The 3rd Annual Citizen of the Year Awards
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Cocktail Reception, 6-7pm | Dinner & Program, 7-9pm
Cocktail Attire
Meet the all-star citizens among us who inspire us to be better Philadelphians. The 3rd Annual Citizen of the Year Awards will take place Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Fitler Club Ballroom in Center City, Philadelphia. Cocktail attire.
Our goal at The Citizen is to inspire citizenship, elevate those who embody The Citizen’s mission of solutions-focused action, and activate Philadelphians to make change. Our annual Citizen of the Year program, launched in 2024, is about more than celebrating do-gooders — it is about building a network of changemakers within Philadelphia, and positioning them as role models for the next generation. Over time, we hope to see these awards empower more citizens to be active in making Philadelphia the best place to live for everyone in it.
Meet This Year’s Honorees
Paul A. Offit, MD
Philadelphia Citizen of the Year
Jane Golden
The Edward G. Rendell Lifetime Achievement Award
John & Leigh Middleton
Lewis Katz Corporate Citizen of the Year
Yuvaraj R. Gambhir
Youth Citizen of the Year
Keisha Hudson
A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Social Justice Champion
Charlie McGeehan
Educator of the Year
Mekia Elizabeth
Block Captain of the Year
Jeffrey D. Marrazzo
Disruptors of the Year (with Dr. Carl June)
Carl H. June
Disruptors of the Year (with Jeffrey D. Marrazzo)
Paul A. Offit, MD
Philadelphia Citizen of the Year
Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center and professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at CHOP, is arguably the foremost expert on vaccines in the world. In the face of federal attacks on our children’s health and well-being, Offit refuses to be silent. For his courage and candor — which has resulted in death threats to his family — The Citizen is proud to hold him up as a model of how we can all use our voices to protect those who are vulnerable, and protect our democracy in the process.
Jane Golden
The Edward G. Rendell Lifetime Achievement Award
Jane Golden is the founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. Under her visionary leadership for the last four-plus decades, Mural Arts has created more than 4,000 works of public art, setting the gold standard for cities around the world.
John & Leigh Middleton
Lewis Katz Corporate Citizen of the Year
The Middletons are owners of the Phillies and generous supporters of social services like Project HOME. And in honor of America’s 250th celebration this year, they are sharing their breathtaking art collection at both the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Academy of Fine Arts through the exhibition “A Nation of Artists.”
Yuvaraj R. Gambhir
Youth Citizen of the Year
Yuva Gambhir, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, grew up with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a severe muscle-wasting genetic disorder that affects roughly 300,000 people worldwide. He has educated, fundraised, and advocated for the DMD community — raising more than $3 million for research — while refusing to let the disease define him.
Keisha Hudson
A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Social Justice Champion
The Defender Association of Philadelphia’s Chief Defender, Keisha Hudson, is widely heralded as a champion of the people. This past year, Hudson has gone ever deeper into the fray with 11 additional staffers dedicated to protecting immigrants targeted by the federal government for possible deportation.
Charlie McGeehan
Educator of the Year
Charlie McGeehan is a social studies teacher at Academy at Palumbo who doesn’t just teach students about history – he emboldens them to be a part of changing its trajectory. His hands-on curriculum includes opportunities for his students to speak at City Hall, hosting elected officials for Q&As in the classroom and influencing policy proposals.
Mekia Elizabeth
Block Captain of the Year
Mekia Elizabeth is a Block Captain in Germantown who has converted her front porch into a cafe — staffed by the teens in her community — organized community plantings and parties, cleanups and childcare, camps and gardens.
Jeffrey D. Marrazzo
Disruptors of the Year (with Dr. Carl June)
With the launch of biotech company Dispatch Biotherapeutics, poised to create a universal treatment for cancer tumors — Dr. Carl June of Penn Medicine and entrepreneur Jeff Marrazzo are proving that the best of Philly’s Cellicon Valley is yet to come.
Carl H. June
Disruptors of the Year (with Jeffrey D. Marrazzo)
With the launch of biotech company Dispatch Biotherapeutics, poised to create a universal treatment for cancer tumors — Dr. Carl June of Penn Medicine and entrepreneur Jeff Marrazzo are proving that the best of Philly’s Cellicon Valley is yet to come.
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!
Individual contributors: Suzanne Bakewell | Susan Jacobson | The Wistar Institute in honor of Paul Offit | Susan Sherman and Mary Scullion | CureDuchenne | Estuary Biotherapeutics | Torin in honor of Yuva Gambhir | Sandra & Javier in honor of Yuva Gambhir
Become a Sponsor & Attend
Join us in celebrating these all-star citizens on April 22, 2026. All funds raised support this program, our ongoing coverage of civic solutions, and other civic-minded events brought to you throughout the year. Your contribution is tax-deductible, minus the fair market value of substantial goods received. The Philadelphia Citizen is a division of Citizen Media Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, EIN 46-2777419.
$25,000
- Full table in prominent location (10 seats)
- Event MC to recognize partnership
- Print and digital recognition at the awards dinner
- Table tent dedication
- Recognition on website, newsletter and social media posts
- Full page ad in event program and on digital screens
- Opportunity to provide promotional gift to guests
- Co-sponsor of the opening reception (custom napkins, bar signage, etc)
- Co-sponsor of the winners’ editorial profiles
- Sponsor an award category
- A three-course meal for all guests with wine service and open bar. Mocktails and NA beverages provided.
$10,000
- Full table (10 seats)
- Print and digital recognition at the awards dinner
- Table tent dedication
- Recognition on website, newsletter and social media posts
- 1/2 page ad in event program and on digital screens
- Opportunity to provide promotional gift to guests
- A three-course meal for all guests with wine service and open bar. Mocktails and NA beverages provided.
$5,000
- Half table (5 seats)
- Print and digital recognition at the awards dinner
- Table tent dedication
- Recognition on website, newsletter and social media posts
- A three-course meal for all guests with wine service and open bar. Mocktails and NA beverages provided.
$1,000
- Recognition on website (with optional “in honor of” note)
- A three-course meal with wine service and open bar. Mocktails and NA beverages provided.
Once you submit a pledge, your spot is secure! Our team will follow up with you within 2 business days to confirm your pledge and provide details for you and your guests.
If you would like to sponsor this event, but do not plan to attend, we can coordinate donating your seats to those who find the cost a barrier to entry. In the past, we have welcomed high school students, small nonprofit and civic groups, guests and family members of the honorees, and Citizen readers with the support of non-attending sponsors.
2025 Citizen of the Year Awards
The 2nd Annual Awards Celebration was presented by Michael Forman and Jennifer Rice and also made possible by many generous sponsors. Meet the honorees.
2024 Citizen of the Year Awards
The Inaugural Awards Celebration was made possible by our generous sponsors. Meet the honorees.
Citizen of the Year Stories
