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Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Twenty Distinguished Naturalized Citizens Honored by Carnegie Corporation of New York as Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Great Immigrants, Great Americans Tribute
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carnegie Corporation of New York announces the 2025 Class of Great Immigrants, Great Americans, recognizing 20 distinguished naturalized American citizens whose contributions have enriched our society and helped to strengthen our democracy. For 20 years, the philanthropic foundation has sponsored the public awareness initiative, honoring a total of more than 750 naturalized American citizens from almost 120 countries who represent a remarkable range of immigration journeys. To mark the tribute's 20th anniversary, Carnegie has commissioned a free comic book featuring more than a dozen inspiring stories as told by naturalized U.S. citizens and created by an award-winning production team and illustrator. The 13 comics include Peabody Award–winning comedian Mo Amer; seminal musician and filmmaker David Byrne; pediatrician Mona Hanna, who exposed the water crisis in Flint, Michigan; Nobel Prize–winning biochemist Katalin Karikó, whose work led to the COVID-19 vaccine; and Jim Lee, the legendary illustrator and chief creative officer of DC. The comic book, which is freely available to the public, may be downloaded at Carnegie has also commissioned the National Council of Teachers of English to develop free educational resources and lesson plans based on the comics, which will be available in fall 2025. The 2025 Class of Great Immigrants is comprised of naturalized citizens from 16 countries who are leaders across academia, the arts, business, journalism, medicine, philanthropy, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). They include: - Tope Awotona (Nigeria) Founder and CEO of Calendly, a scheduling software company that employs more than 650 people and provides services to over 20 million users at 100,000 organizations. - Moungi Bawendi (France) Winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work that revolutionized the chemical production of quantum dots used in biomedical imaging and computer and television displays. - Simon Johnson (England) Winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity and for developing theoretical tools to explain how institutions can change. - Michele Kang (South Korea) Founder and CEO of Kynisca, the world's first multi-team global organization focused on professionalizing women's football and proving its commercial potential and cultural impact. - Shahid Khan (Pakistan) President and CEO of Flex-N-Gate, an automobile components manufacturer with 76 plants worldwide and 27,000 employees. - María Teresa Kumar (Colombia) President and CEO of Voto Latino, a national nonprofit organization that encourages civic engagement among younger generations of Latinx voters - Tania León (Cuba) A Pulitzer Prize–winning composer, conductor, and educator who has held positions with Carnegie Hall, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic, and is a founding member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. 'For 20 years, our Great Immigrants public awareness initiative has been a reminder that many of the most influential figures in our country have been distinguished naturalized citizens, like our founder Andrew Carnegie, born in Scotland,' said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie, who is a naturalized American citizen born in Ireland. 'The U.S. is a nation of immigrants and our ongoing support of nonpartisan organizations that help establish legal pathways for citizenship continues to enrich the very fabric of American life. We applaud this year's 20th class and the hundreds of 'Great Immigrants, Great Americans' before them.' The initiative aims to increase public awareness of the economic and societal benefits of immigration. It is a tribute to the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who, like the initiative's honorees, found success as an American and contributed enormously to his adopted country. During the past 20 years, the Carnegie database of Great Immigrants has grown into one of the largest online resources for examples of accomplished naturalized American citizens. Past honorees include Isabel Allende, Elizabeth Blackburn, Sergey Brin, Michael J. Fox, Min Jin Lee, Yo-Yo Ma, Rupert Murdoch, Martina Navratilova, and Pedro Pascal. Naturalization and the legal integration of immigrants are part of the foundation's overarching goal of reducing political polarization for a strong democracy. According to the American Immigration Council, a Carnegie grantee whose research is cited in the new comic book, there are 48 million immigrants in America, about half are naturalized U.S. citizens, and more than seven million are eligible to apply for citizenship. Among Fortune 500 companies, 230 were founded by immigrants or children of immigrants, and among business owners, one in four is an immigrant. The 20 honorees in the Class of 2025 will be recognized with a full-page public service announcement in The New York Times on the Fourth of July and through tributes on social media. Please join the celebration by sharing via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter) using the hashtag #GreatImmigrants. To learn more about the foundation's new comic book featuring Great Immigrants, visit The 2025 Class of Great Immigrants: Tope Awotona (Nigeria) Founder and CEO, Calendly Moungi Bawendi (France) Professor of Chemistry, MIT Helen M. Blau (England) Director, Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, and Professor, Stanford University Roger Cohen (England) Journalist and Paris Bureau Chief, The New York Times Akiko Iwasaki (Japan) Professor of Immunobiology, Dermatology, and Epidemiology, Yale School of Medicine Maz Jobrani (Iran) Comedian, Actor, and Author Simon Johnson (England) Professor of Entrepreneurship, MIT Sloan School of Management Michele Kang (South Korea) Businesswoman, Sports Team Owner, and Philanthropist Shahid Khan (Pakistan) President and CEO, Flex-N-Gate Manjusha (Manju) P. Kulkarni (India) Executive Director, AAPI Equity Alliance María Teresa Kumar (Colombia) President and CEO, Voto Latino Tania León (Cuba) Composer, Conductor, and Educator Sandra Leisa Lindsay (Jamaica) Vice President, Public Health Advocacy, Northwell Health Luciano Marraffini (Argentina) Professor, The Rockefeller University, and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Priyamvada Natarajan (India) Professor of Astronomy and Physics, Yale University Kareem Rahma (Egypt) Comedian, Artist, and Musician Raúl Ruiz (Mexico) U.S. Congressman, California, District 25 Manoochehr Sadeghi (Iran) Grand Master Musician and Educator Yuan Yuan Tan (China) Former Prima Ballerina, San Francisco Ballet Avi Wigderson (Israel) Professor of Mathematics, Institute for Advanced Study About Carnegie Corporation of New York Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.
