you’re invited
heroes of democracy gala
April 15th, 2026 | New York City
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: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Admission: 6:30pm-10:30pm
Dress Code: Formal Attire
honorees
heroes of democracy
Check back soon to see our 2026 Honorees!
Past Honorees include:
2025:
- Admiral William H. McRaven, who led the operation to eliminate Osama bin Laden as head of US Special Operations Command.
- The rightfully-elected leaders of Venezuela, President-Elect Edmundo González and Opposition Leader María Machado.
- Astronauts Colonel Terry W. Virts and Captain Scott Kelly, former commanders of the international Space Station, and Aisha Bowe, Blue Origin astronaut and former NASA rocket scientist.
2024:
- Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has unwaveringly stood up to autocrats.
- Representative Adam Kinzinger, who took great personal and political risks to defend democracy in the US and Senator John Fetterman, who has unflinchingly defended our democratic allies in Ukraine and Israel.
- Courageous Georgia poll workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who did their duty in 2020 despite unprecedented personal attacks from election deniers.
2023:
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba
- Rwandan Dissident Carine Kanimba, daughter of Hotel Rwanda hero Paul Rusesabagina,
- Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough and her colleagues
- Philanthropist Howard Buffett
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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 Include (See Sponsorships Opportunities Page below for more details) – Contact AnneElyse DeArment at giving@rdi.org for payment and sponsorship questions:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Chairman’s Sponsor: $75, 000 | Includes recognition as the “Presenting Event Sponsor” in all event materials, one full VIP table with preferential placement (10 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
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.
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