American Committee leadership passes the gavel
L to R: ACWIS CEO Dave Doneson, outgoing National Chair Ellen Merlo, National Chair David Teplow, and President Dr. Gladys Monroy
The American Committee held its Leadership Retreat and Annual Meeting in New York City in the fall. The opening event, dubbed the “Transformative Power of Philanthropy,” featured a panel discussion with Prof. Avidgor Scherz of Weizmann’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Dr. Jonathan Coleman of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. American Committee CEO Dave Doneson moderated the discussion, and thanked the Thompson Family Foundation for their monumental support of this partnership since 2011.
“The story of the Thompson Family Foundation, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and the Weizmann Institute is part of a continuum of transformational philanthropy that has been the American Committee’s inspiration for the past 75 years,” Mr. Doneson said.
Attendees also watched a compelling video in which President’s Circle Chairman Lester Crown shared his thoughts on science and philanthropy. The evening drew to a close with a tribute to Ellen Merlo, who concluded her term as National Chair, a position she has held since 2013. Mr. Doneson thanked Ms. Merlo for her years of service, commitment, and friendship.
The next day, lay leaders participated in a communications skills workshop tailored toward helping each participant tell their personal Weizmann story. The successful retreat concluded with the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors during which Ms. Merlo passed the American Committee’s official gavel to new National Chair David Teplow of Boston, and Dr. Gladys Monroy of the Bay Area was elected President.