The Herald Scotland
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Carnegie fortune to help pay for new Edinburgh concert hall
The grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York was announced as it was predicted that the 1000-seater venue, which is expected to cost at least £115 million to create, will generate £170m for the economy in its first 20 years. Read more: The venue, which is expected create more than 300 jobs, is already being ked to the tune at at least £35 million by the Dunard Fund, a charity set up by American philanthropist Carol Colburn Grigor. The new backing has been confirmed weeks after Ms Grigor, one of the biggest private financial backers of Scottish culture in modern times, was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Previous winners of the honour, which is award on behalf of Carnegie trusts and foundations around the world, including Dolly Parton, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates and the Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter. Born in Dunfermline in 1835, Andrew Carnegie emigrated to Pennsylvania with his family at the age of 12, built a multi-million dollar business empire in the steel industry and was one of the world's richest men by the end of the century. However he famously gave away most of his fortune via trusts and institutions set up in his name, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which he established in 1911 and is now led by a former principal of St Andrews University, Louise Richardson. The Dunard Centre, which has attracted more than £80 million in private donations to date, is also being supported by the Scottish and UK governments, and Edinburgh City Council, who are contributing £25m in total. Dunard Centre chief executive Jo Buckley said: 'We are hugely grateful for this grant, which recognises both the global significance of the Dunard Centre and the role it will play in enriching the lives of local people, by giving them greater access to the arts. "The money will help us develop and advance our engagement strategy, which is a vital element of our mission to create a 'hall for all' here in Edinburgh. 'With a focus on supporting civic participation and socioeconomic mobility, we intend to build trusted relationships, design thoughtful creative engagement programmes, and establish the team that will bring this work to life when we open our doors in 2029. 'We look forward to the opportunity of exploring and sharing the parallels between the transformational philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie – and the mark this left upon the world – and the various ways civic society benefits from the provision of outstanding performance and lifelong engagement with music.'
Edinburgh Reporter
23-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Carnegie funding for the new concert hall announced
A grant of $1 million has been awarded to the new concert hall to be constructed behind The Royal Bank of Scotland building at 36 St Andrew Square from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The philanthropic body has offered the funds towards the 'design and programming of the Dunard Centre Concert Hall'. The concert hall will be the first purpose built facility of its kind for more than a century, and construction of the David Chipperfield design is expected to begin later this year. The Carnegie foundation is led by Dame Louise Richardson, former vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford and former principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews. The organisation was established by the Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1911, to manage the bulk of his philanthropic giving. Between 2023 and 2024, it awarded grants totalling $174 million and it is backed by an endowment valued at around $4.5 billion. The funding boost comes as the Dunard Centre reveals the findings of new economic and social impact assessments. The Centre's operations are projected to generate £169.4 million in gross value added (GVA) over its first 20 years, supporting nearly 300 jobs in the process. Based on an estimated 200,000 visitors annually, the hall is projected to increase tourism spending in Edinburgh and the surrounding region by £8.6m a year. The Dunard Centre may be renamed as philanthropist Carol Grigor who is behind the Dunard Fund has stated that the name will not continue. Ms Grigor has provided £35 million towards the building. The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal allocated £35 million to the project and public donations of around £80 million (which includes Ms Grigor's donation) will pay for the state of the art hall. Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'We are hugely grateful for this grant, which recognises both the global significance of the Dunard Centre and the role it will play in enriching the lives of local people, by giving them greater access to the arts. The money will help us develop and advance our engagement strategy, which is a vital element of our mission to create a 'Hall for All' here in Edinburgh. 'With a focus on supporting civic participation and socioeconomic mobility, we intend to build trusted relationships, design thoughtful creative engagement programmes, and establish the team that will bring this work to life when we open our doors in 2029. 'We look forward to the opportunity of exploring and sharing the parallels between the transformational philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie – and the mark this left upon the world –and the various ways civic society benefits from the provision of outstanding performance and lifelong engagement with music.' Located in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town, the Dunard Centre will serve as the permanent home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival. The Dunard Centre will open up a city centre site, previously closed to the public, into a new piece of public realm, creating a vibrant and inclusive creative hub. This central site has been strategically selected to maximise accessibility and connectivity. Situated within walking distance of Waverley Station and multiple tram and bus routes, the venue is ideally positioned to serve both local audiences and visitors from across Scotland and beyond. Its proximity to restaurants, hotels, and cultural landmarks further enhances its role as a key driver of economic and cultural activity in the city. CEO Jo Buckley Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
23-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
The $1m funding boost for Edinburgh concert hall Dunard Centre from Andrew Carnegie's fortune
