On April 23, more than 500 supporters of Barnard College gathered at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City for the College’s Annual Gala. Co-chaired by Barnard Trustees Amy Crate ’94, P’24, P’27, and Caroline Bliss Spencer ’09, the event raised over $3.8 million and honored the extraordinary service of Cheryl Glicker Milstein ’82, P’14, Chair of the Barnard Board of Trustees.
Funds raised support key priorities for Barnard including financial aid – ensuring that current and future generations of Barnard women continue to have access to a world-class education regardless of their financial means.
This year's event celebrated leadership, “the College’s demonstrated leadership; the campus programs that empower our students to become leaders; our students and faculty who are raising the bar at every level and our alumnae who have affected meaningful changes across their communities and industries,” said Crate. Spencer then shared that they “have the privilege of honoring an alumna who has exemplified what it means to be a leader in the Barnard community, our dear friend Cheryl Milstein,” who has led the College as chair of the Board of Trustees since 2018.
Prior to Milstein's election as Board chair, she served as Vice Chair of the Board for eight years. She has been a Barnard Trustee since 1999.
Milstein's leadership and generous philanthropy have contributed to the development of new facilities and transformative student experiences that strengthen Barnard as a leader in higher education. Milstein will end her term as board chair this summer and will be succeeded by longtime Trustee and alumna Laura Blankfein ’75.
Milstein’s daughter, Toby Milstein Schulman ’14, CBS’21, introduced her mother, presenting her with the Frederick A.P. Barnard Award, which is presented to someone who is realistic and visionary, tenacious and compassionate, and devoted to helping others realize their full potential. noting that she has “witnessed firsthand what this community of powerful, educated women can accomplish” in recognition of Milstein’s many contributions to the College.
Milstein shared with attendees how Barnard has been a part of her life since first walking onto campus 47 years ago, through her time as a Trustee and Chair of the Board.
“There is extraordinary power in a women’s college,” Milstein told attendees. “Barnard is not just a college. And Barnard women are not just students. They are a force. A network. A lifelong community of women who show up for each other, again and again.”
Milstein was also recognized by President Laura Rosenbury, Vice Chairs of the Board Diana Vagelos ’55 and Ina Drew P’13, and former Chair of the Board Jolyne Caruso-FitzGerald ’81, who said, “Cheryl Milstein is one of the finest leaders and chairs of the Board that I have ever seen at Barnard College.”
President Laura Rosenbury, celebrated her partnership with Milstein, sharing that she “has been part of Barnard in every way that matters” adding that “Cheryl has shown up with conviction, vision, generosity and a deep love for our College. Because of Cheryl, more women will come to Barnard as students . . . but leave as leaders.
The evening closed with an auction, led by global thought leader, acclaimed author, and champion for women’s empowerment, Lydia Fenet.
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Photography by Samuel Stuart Hollenshead Photography and Brendon Cook from BFA Photography.