Education For Peace: UWC New York Gala 2025

Join us for an extraordinary evening on Thursday, 8 May at the fourth UWC New York Gala, celebrating the 2025 UN Year of Peace & Trust, UWC's two recent Nobel Peace Prize nominations and the 25th anniversary of the Davis UWC Scholars Program. The gala highlights UWC’s commitment to peace-driven leadership and its role in equipping young changemakers with the skills to navigate an increasingly complex world. It will be supporting the UWC Endowment Fund and the Dare to Dream scholarships programme.

Since its inception in 2017, this remarkable event—led by Dr Maria Ines Kavamura and Frank D’Souza—has brought together key supporters, UWC schools/colleges and the wider UWC International community.

This year’s UWC New York Gala will be hosted at International House NYC. In this historic setting with you and 200 distinguished guests, the evening will feature an exciting programme, including drinks receptions and dinner, thought-provoking discussions, inspiring alumni stories, and a special contribution from Emma Tucker, Editor-in-Chief of The Wall Street Journal.

Juan Pablo di Pace, actor, award-winning filmmaker and proud UWC Adriatic alum, will guide us through this extraordinary evening.

Expect engaging speeches, a compelling showcase of UWC’s impact, and an opportunity to connect with a community passionate about shaping a brighter future.

Amplify Your Impact – Fund Life-Changing Scholarships

At the UWC New York Gala 2025, your support helps exceptional students access a UWC education through two key funds:

The UWC Endowment Fund – Scholarships in perpetuity, ensuring long-term access to UWC.

Dare to Dream – UWC’s Scholarship Fund – Scholarships today, transforming lives now.

You can choose to support students at a specific UWC school, from a national committee, or through global access. Your contribution's impact will be amplified through matching opportunities, including the van Otterloo challenge.

Invest in the leaders of tomorrow. Invest in a more peaceful, sustainable future.

Together, we can build a legacy of peace and trust that will last for generations to come.

We look forward to celebrating with you at the UWC New York Gala 2025.

Donations to support UWC through the gala are eligible for tax deductibility in the U.S. through our fiscal sponsor, Myriad USA, a registered 501(c)(3) organisation.

Programme

UWC New York Gala 2025 Programme

18:00 - 18:45 | Arrival & peace reception in the Hall of History
Connect with high-level supporters and fellow advocates for education within the UWC Community
18:45 - 19:00 | Welcome address and opening remarks in the Davis Hall
19:00 - 20:30 | Dinner
Between the courses, guests can expect:

Testimonials from the UWC community: Engaging stories highlighting the real-world impact of a UWC education
UWC Peace Award to the Horizon Foundation
Fundraising appeal / Major gift announcement

20:30 - 21:30 | Dessert and post-dinner reception

Please note the dress code for the event is formal business (lounge suits, cocktail dresses) or national dress.

Tickets

We are delighted you plan to join us for the UWC New York Gala 2025, which promises to be a memorable evening.

If you haven't yet purchased your ticket or table sponsorship, please follow this link to complete your reservation.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS

For any inquiries, please contact Delphine Poschmann, Head of Philanthropy at UWC International, at events@uwcio.uwc.org.

Logistics and hotels

The UWC New York Gala 2025 will be held at the International House, 500 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10027, United States.

The venue is located in Upper Manhattan, near Columbia University and Harlem.

If you are choosing to travel by public transport, here are the best ways to reach it:

By Subway:

1 Train: Take the 1 train to 125th St station. From there, it’s about a 7-minute walk south along Broadway, then west on Tiemann Pl to Riverside Dr.
A, B, C, D Trains: Take any of these trains to 125th St (St. Nicholas Ave) and walk about 12 minutes west to Riverside Dr.

By Bus:

M4 or M5 Bus: Get off at Riverside Dr/W 120 St, which is very close to the address.
M104 or M11 Bus: These also stop nearby, along Broadway.

If you choose to spend the night in New York City, we have prepared a list of hotel recommendations.

Mandarin Oriental - 5 stars
   5.3 mi (17 min by car) from International House
Hotel Belleclaire - 4 stars
   3.5 mi (12 min by car) from International House
Hotel Edison - 4 stars
   5.6 mi (21 min by car) from International House
Arthouse Hotel NYC - 4 stars
   3.7 mi (14 min by car) from International House
The Lucerne Hotel - 4 stars
   3.5 mi (12 min by car) from International House
Hotel Beacon - 3 stars
   3.7 mi (13 min by car) from International House
The Wallace - 4 stars
   3.6 mi (12 min by car) from International House
Hilton Garden Inn NY/Central Park - 4 stars
   5.1 mi (17 min by car) from International House
West House Hotel NY - 4 stars
   4.8 mi (17 min by car) from International House
Ameritania Hotel - 3 stars
   5.1 mi (19 min by car) for International House

Highlights from the last gala

The UWC New York Gala 2023 raised USD 720,000 in funding

The UWC New York Gala 2023 raised an incredible USD 720,000 in scholarship funds, celebrating 60 years of UWC education and 40 years of UWC-USA.

Juan Pablo di Pace hosted the evening, which featured an inspiring discussion on education and radical inclusion with Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro and Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, moderated by Arpita Varghese. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, the president of UWC and Fabiola Villanueva presented the ‘UWC Awards for Peace and Sustainability in Education’ to honour outstanding philanthropists.

Powerful alumni stories, including those of Malou from Kakuma Refugee Camp and Huma from Afghanistan, highlighted the life-changing impact of a UWC education.

Find out more about the last gala here.

UWC Innovation for Impact Forum - 10 May 2025

The UWC Innovation for Impact Forum will take place on Saturday, 10 May 2025. This event, the first of its kind, will highlight UWC alumni-led initiatives that drive positive change across the world through the values of sustainability, peace and global citizenship.

Organised in partnership with UWC schools and colleges, it serves as a space to engage with the broader UWC international community and as a platform for inspiration, networking and collaboration.

Gala attendees and the wider UWC community are invited to this post-gala event, where they can join UWC International in celebrating the UWC New York Gala 2025 and the collective impact of the UWC community.

More information on ticket purchasing will be available soon.