Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan | Archdiocese of New York

The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner will mark its 80th year on October 16, 2025, returning to the Waldorf Astoria New York after the hotel's recent reopening. The event, hosted by Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York, is set to benefit women and children in need.

Former Secretaries of State Mike Pompeo and Antony Blinken are scheduled to deliver keynote addresses at the dinner. Robert Kraft, founder, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and owner of the New England Patriots, will receive the 2025 Happy Warrior Award.

"The Smith Dinner’s triumphant return to its traditional home at the Waldorf Astoria New York represents a significant milestone for both the prestigious charity event and Manhattan’s hospitality landscape," according to organizers. The Waldorf Astoria reopened in 2025 following extensive renovations.

In 2024, the dinner raised nearly $10 million for charitable causes. The event is recognized as an important tradition in New York's cultural and philanthropic life.

Past speakers at the Smith Dinner have included former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, columnist Peggy Noonan, General Dwight Eisenhower, Michael Bloomberg, and President Donald Trump.

Previous recipients of the Happy Warrior Award include Ken Langone, Peter Grauer, and Rob Speyer.

Media interested in covering the event must apply for credentials through the Office of Communications of the Archdiocese of New York. Credentials are issued at the discretion of both the Archdiocese and the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.