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Celebrating Achievement

The Golden Door Award Gala

The Golden Door Award Gala has been a special tradition at the International Institute of New England for more than 50 years. This event honors a person born outside the U.S. who has made outstanding contributions to American society. Our annual gala is an occasion to stand together in celebration of the achievements of immigrants who have played an integral role in our communities, economy, and society.

From her beacon hand glows world-wide welcome …
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

-Emma Lazarus

UPCOMING EVENT

Centennial Golden Door Award Gala

The organization has been welcoming and resettling refugees and immigrants in the region for more than a century. Our Centennial Golden Door Award Gala will honor that history by bringing together past honorees and community partners for a very special celebration of a century of welcoming.

  • Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
  • Omni Seaport Hotel Boston, 450 Summer St. Boston MA
  • Registration begins 5:30 pm
Learn About the Event

Past Golden Door Award Honorees

I.M. Pei – 1970
Arthur Fiedler – 1971
Anthony Athanas – 1972
Stephen P. Mugar – 1973
Gisela Wyzanski – 1974
Jean Mayer – 1976
Charles Maliotis – 1977
Humberto Sousa Cardinal Medeiros – 1978
Joseph Pellegrino – 1979
Laszlo J. Bonis – 1981
Gerhard Neumann – 1981
An Wang – 1982
John D. Constable – 1983
Jill Ker Conway – 1985
Thomas J. Flatley – 1986
Arthur Loeb – 1987
Yo-Yo Ma – 1988
Bernard Lown – 1989
Farouk El-Baz – 1992
Charles L. Schepens – 1994
George N. Hatsopoulos – 1996

Lelio “Les” Marino – 1998
Henri A. Termeer – 1999
Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande – 2001
Orit Gadiesh – 2002
Gabriel Schmergel – 2004
Victor Dzau – 2005
Dr. Kenan E. Sahin – 2006
Benjamin Zander – 2007
Mike Lowell – 2008
Deborah Dunsire – 2011
The Honorable Margaret Marshall – 2013
Dr. Omid Farokhzad – 2014
Claudio Del Vecchio – 2016
Dr. Noubar Afeyan – 2017
Dr. L. Rafael Reif – 2018
Dr. Joseph Aoun – 2019
Reshma Kewalramani, M.D. – 2021
Stéphane Bancel – 2022
Srikant M. Datar – 2023
Giovanni Caforio – 2024

Past Events

Golden Door Award 2024

March 4, 2024

We provide refugee resettlement services to people who are eager but filled with uncertainty as they move into a new culture and country.

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Golden Door Award 2023

May 15, 2023

The Gala is an occasion that calls us to stand together in celebration of the achievements of new Americans who have played an integral role in our community, economy, and society.

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Golden Door Award 2022

June 3, 2022

It is fitting that in the middle of a global pandemic, we are honoring a scientist and global leader of a company devoted to helping patients fight rare diseases.

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Golden Door Award 2021

April 27, 2021
The International Institute of New England is presenting this year’s Golden Door Award to Dr. Reshma Kewalramani.
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Golden Door Award 2019

November 21, 2019
Seven hundred people gathered at Matthews Arena last night to honor Dr. Joseph E. Aoun, the president of Northeastern University.
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Golden Door Award 2018

November 29, 2018
IINE and MIT share a deep commitment to supporting the vital role immigrants play as catalysts in New England’s economy, industry, and innovation spaces.
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