Joan Hornig to Receive Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award

Water Mill philanthropist, art patron and jewelry designer Joan Hornig will receive the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award, presented annually by The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO).  The awards, given each year to Americans who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate “while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America,” will be presented on May 10 at an elegant ceremony and dinner on historic Ellis Island.

A successful Wall Street professional for more than 20 years, Hornig is founder of her own jewelry line which donates’ 100 percent of sales profits to the charity of each purchaser’s choice. The donations are made possible through her Joan B. Hornig Foundation, which has given to more than 800 worthy initiatives around the world, addressing issues such as education, medical research, social services, the arts, animal rights and environmental protection.

Along with Hornig, a number of distinguished Americans will receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, including TV host, author and financial expert Maria Bartiromo, So You Think You Can Dance creator and celebrity judge Nigel Lythgoe, U.S. Representative Ed Royce, Fashion Designer Elie Tahari, Secretary of State Senior Advisor and Former United States Ambassador to Italy David Thorne, National Guard Bureau General Frank J. Grass, TV host and humanitarian Yue-Sai Kan, Cosmetics Entrepreneur Victoria Jackson and more than 100 others.

The ceremony will be followed by a gala dinner in the historic Great Hall. Emmy-winning WPIX-11 Senior Correspondent Marvin Scott and renowned entertainer Tom Dreesen will be the night’s masters of ceremony.