The Franklin Institute Awards Ceremony & Dinner

2026 Awards Ceremony & Dinner
April 30, 2026
5:30pm to 11:00pm

For over two centuries, the Franklin Institute Awards has honored the most talented scientists and engineers, inventors and innovators from across the globe and brought them to Philadelphia to be recognized for their incredible genius. The annual black-tie Awards Ceremony & Dinner includes a cocktail reception, the Awards ceremony and presentation of medals, followed by dinner, drinks and dessert all within the historic walls of The Franklin Institute. The essential funds raised from this event help to fulfill our mission to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology in the diverse communities we serve, encouraging the next generation of Franklin laureates. 

The 2026 Awards event will be led by Awards Corporate Committee Chair David Greed of KPMG and Host Committee Chairs Stephen and Michelle Kelly.

Sponsorship & Ticket Information

2026 Franklin Institute Awards Sponsors

2025 Award Stage

For event information, contact:

Tegan Aherne-Dixon, Manager, Development Events
tahernedixon@fi.edu
215.448.1352

For information on sponsorships, contact:

Casey Satell, Director of Institutional Giving
csatell@fi.edu
215.448.2378

Presenting Sponsor

Bank of America Logo

Awards Week Sponsor

kpmg sponsor logo

 

 

Awards Committees

Awards Corporate Committee

 

David Greed, Chair

KPMG

 

Mimi Drake, Vice Chair

Cerity Partners, LLC

 

Steven Asplundh

Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC

 

Suchit Bachalli

Unilog, Inc.

 

Jeewat Bijlani

Quaker Houghton

 

Renee B. Booth, Ph.D.

Leadership Solutions, Inc.

 

James F. Dever, Jr.

Bank of America

 

Michael Forman

Future Standard

 

Chris Fralic

First Round Capital

 

Chris Franklin

Essential Utilities

 

Dixieanne James

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals

 

Lisa D. Kabnick

Retired, Troutman Pepper

 

Jami McKeon

Morgan Lewis

 

Rob McMenamin

Bank of America

 

Joe Meterchick

PNC Bank

 

Bob Moore

Crossbeam

 

Arlen Shenkman

UKG

 

Michael Vennera

Independence Blue Cross

Awards Host Committee

 
  • Stephen and Michelle Kelly, Co-Chairs
  • Sandra K. Baldino
  • Roz Basra
  • Christine and Wade Berrettini
  • Heather and Fritz Bittenbender
  • Maureen Brennan-Miller
  • Amanda M. Bruno
  • Anthony and Tara Bucci
  • Marci and Ian Comisky
  • Christine Clelland, M.D., MBA, FAAFP
  • Alice M. Dagit
  • Michael DeSimone and Susan Hughes, M.D.
  • James F. Dever and Lynn G. Dever, M.D.
  • Barbara Eberlein and Jerry Wind
  • Jennifer and Chris Franklin
  • Andrea and Bruce Freundlich
  • Ed and Sharon Gaffney
  • Grete and Martyn Greenacre
  • Mimi T. Greenly
  • Jacqui and David Griffith
  • Thanuja Hamilton, M.D. and Nicholas Perugino
  • Linda Hauptfuhrer
  • Sally and Dick Henriques
  • Hollie and Jamie Holt
  • Jenny Hourihan and John Bailin
  • Barbara Klock, M.D. and Salem Shuchman
  • Jackie and Eric Kraeutler
  • Molly and Ken Lawrence
  • Charisse R. Lillie and Thomas McGill
  • Bret Logue
  • Amy and Bryan MacIntyre
  • Sandy and David Marshall
  • Thomas and Linda McCarthy
  • Marie McCormick, Ph.D. and Patrick McCormick
  • Leanne M. and Rob McMenamin
  • Karen F. Minyard
  • Amanda B. Mucklé
  • Denise and John Philipp
  • Cynthia D. Rugart
  • Eric Rugart
  • Eckart W. Schwarz, M.D.
  • Melissa and Tom Trala
  • Brandt Welker
  • Lyn Wiesinger
  • Monica and Michael Wondrasch
  • Lisa and Paul Yakulis
  • Karen Zimmer Paul, M.D., MPH