Legends of Atlanta Gala Raises Nearly $400,000


DENVER - On May 12, 2025, National Jewish Health, the leading respiratory hospital in the nation, held the Legends of Atlanta Gala, Forever Young: A Tribute to Andrew J. Young, at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. Local business, civic and philanthropic leaders filled the room, raising nearly $400,000 to support compassionate, personalized care and groundbreaking medical research that improve the lives of children and adults living with complex lung, heart, immune and related diseases.

Ambassador Andrew Young was the special honoree of the evening receiving the National Jewish Health Humanitarian Award, in recognition of his extraordinary legacy of leadership and public service. The evening highlighted the many facets of his life as an Ambassador, three-term U.S. congressman and Mayor of Atlanta, among his many other achievements as a civil rights leader and visionary.

“No one can achieve what Ambassador Young has achieved in his lifetime without an enduring faith and dedication to a cause,” said Greg Downey, MD, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost at National Jewish Health, who delivered the keynote remarks for the institution. “Like Ambassador Young, we also have been dedicated to a cause throughout our history, one of saving lives and improving health for more than 125 years,” he added. Dr. Downey also shared details about the hospital’s history and legacy of bringing hope and healing to people around the world.

Throughout the evening, special guests offered tributes to Ambassador Young, including the city’s current and four living former mayors. Many of his lifelong friends also offered tributes, including Billye Aaron, philanthropist, TV host and widow of baseball legend Hank Aaron. She commended Ambassador Young’s compassion, unshakable determination and vision to improve the lives of people everywhere. Video messages were delivered by Oprah Winfrey, Senator Raphael Warnock, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and owner of the Atlanta Hawks Tony Ressler, who all have been inspired by Ambassador Young.

Guests mingled and enjoyed dinner and musical entertainment by the Trey Clegg Singers and The Will Scruggs Trio.    

Co-chairs of the event were: Mrs. Aaron; Paul Hagedorn, a member of the National Jewish Health Council of National Trustees; and business leader Billy Payne, with whom Ambassador Young partnered on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. The Ambassador Sponsor for the event was The Seedworks Fund. Chick-fil-A, Cox Enterprises and Truist supported as Icon Sponsors, while Georgia Pacific was a Leadership Sponsor. See the full list of Atlanta and Georgia-based sponsors who generously supported this event.

This event was the second Legends of Atlanta Gala presented by National Jewish Health — the first called Art Is GOLD, was held in 2023 and honored Fay Gold, an icon of contemporary arts, a famed gallerist and a philanthropist.
 

National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of children and adults with respiratory, cardiac, immune, and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit the media resources page.


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