Inaugural LAF Gala Dinner a Success
On October 10, LAF held its first-ever Gala Dinner at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, immediately preceding LAF's 40th Annual Benefit. This smaller, private event was piloted with the LAF Board of Directors, Board Emeriti, and their guests, combining aspects from several previously standalone LAF events.
The 2025 LAF Olmsted Scholars were recognized, with 41 of the 91 scholars in attendance, including the two National Olmsted Scholars — Issam Azzam of Harvard University and Olive Tang of the University of California, Davis — who gave short presentations about the work they are moving forward.
Kristina Hill, PhD, was presented with the 2025 LAF Medal for her work as a researcher, educator, community leader, and advocate working at the intersection of urban design, ecology, and social justice. As Past President Michael Grove said it his introduction, "Kristina's career has been a masterclass in what it means to lead with both intellect and conscience. She’s shown that resilience isn’t only about raising seawalls or redirecting tides... It's about strengthening the bonds between people and place. It’s about designing with courage, with humility, and with care."
Dennis Otsuji was presented with the 2025 LAF Legacy Award for his extraordinary service to the organization. Dennis was instrumental in creating a pivotal point for LAF in its near 60-year history, setting the stage for it to grow into the organization it is today. The 2025 LAF Founders' Award winner, the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, was also recognized.
Overall, the pilot Gala Dinner was a success and set the stage for future years. Combined with the LAF Annual Benefit that followed the dinner, the two events set a new record for fundraising to support LAF and our research, scholarships and leadership programs. Thank you to all who attended! More photos from the event can be found on LAF's Flickr page.
