Spirit of the City
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Join us for an evening inspired by and celebrating the humanitarians, artists, and everyday people that bring New York to life.
Click here to explore tickets and sponsorship opportunities.
At this pivotal moment for our city, the Cathedral is called to be a sanctuary for the seeker, a bulwark against hatred, bigotry, and despair, and cast a bold vision of liberation guided by the Love of God. The 2026 Spirit of the City Benefit brings leaders, philanthropists, and advocates to our vibrant campus to share in our work for the common good of the City of New York and celebrate the individuals and institutions whose leadership strengthens our communities.
The evening, forgoing a traditional seated dinner format but featuring mocktails and cocktails, lively performances, and interactive community elements, will unite guests in a spirit of community while raising critical funds to support the Cathedral and its vital programs—advancing a more just and generous future for the city and the nation.
Featuring performances by: Jason Robert Brown, Tituss Burgess, Susanna Phillips, Umer Piracha, and Paul Winter.
We are honoring:
The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde
Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Dr. Elizabeth Alexander
Poet, Scholar, and President of the Mellon Foundation
Gala Co-Chairs:
Mary Jane Brock
Frank and Susan Brown
The Rev. Canon Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas
John Griffen and Anne Zaldastani
Kathi Watts Grossman
Shane Williams-Ness
We hope you will plan to join us for what is sure to be a spectacular evening. We kindly ask for your RSVP by Friday, April 24. For more information contact The JFM Group at 212-921-9070 ext. 11 or [email protected].
Honoree Bios
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde serves as spiritual leader for the Episcopal congregations and schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties that comprise the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. The first woman elected to this position, she also serves as the chair of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation which oversees the ministries of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral schools. Bishop Budde is an advocate and organizer in support of justice concerns, including racial equity, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, and the care of creation. Bishop Budde was consecrated as the ninth bishop of Washington in November 2011. Prior to her election, she served for 18 years as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. She earned a B.A. in history at the University of Rochester, graduating magna cum laude. She earned both a Master in Divinity (1989) and a Doctor of Ministry (2008) from Virginia Theological Seminary. She is the author of three books; the most recent, How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, was published in 2023, which was adapted for young readers as We Can Be Brave in 2025.
Elizabeth Alexander is a poet, scholar, and cultural advocate who currently serves as president of the Mellon Foundation, the largest funder of the arts, culture, and humanities in the United States. An author or co-author of fifteen books – including the New York Times best-seller The Light of the World – Dr. Alexander has held distinguished professorships at Smith College, Columbia University, and Yale University, where she taught for over fifteen years and chaired the African American Studies Department. In 2009, she composed and delivered the poem "Praise Song for the Day" for President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Dr. Alexander is Chancellor Emeritus of the Academy of American Poets and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and for nine years served on the Pulitzer Prize Board. She currently serves on the boards of Lincoln Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and has been recognized as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.