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A $1 million donation from the fortune of Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie has been given to a new concert hall being built in Edinburgh city centre. The philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York has made a $1 million (£747,000) grant towards the 'design and programming' of the Dunard Centre, which is being built on the recently cleared site behind the historic RBS branch building on St Andrew Square. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dunard Centre will be a 1,000-seat concert hall complete with a multi-purpose space, café and bar connected to the a-listed Dundas House, in Edinburgh's New Town | David Chipperfield Architects, Reiach and Hall Architects This comes as a new report projects the venue will generate £170 million in gross value added (GVA) in the first 20 years, based on an estimated 200,000 visitors a year, and boost tourism spending by £8.6m each year, supporting nearly 300 jobs. Work is due to start this summer on what will be the first major new city centre concert venue for Edinburgh in more than a century when it opens in 2029. The Carnegie foundation is led by Dame Louise Richardson, former principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews. The organisation was established by the Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1911, to manage the bulk of his philanthropic giving. When it opens, the centre will provide a permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dunard Centre construction site | TSPL Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'We are hugely grateful for this grant, which recognises both the global significance of the Dunard Centre and the role it will play in enriching the lives of local people, by giving them greater access to the arts. The money will help us develop and advance our engagement strategy, which is a vital element of our mission to create a 'Hall for All' here in Edinburgh.' The Centre's social engagement plan sets out an ambition to become a UK cultural sector leader in increasing access to the arts. Some 17,000 people are expected to benefit from a wide-ranging community engagement programme each year, with new opportunities created for skills development leading to improved workplace pathways. Ms Buckley added: 'With a focus on supporting civic participation and socioeconomic mobility, we intend to build trusted relationships, design thoughtful creative engagement programmes, and establish the team that will bring this work to life when we open our doors in 2029.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She added: 'We look forward to the opportunity of exploring and sharing the parallels between the transformational philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie – and the mark this left upon the world –and the various ways civic society benefits from the provision of outstanding performance and lifelong engagement with music.' The centre is named after the Dunard Fund, an arts charity created by philanthropist Carol Colburn Grigor, which is providing much of the private funding for the venue, which is also backed by £25 million from the UK and Scottish Governments, and the city council. Jo Buckley, is chief executive of IMPACT Scotland, the charity overseeing the creation of the Dunard Centre concert hall in Edinburgh city centre. Picture: Sally Jubb
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City Public Library awarded $500,000 to expand literacy, teen programs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Public Library (KCPL) has been awarded a $500,000 grant to expand its programs, the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced Tuesday. The KCPL is one of 11 public library systems to receive a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York through its Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy initiative – which is aimed at helping public libraries expand access to adult literacy and college readiness programs. This national effort builds on the foundation's renewed commitment to libraries as trusted public institutions that help reduce political polarization. New upscale beach-themed restaurant to open in Kansas City Power & Light District 'Andrew Carnegie believed libraries were ladders upon which anyone and everyone could rise, and that belief continues to guide us,' Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie, said in a news release. 'At a time when trust in public institutions is fraying, libraries retain public trust. We are delighted to support these grantees as they provide essential programs and community services.' The KCPL was selected as part of an effort to help deliver critical services that promote socioeconomic mobility. 'Libraries are critical infrastructure in our communities – spaces that nurture learning, connection and possibility,' KCPL Director and Chief Executive Abby Yellman said in a news release. 'We are honored to receive this grant, which reaffirms the vital role libraries play in the ecosystem of community life. This generous support strengthens our commitment to expanding opportunity for all while fostering a shared sense of community and belonging.' The grant will be used to expand three of KCPL's flagship programs: Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment (RISE) Teen Leaders of Today (TLOT) The Kansas City Digital Media Lab (KCDML) The KCPL said it established RISE in 2014 to connect immigrant populations with quality library services, resources and lifelong learning opportunities through outreach, education and advocacy. The program serves more than 3,000 patrons and offers more than 100 English language classes each year. The Carnegie Corporation grant will support the development of new multilingual courses to offer instruction that supports workforce certifications in high-demand fields. The KCPL's college and career readiness programs for teens and tweens will also be expanded thanks to the award. TLOT offers teens leadership and volunteer opportunities at the KCPL's branch locations. The Digital Media Lab, based in the Southeast Branch, gives teens access to a variety of digital tools and training in two broad areas of focus: media production and engineering. Potential Royals move to Kansas sparks mixed reaction in Overland Park 'Libraries are places where people build knowledge, skills and agency,' said Ambika Kapur, an education program director at Carnegie. 'This initiative reflects our belief in investing in civic participation—wherever people come together to learn.' Carnegie has been one of the largest philanthropic funders of libraries, from the early construction of libraries in the United States, to helping establish the endowment of the American Library Association, funding the nation's first graduate library school and digitizing archival collections around the world. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
