The Bakalas Supported The Aspen Institute Annual Gala in New York

The Aspen Institute’s 38th Annual Awards Dinner was held on the first Thursday in November in New York City. This event is held annually and its regular supporters include Michaela and Zdenek Bakala.

This year's gathering of Aspen Institute supporters and fans culminated with the presentation of the Henry Crown Leadership Award. The award was created to honor an outstanding leader whose achievements reflect the high standards of honor, integrity, industry, and philanthropy that characterized the life and career of Henry Crown. The award is presented annually by the Trustee of the Henry and Gladys Crown Charitable Trust Fund in cooperation with the Henry Crown Fellowship Program of the Aspen Institute.

This year's recipients of the Henry Crown Leadership Award are Jacklyn and Miguel Bezos. The founders of the Bezos Family Foundation were honored for the remarkable ways that they personify leadership and empower youth around the world.

Congratulations and well-deserved applause from guests at the gala also went to Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, recipient of the Public Service Award. Dr. Alexander, who is the President of The Mellon Foundation, was honored for her extraordinary commitment to advancing the arts, culture, and humanities.

Michaela and Zdenek Bakala were behind the founding of the Aspen Institute Central Europe office based in Prague in 2012. Since then, they have been its main partners and Michaela Bakala is involved as a member of the Supervisory Board.