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Reception and Awards Dinner

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Philadelphians are the best citizens.

You don’t have to take our word for it. You can see it everywhere — in every neighborhood, every occupation, every group of young people and old people, in new and seasoned residents, in those who keep our city functioning and those who call on it to do better.

The Philadelphia Citizen is celebrating the all-star citizens among us with our inaugural Citizen of the Year Awards. The celebration will include reception, dinner and dessert on

October 17, 2023

5-6pm – Cocktail reception
6-8pm – Awards program and dinner
8-9pm – Dessert reception and networking

During the program, we will honor the winners of our first Citizen of the Year Awards, and hear from national thought leaders about the importance and power of local citizenship with conversations featuring:

George Takei

Actor, author and activist

George Takei is a civil rights activist, social media superstar, Grammy-nominated recording artist, New York Times bestselling author, and pioneering actor whose career has spanned six decades. He has appeared in more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television roles, most famously as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, and he has used his success as a platform to fight for social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and marriage equality. His advocacy is personal: during World War II, Takei spent his childhood unjustly imprisoned in United States incarceration camps along with 125,000 other Japanese Americans.

He now serves as Chair Emeritus and a member of the Japanese American National Museum’s Board of Trustees. Takei served on the board of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission under President Bill Clinton, and, in 2004, was conferred with the Gold Rays with Rosette of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan for his contribution to US-Japan relations.

Ali Velshi

MSNBC host

Host of MSNBC’s Live with Ali Velshi and co-host of Velshi and Ruhle. Velshi is an award-winning journalist whose accolades include a National Headliner Award and three News and Documentary Emmy Award Nominations. Velshi is a Citizen board member. 

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. Citizen of the Year is about more than celebrating do-gooders – it is about building a network of changemakers within Philadelphia, honoring the hard work of good citizenship 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.

THIS YEAR’S CATEGORIES ARE:

Categories are educator, disruptor, block captain, young leader, lewis katz corporate citizen, lifetime achievement, and overall philadelphia citizen of the year

 

2023 Integrity Icons will be recognized as a phenomenal cohort of City workers who go above and beyond their job description to serve Philadelphia. Presented in partnership with Accountability Lab with generous support from the Thomas Skelton Harrison Foundation.

A. Leon Higginbotham Social Justice Award will be given to an individual or organization working on the front lines of the social justice movement and carrying on Judge Higginbotham’s vision of freedom and equality for all. Presented in partnership with Penn Carey Law School and Mural Arts Philadelphia.

BECOME A SPONSOR

The Philadelphia Citizen is the only nonprofit, non-partisan media organization that combines solutions-oriented journalism with specific calls for civic action and thoughtful programming aimed at moving the Philadelphia region forward. The Citizen of the Year Awards will bring together the best civic activators and national thought leaders.
Sponsorship opportunities include:

 

PRESENTING SPONSOR – $50,000 (1 available)

Benefits include:

  • Full table at the Awards program (10 seats)
  • Lock up logo in every promotion and all assets including, but not limited to: print products like the event program and combined sponsor banner; digital products like event screens, website, registration page, and promotional newsletters
  • Table tent recognition
  • Sponsor and present award of your choice
  • Opportunity to make remarks during the program
  • Full page ad in event printed program
  • Exclusive sponsor of the Citizen of the Year winners’ editorial profiles
  • Co-sponsor the opening Integrity Icon Reception and bar 
  • Customized benefits available

IMPACT SPONSOR – $25,000 (4 available)

Benefits include:

  • Full table at the Awards program (10 seats)
  • Print recognition as logo in the event program and on combined sponsor banner
  • Digital recognition on event screens, on website, and in newsletter promotions
  • Table tent recognition
  • Sponsor of an award category of your choice
  • Half page ad in event printed program
  • Co-sponsor of Integrity Icon Reception and bar
  • Customized benefits available

INNOVATION SPONSOR – $10,000 (6 available)

Benefits include:

  • Full table at the Awards program (10 seats)
  • Print recognition as logo in the event program and on combined sponsor banner
  • Digital recognition on event screens, on website, and in newsletter promotions
  • Table tent recognition
  • Quarter page ad in event printed program
  • Customized benefits available

INSPIRATION SPONSOR – $5,000 (9 available)

Benefits include:

  • Full table at the Awards program (10 seats)
  • Print recognition as logo in the event program and on combined sponsor banner
  • Digital recognition on event screens, on website, and in newsletter promotions
  • Table tent recognition

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 

For an additional contribution, sponsors can enjoy a number of other benefits:

-Exclusive sponsorship of bar, dessert reception or champagne toast
-Exclusive sponsorship of Citizen Engagement Table in foyer area
-Co-sponsorship of Integrity Icon Reception
-Sponsor the A. Leon Higginbotham Social Justice Award and present the winner a donation check during the program to advance their work. Co-sponsors of this award will be recognized in writing and include all 2022 Higginbotham Tribute donors.

We are happy to discuss how to align with your goals with these, or other, opportunities. 

 

GET IN TOUCH

Sponsoring this event is a meaningful commitment to active citizenship in Philadelphia. We welcome you to join this new convening. To inquire about becoming a sponsor for the Citizen of the Year Awards Celebration, please contact Kristin Long, Director of Sales & Philanthropy at [email protected] or send her a message by filling out the form below.