The Mighty Warrior Award

Organized by the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, the inaugural Mighty Warrior Award will honor up to ten outstanding New York City based high school students from qualifying Catholic schools.

The award is meant to recognize our City’s most promising future leaders, who exhibit the kind of community-based, charitable, and impactful leadership that are central to former New York Governor Al Smith’s legacy, which touches the lives of millions of New Yorkers each year.

The selected Mighty Warriors will be invited to attend this year’s “Al Smith Dinner” on October 17th in Midtown, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the 2024 U.S. Presidential Candidates, and a large group of New York City’s most influential leaders.

In order to be considered for selection, students must submit an application here no later than September 15, 2024.

Qualifications

The Mighty Warrior Award is open to high school students of qualifying Catholic schools in New York City. To apply, please submit an application here no later than September 30, 2024.

Selection Criteria

The Mighty Warrior Award will recognize individuals who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to impactful community leadership, both now and in the future. Applicants should highlight how they have made a difference in their communities, how they think about solutions to current problems, and what their visions are for making New York City better for all. 

The Al Smith Dinner

The “Al Smith Dinner” is an annual charity dinner in New York City hosted by the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation. The Dinner brings together some of the most powerful leaders in the City to raise funds for the City’s neediest women and children, as well as to showcase what is possible for communities that collaborate across political, religious, and other divides.

Since 1946, the Foundation has been honored to host speakers who have entertained the audiences with their humor and political insights. Historically, in presidential election years, both presidential candidates join the Dinner to speak. The Dinner has the singular acclaim as the one time during the campaign when the candidates come together for an evening of unity, cheer, and patriotism, all on behalf of children. Over the years, the Dinner has drawn influential men and women from business, philanthropy, religion, government, and media.

Last year's keynote speaker was famed U.S. diplomat Henry Kissinger, in what was his final public speaking appearance before his passing. Last year’s “Happy Warrior” guest of honor was Rob Speyer, of Tishman Speyer. Proceeds from last year’s dinner raised more than $7 million for Catholic charities across New York City.

Examples of other past non-presidential keynote speakers have included Winston Churchill, Tom Brokaw, Stephen Colbert, Mike Bloomberg, Stephen Schwarzman, and Condoleezza Rice, among others. 

In a testament to the dinner's impact and recognition, it is even the subject of a West Wing episode (Season 7, Episode 6, titled “Al Smith Dinner”).

The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation

The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation was created in 1946 to honor Al Smith, who grew up in poverty and became a four-time governor of New York as well as the first Catholic individual to secure the Democratic presidential nomination, in 1928. Smith is known for advocating for New York’s most impoverished constituents and is credited with helping form the blueprint for FDR’s New Deal.

Known as the “Happy Warrior,” Smith dedicated his life and work to helping disadvantaged communities in New York. To continue his legacy, the Foundation provides yearly financial support to not-for-profit organizations under the purview of the New York Archdiocese that focus on the areas of greatest need with the highest potential for positive impact, including:

Health Services

The Foundation assists in providing treatment for emotional wounds and chronic physical illnesses, in-home training to insure safe and healthy environments, and the development of adaptive equipment to enable the severely physically handicapped become more self-sufficient.

Family Services

The Foundation provides prenatal care, parenting resources, residential care for homeless pregnant mothers and assistance to children of incarcerated mothers.

Education

From early intervention services to increasing high school graduation rates and promoting post-secondary education, The Foundation provides children with a pathway to a successful future through education.

For more information about the Foundation, please visit the Foundation’s website here.