On Tuesday, October 3, 2017, more than 300 distinguished guests — including Carnegie Corporation president Vartan Gregorian, gathered in the Beaux-Arts splendor of The New York Public Library to salute nine remarkable men and women, the recipients of the 2017 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

2017 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy recipients are honored for their “awe-inspiring” munificence

Below is a list of the recipients of the awards for their extraordinary work in philanthropy.

  • Mei Hing Chak In 2005 she conceived and spearheaded the Heungkong Charitable Foundation — China’s first private philanthropic foundation.
  • Marguerite and H. F. “Gerry” Lenfest Sometimes described as a founding couple of modern Philadelphia, the Lenfests support the cultural cornerstones of the city, including education, art, music, and museums.
    Azim Premji A true philanthropic pioneer, bringing his generosity to India on a scale literally never seen before in the region.
  • Julian Robertson Robertson is seen as a chief recruiter using his influence in the finance world to bring new talent to the world of philanthropy through the Tiger Foundation which he created in 1989.
  • Jeff Skoll Using his entrepreneurial spirit and technological savvy, Skoll has created a portfolio of philanthropic organizations — the Jeff Skoll Group — that aim to inspire the next generation to tackle the world’s biggest problems.
  • Kristine McDivitt Tompkins Under her leadership, in March 2017 Tompkins signed a pledge with Michelle Bachelet, the president of Chile, to expand that country’s national park system by approximately 10 million acres.
  • Shelby White She is a true icon in New York philanthropic circles for her continued commitment to the regional causes and cultural institutions that have inspired her and so many others for so many years.
  • Sir James D. Wolfensohn Beyond his career in business, Wolfensohn’s philanthropy has benefitted numerous cultural institutions and social causes, both in the United States and abroad.

Read the full article about the leaders in philanthropy at Medium.