you’re invited
heroes of democracy gala
April 17th, 2026 | Gotham Hall | New York City
Honoring:
Ambassador John Bolton
The Honorable Chrystia Freeland Senator Mark Kelly
Bobi Wine
RDI Chairman Garry Kasparov invites you to celebrate freedom and those that make it possible at a unique evening mixing glamor, dinner, and most importantly, community and inspiration. Plenty of organizations focus on what they’re fighting against. RDI’s Heroes of Democracy Gala is an opportunity to envision the future that we’re fighting for. Our honorees didn’t merely take great personal risks to defend freedom; they understood that they had to offer people something to aspire to. We’re excited to honor them and raise a toast with an incredible group of people! More details to follow.
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Admission: 6:30pm-10:30pm
Dress Code: Formal Attire
Honorees
2026 heroes of democracy
Ambassador John Bolton
– US National Security Advisor
2018-19)
– US Ambassador to the UN
(2005-06)
Ambassador John Bolton has spent his career promoting American leadership on the world stage. He broke with the Trump administration over its abandonment of America’s democratic allies. Last year, the administration sent federal agents to raid Ambassador Bolton’s home and indicted him in an action widely seen as political retaliation—reinforcing Bolton’s reputation as someone who puts principles over partisan loyalties, no matter the risks.
Chrystia Freeland
– Economic Advisor to President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
– Finance Minister, Deputy Prime
Minister of Canada (2020-24)
– Foreign Minister of Canada
(2017-19)
Chrystia Freeland, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, is the incoming Chief Executive of the Rhodes Trust and an economic advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A public servant, international negotiator, and author, she is a leading advocate for liberal democracy and a fellow at the Harvard
Kennedy School.
Senator Mark Kelly
– US Senator for Arizona
– Captain, US Navy (ret.)
– NASA Astronaut (1996-2011)
Senator Mark Kelly saw combat as a naval aviator in the Gulf War and served on four space shuttle missions, commanding two. Together with his wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords, he co-founded the gun safety organization GIFFORDS. More recently, Senator Kelly faced threats to his life and freedom for calling on members of the military to obey their constitutional oaths.
Bobi Wine
– President of the National Unity
Platform of Uganda
– Member of the Parliament of
Uganda (2017-21)
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known internationally as Bobi Wine, left behind a career as a music superstar to stand up for freedom in Uganda. He has run for president twice, facing vote-rigging and intimidation. After the most recent fraudulent election, the regime ramped up its threats of arrest, forcing Mr. Ssentamu into hiding. He continues to fight for democracy with bravery and
unshakable optimism.
Hosts
RSVP TODAY
Gala tickets
General Admission: $500
- Includes 1 ticket to Gala
Heroes of Tomorrow (Young Professionals): $250
- Includes 1 ticket to Gala
Student Ticket (Undergraduate and Graduate): $100
- Includes 1 ticket to Gala
VIP Ticket: $1,750
- Includes 1 ticket to Gala & 1 ticket to Chairman’s Cocktail Reception hosted by Garry Kasparov
Gala Patron: $5,000
- Includes 2 tickets to Gala, 2 tickets to Chairman’s Cocktail Reception hosted by Garry Kasparov, featured in promotional materials, and underwrites a ticket for a Frontline Fellow dissident and a college student to attend.
Sponsorship opportunities
(See Sponsorships Opportunities Page below for more details):
Chairman’s Sponsor: $100,000
- Includes recognition as the “Presenting Event Sponsor” in all event materials, two full VIP tables with preferential placement (20 tickets) with full access to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception, underwriting Gala tickets for 12 dissidents, young professionals, or students, a full page advertisement in the program, and more
Democracy Visionary: $50,000
- Includes one full table with preferential placement (10 tickets), 10 tickets to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception, underwriting Gala tickets for 8 dissidents, young professionals, or students, a half-page advertisement in the program, and more.
Dissident Defender: $30,000
- Includes one full table with preferential placement (10 tickets), 5 tickets to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception, underwriting Gala tickets for 4 dissidents, young professionals, or students to attend the Gala, and more.
Campus Catalyst: $15,000
- Includes a half table (5 tickets), 2 tickets to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception hosted by Garry Kasparov, underwriting Gala tickets for 2 college students, and more.
Human Rights Hero: $10,000
- Includes 4 tickets to Gala, 2 tickets to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception hosted by Garry Kasparov, underwriting Gala tickets for 2 dissidents, and more.
Please fill in your information below to purchase your tickets to the 2026 RDI Heroes of Democracy Gala. Contact AnneElyse DeArment at giving@rdi.org for additional information, sponsorships, and payment options.
Email giving@rdi.org with any questions.
Sponsorship opportunities
The fight for freedom is a generational one–and we can’t do it alone. We need your support to amplify the voices of those standing up to oppression, inspire action through powerful storytelling, and build a global community committed to defending democracy.
See our full sponsorship opportunities below and email RDI Development Coordinator AnneElyse DeArment at giving@rdi.org to learn more.
Thanks to this year’s sponsors and host committee
Sponsors
- Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
- Walter Fiederowicz
- Marni Grossman
- Houston and Michelle Hall
- Igor Kirman
- Chris Lawson
- Pürblack
- Marc and Anna Rotenberg
- Alisa Savetamal
- Jack and Christie Tomarchio
- Gunnar and Helma Wiedenfels
Host Committee Members
- Fatima Aba Alasrar
- Licy Do Canto
- Walter Fiederowicz
- Ilya Figelman
- Ben Hodges
- Henrik Rasmussen
- Nodari Rizun
- Marc and Anna Rotenberg
- Alisa Savetamal
- Rina Shah
- Jack Tomarchio
Past Honorees include:
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