Stephen and Christine Schwarzman Honored at the Animal Medical Center’s Top Dog Gala

Photo Credit: Brian Dorsey Studios

The Animal Medical Center (AMC) honored Stephen and Christine Schwarzman at its annual Top Dog Gala in recognition of their transformational $25 million gift to AMC’s Gift of Love Capital Campaign to expand and renovate the hospital’s 60-year-old building. The Gala also honored the FDNY K9 Unit and the non-profit Crisis Response Canines. The event raised $2.3 million to support all aspects of AMC’s non-profit mission, including education, research, and the provision of compassionate, collaborative care for animals in need.

The benefit, co-chaired by Nancy Kissinger, Elaine Langone, Elizabeth Monaco McCarthy, Marianne Mebane, and Annette de la Renta, was held on Tuesday, December 13th at Cipriani 42nd Street. Over 450 guests were in attendance, including: Kenneth and Elaine Langone, Charles and Ann Johnson, Annette de la Renta, Bernadette Peters, Serena Boardman, Deborah Norville, Zibby Owens, and Dina Powell, Arnold and Paola Rosenshein. Kalliope Karella welcomed Christine and Stephen Swartzman on stage. Renowned event designer David Monn transformed the space into a French Countryside theme. All the tables have statues of dogs, and the ceiling and whole room were animal themed. The spectacularly decorated room of Cipriani was magnificent.

“We are proud to honor Steve and Christine as our 2022 distinguished Top Dog Honorees,” said Kathryn Coyne, President and Chief Executive Officer of Schwarzman AMC. “We are humbled and deeply grateful to have their support, which will ensure AMC’s legacy of excellence in advancing veterinary medicine well into the future, helping hundreds of thousands of pets and their families in the years to come.”

“Through our philanthropy, we look for institutions that are changing paradigms and making an outsized impact on their field. AMC is a true center of excellence for veterinary medicine and a preeminent teaching hospital. We’re pleased to help recognize the critical role AMC has played over the last 100-plus years and the impact it can have over the next century,” said Stephen and Christine Schwarzman.

Photo Credit: Brian Dorsey Studios

“The Schwarzman’s extraordinary philanthropy has impacted individuals and organizations throughout the world, and we are truly grateful to be included among the many esteemed beneficiary institutions,” said Robert Liberman, Chairman, Board of Trustees at the Schwarzman AMC.

In a surprise to everyone at the gala and in recognition of retiring President & CEO Kathryn Coyne’s 12 years of service, an additional $5 million gift was announced, catapulting the capital campaign to its $100 million.

The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) is the world’s largest non-profit animal hospital with 130+ veterinarians providing the highest quality medical care across more than 20 specialties and services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our mission to provide the best in care, research, and education has been the foundation of our work for over a century.

The FDNY K-9 Unit was put into service in 2017 with just one dog. A second dog was added a year later, and by 2020, there were four new dogs. Today, there are a total of six dogs in the FDNY K-9 Unit. They are all rescue dogs who have been trained by Fire Marshal handlers to perform highly specialized functions for the FDNY. Five of the dogs are named after FDNY members who have died in the line of duty. They are Bucca, named for Fire Marshal Ronald Bucca; Pete, named for Chief of Department Pete Ganci; Yadi, named after EMT Yadira Arroyo; Judge, named after FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge.