BOSTON – The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations – NECO, announced
recipients for the 2017 Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Co-founder of the Edward M.
Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate Victoria Reggie Kennedy, legendary
astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi, TV host and
journalist Fareed Zakaria, CEO of HSN Mindy Grossman, former actress and film studio
executive Sherry Lansing, chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller, are amongst the
one-hundred outstanding Americans in business, government, medicine, art, and
education, as well as honorees from all branches of the military, who will receive
the 2017 medal.
In its 31^st year, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor ceremony will once again be held
on Ellis Island on May 13, starting at 6:30pm. The ceremony will be followed by a
black-tie Gala Dinner in the historic Great Hall, the original registry room and
gateway for 12 million immigrants to the US.
Victoria Reggie Kennedy is both an accomplished attorney and a non-profit leader.
She is President of the Board and Co-Founder of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for
the United States Senate. The Institute has won international awards for its
innovative and interactive design and approach to encouraging participatory
democracy, invigorating civil discourse and inspiring the next generation of
citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities. As senior
counsel in the corporate and securities practice group at Greenberg Traurig LLP, she
advises clients on governmental, governance and regulatory issues and assists them
in devising strategies for the resolution of complex business problems.
Kennedy is a champion for arts education and outreach to underserved communities.
She serves on the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing
Arts where she chairs the Education Committee. She is a member of the Board of Fund
II Foundation, which among other things, works to provide music education in public
schools and to preserve the cultural richness of the African American experience.
She also serves as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Museum of Fine Arts
Boston. In addition to her law practice, board service and non-profit leadership
roles, Kennedy has been a leading voice for the empowerment of women and girls in
our society. She also is an advocate for expanding medical research and for access
to health care to all Americans. She is the widow of the late Senator Edward M.
Kennedy.
“Ellis Island remains an iconic symbol of hope, new beginnings and freedom. NECO’s
Medals of Honor stand to remind citizens to support ethnic inclusion, diversity and
pursuit of the American Dream for all, something especially needed in the current
political climate,” said Nasser J. Kazeminy, Chairman of NECO.
The medal recognizes individuals who have made it their mission to share with those
less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion,
unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of
their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America. Since the
Medal was founded in 1986, NECO has honored such distinguished and diverse Americans
including: seven Presidents of the United States; Nobel Prize recipient Elie Wiesel,
Generals Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor,
Secretaries of State, Madeline Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, Bob
Hope, Muhammad Ali, Frank Sinatra, Rosa Parks, Mike Wallace and Mia Farrow, all of
whom have distinguished themselves through their significant philanthropic and
humanitarian contributions to this country.
“The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is an award that recognizes the contribution by
people of diverse ethnic backgrounds to the ideals and spirit of America. I am
deeply honored and humbled to be among those chosen to receive this important award.
As the granddaughter of immigrants whose own American Dream began when they arrived
at Ellis Island, I am particularly grateful to NECO for keeping this program at the
forefront of its efforts to recognize the many outstanding Americans who make the
United States a beacon of freedom,” said Kennedy.
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor ranks among the nation’s most renowned awards. The
U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have officially recognized the Ellis Island
Medals of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in the Congressional
Record.
To see the full list of 2017 recipients, please visit: ** www.neco.org
(http://www.neco.org)
