To cap off April in dazzling style, Figure Skating in Harlem hosted its highly anticipated 2025 Gala on Wednesday, April 30th, at the elegant Ziegfeld Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan. The inspiring evening brought together over 400 guests in support of the Harlem-based nonprofit, which has garnered national attention as the subject of Disney+’s hit docu-series Harlem Ice, produced by industry legends Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Robin Roberts.
The gala spotlighted the organization’s 28-year commitment to empowering girls and young women through a unique blend of figure skating, academic enrichment, and leadership development. Since its founding, Figure Skating in Harlem has served nearly 2,000 students from Harlem and throughout New York City.
The evening was emceed by CBS Mornings+ Anchor Adriana Diaz and included a powerful mix of performances, heartfelt speeches, and award presentations. Among the high-profile attendees were CBS Mornings Co-Host Gayle King, renowned fashion designer Vera Wang, World Figure Skating Champion Ilia Malinin, and Olympic gold medalists Madison Chock & Evan Bates.
Gayle King attended to support her CBS colleague Vladimir Duthiers, who was honored for his contributions alongside philanthropic couple Candace and Bruce Matthews, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The award on behalf of Bloomberg was accepted by Erana Stennett, Regional Lead for Bloomberg Corporate Philanthropy in Africa and the Middle East.
Presenters for the evening included actress Tamara Tunie (via video), philanthropist Ann M. Fudge, and CBS News National Correspondent Jericka Duncan. A special tribute was also paid to Dr. Tenley E. Albright, the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating.
Additional highlights included a stirring performance by the Figure Skating in Harlem Spoken Word team, alumna reflections from Zenzile Imani Tonge, and moving remarks from Board Chair Tina Lundgren and Founder & CEO Sharon Cohen.
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, this year’s gala raised an impressive $1.2 million to fund Figure Skating in Harlem’s 2025–26 programs, ensuring continued access to transformative opportunities for the next generation of girls.
