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2026 MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala to Honor Tim Green, Dr. Merit Cudkowicz, and IEX Exchange in the Fight to End ALS

The 26th Annual MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala to Benefit ALS Research will take place on Thursday, June 4, hosted by Bill Ritter, ABC7 New York Eyewitness News.

New York, NY, Tuesday, April 21, 2026 – The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) 2026 Wings Over Wall Street Gala to benefit amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research will take place Thursday, June 4 at 48 Wall Street Events in New York City, hosted by Bill Ritter of ABC7 New York Eyewitness News. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 event are available here, with event updates posted here.

The event honors:

• Tim Green — former NFL player, attorney at Barclay Damon LLP, broadcaster, and bestselling author living with ALS
• Dr. Merit Cudkowicz — Executive Director of the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute and leading ALS neurologist and clinical researcher
• IEX Exchange — recognized for its commitment to advancing ALS research, inspired by a deep personal connection to the disease

"When my wife Toni and I started MDA Wings Over Wall Street, we never imagined it would grow into the powerful force it is today," said Warren Schiffer, co-founder of the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala. "She lost her battle with ALS in 2004, and we carry her memory every year when families, scientists, and business leaders come together to fund critical ALS research and bring hope to people diagnosed with this devastating disease. It’s a privilege to see our vision make a real difference in the fight to end ALS and humbling to have the support of like-minded people who have joined this fight for life."

For 26 years, the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala has brought together the financial community, corporate partners, families, and advocates to drive progress toward treatments and a cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Since its founding, the event has raised more than $13.4 million to advance research and strengthen advocacy for people living with ALS. During that time, ALS has evolved from a disease with virtually no treatment options to one with growing scientific momentum—fueled by advances in genetics, targeted therapies, and an expanding research pipeline. At the same time, improvements in multidisciplinary care and advocacy have extended survival, enhanced quality of life, and deepened support for the ALS community.

"The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Wings Over Wall Street Gala shows what’s possible when leaders across business, science, and families unite with a shared purpose," said Ruth Ann Dailey, Chief Development Officer, MDA. "Through these partnerships, we are fueling groundbreaking research, expanding access to expert care, and moving ever closer to new treatments for ALS."

2026 MDA Wings Over Wall Street Honorees

Spirit Award: Tim Green
The Spirit Award is presented to a person who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to eradicating ALS through raising awareness, advocating for funding, and promoting research for a cure. Tim Green, former Syracuse University football standout and Atlanta Falcons defensive end, bestselling author, attorney, and broadcaster, will be honored with the 2026 Spirit Award. Diagnosed with ALS in 2018, Green has inspired millions through his resilience, transparency, and advocacy, using his platform to elevate awareness and call for urgency in funding research.

"Being honored with the Spirit Award by the Muscular Dystrophy Association is incredibly humbling. ALS has challenged me and my family in ways I never imagined, but it has also shown me the power of community to raise funds and advocate together. Events like the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala give hope, raise critical funding, and drive the research that will one day end this disease. I’m proud to be alongside these deserving honorees as we push forward toward cures in my lifetime," said Tim Green.

Diamond Award: Dr. Merit Cudkowicz
The Diamond Award, named in honor of MDA Wings Over Wall Street co-founder Toni Diamond, recognizes a scientific leader dedicated to the eradication of ALS. Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSC, is a neurologist and clinical researcher at the MDA/ALS Care Center at Mass General and serves as Executive Director of the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute. She is also Director of the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS and Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. A global leader who received her first ever research grant from MDA in ALS clinical trials, Dr. Cudkowicz co-founded the Network of Excellence in ALS Consortium (NEALS), has pioneered innovative clinical trial designs and advanced biomarker discovery, accelerating the development of new therapies.

“Being honored with the Diamond Award, two decades after the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala first recognized me, is incredible. Thanks to fundraising through the Muscular Dystrophy Association—and the passionate people and families impacted by ALS who organize this event—we’ve driven remarkable progress in ALS research, clinical care, innovative platform trials like the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial, and policy change that has secured historic federal research investment. This momentum—spanning new treatment options, clinical trials, and strengthened advocacy—brings us ever closer to cures for people with ALS,” said Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSC, Neurologist and Clinical Researcher at the MDA/ALS Care Center at Mass General.

Michael P. Beier Award: IEX Exchange
The Michael P. Beier Award, named in honor of former MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala chair Michael Beier, who passed away from ALS at the age of 39 in 2003, is given to a person or organization that inspires, encourages, and motivates others with devotion and energy to find a cure for ALS. IEX is honored for its dedicated partnership supporting the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala and advancing ALS research through corporate leadership and philanthropy. John Schwall, Co-founder and former Chief Operating Officer of the IEX Exchange, has a deep personal connection to the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala, having lost his mother to ALS in 2008.

“At IEX, we are proud to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala to fund the urgent work to end ALS,” said Ronan Ryan, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of IEX. “This recognition reflects what’s possible when a community unites behind a shared purpose to advance research, strengthen access to care, and deliver real progress and hope for people and families living with ALS.”

Sponsors
The 2026 MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala is made possible through the generous support of leading corporate partners, including:
AEGIS, Association of Wall-Ceiling & Carpentry Industries of New York, Barclay Damon LLP, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Fidi Hospitality, General Reinsurance, Healey Family, IEX, LJM Group, New York Life, Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins, SL Green Realty Corp, Shionogi Inc., USI Affinity, VectorY Therapeutics, and WABC-TV (ABC7).

Committee Members
Anjan Aralihalli, Grace Bain, Jamie Brierley, Tim Brooks, Jim Condron, Brandon Hanna, A. Scott Horak, Lauren Horak, Morgan Jaycox, Sue Jaycox, Grace Oakey, Jennifer Olson, Larry P. Schiffer, Warren J. Schiffer, Neil A. Shneider, Kimberly Unger, Lisa Marie Utasi, Jenna Walsh, Matt Weinberg.

Media inquiries contact press@mdausa.org.

About the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala

The MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala was founded in 2000 by ALS patient and flight attendant Toni Diamond and her husband, Warren Schiffer, with a shared mission to raise critical funds for ALS research in pursuit of treatments and a cure. Shortly thereafter, Michael Beier – also newly diagnosed with ALS and then Director of Equity Trading at Credit Suisse First Boston – learned of the effort and quickly became instrumental in its growth, securing sponsorships from the Wall Street community at an extraordinary pace. In recognition of his leadership and commitment, Beier was named co-chair, helping to establish the MDA Wings Over Wall Street Gala as a signature philanthropic event.

What began as a grassroots initiative within the financial community has since grown into one of the nation’s leading ALS fundraising events. Learn more about MDA’s impact on ALS at MDA.org/EndALSwithMDA.

About Muscular Dystrophy Association

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has been at the center of progress for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and over 300 other neuromuscular conditions for 75 years. We unite researchers, clinicians, advocates, and families to speed the pace of discovery, improve access to expert care, and ensure inclusion in every aspect of life. Our mission is simple: give the people we serve the tools and opportunities to live longer, more independent lives. To learn more visit mda.org. Follow MDA on social media on Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.