroff: A Leader, Advocate, and Inspiration

Dan Doctoroff and his family.

Dan Doctoroff, former Deputy Mayor of New York City for Economic Development and Rebuilding under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is a titan of urban development. Doctoroff is being honored with the prestigious Spirit Award. This accolade is reserved for people who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to eradicating ALS through advocacy, awareness, and fundraising. Born out of the loss of his father and uncle to the disease, Doctoroff founded Target ALS in 2013 to break down barriers to ALS research to find effective treatments. Doctoroff was diagnosed in late 2021 and has become a driving force in ALS research, channeling his experience in leadership and public policy to accelerate scientific advancements and push for critical funding. Driven by Doctoroff’s leadership, Target ALS has fueled breakthroughs in the space by funding unprecedented collaborations between academia and industry, enabling access to critical scientific tools and resources, and conducting ALS research across the globe.  Over the 11 years since Target ALS was founded, he has raised $350 million. His resilience and determination reflect the core values of the Wings Over Wall Street mission, and his contributions will have a lasting impact on people diagnosed with ALS. “I won’t stop until I can’t anymore. I’m dedicating my life to battling this disease,” said Doctoroff, founder of Target ALS.

Dr. Michael Benatar: Advancing ALS Research

The Diamond Award, named in honor of Wings Over Wall Street co-founder Toni Diamond, is awarded to a scientific leader dedicated to the eradication of ALS. This year, the honor goes to Dr. Michael Benatar, whose groundbreaking work in ALS research has paved the way for the new frontier of ALS prevention and the use of biomarkers to accelerate ALS therapy development. His dedication and innovative research approaches have helped bring forward promising therapies that offer hope to individuals and families affected by ALS as well as those at elevated genetic risk for ALS.

“As we continue the urgent search for new treatments and a cure, it is also essential that we focus on strategies to intervene therapeutically as early as possible, ideally even preventing ALS before symptoms even begin,” said Dr. Michael Benatar, professor of neurology at the University of Miami. “By identifying biomarkers that include the earliest biological evidence of disease, we aim to predict who may develop ALS and when. In the same way that we’ve used this strategy to design the first ever ALS prevention trial for carriers of SOD1 mutations, this knowledge could pave the way for interventions that delay or even prevent other forms of ALS as well.”

A Legacy of Progress and Hope

For 25 years, MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street has been a powerful force in ALS fundraising and awareness. With longstanding support of dedicated sponsors, advocates, and researchers, the event continues to contribute to progress toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.    The funds raised play a crucial role in advancing and sustaining MDA’s groundbreaking ALS research, driving innovation and progress in the fight to end ALS

As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we reflect on the commitment of those who have shaped the event’s legacy. Their efforts serve as a reminder that together, we can drive real change and move closer to a world without ALS.

“This event is so personal to our family because we have lost loved ones to ALS, a devastating disease. Since we started funding research with Muscular Dystrophy Association, we have seen growth in treatment medications, improved understanding of the disease itself, a hopefulness in the research community that is building, and the satisfaction that we are doing our small part to ensure that the silenced voices of the people who we’ve lost to ALS, or lost their ability to speak are still heard,” said Warren J. Schiffer, co-founder of MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street

How to Get Involved

MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street would not be possible without the generosity of its sponsors, attendees, and donors. Those interested in supporting ALS research and care can participate by attending the gala, sponsoring the event, or making a donation. Every contribution brings us one step closer to breakthrough treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

For tickets, sponsorship, or donations to MDA’s Wings Over Wall Street event, click here.