ABOUT US

The Ellis Island Honors Society heralds the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity and celebrates the contributions immigrants and their progeny have made to our nation. 

In 1986, Ellis Island Honors Society founded the Ellis Island Medals of Honor which commemorates the indefatigable spirit of those who immigrated to the United States during the Ellis Island era. The Medal is presented annually to those who have shown an outstanding commitment to serving our nation either professionally, culturally or civically, among other criteria. 


OUR MISSION

The mission of the Ellis Island Honors Society is captured in a single phrase: “IMMIGRATION WORKS FOR AMERICA”

The Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) was founded on the conviction that the diversity of the American people is what makes this nation great. EIHS honors the contributions made by immigrants and their descendants throughout American history. We do this by creating scholarships with a focus on immigration, supporting cultural events and programs around the nation, and mobilizing our community of Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients to raise funds for disaster relief worldwide.   

Since the medal was founded, we have honored distinguished and diverse Americans including Presidents Ronald Reagan and William J. Clinton, as well as five other Presidents of the United States. Past Medalists include seven U.S. Presidents, several Nobel Laureates and countless leaders of industry; education; the arts; sports, and government. All whom have made freedom, liberty and compassion a part of their life's work.

For more information or to become a corporate sponsor please contact: Kate Haas at (212) 755-1492.

 
 

 

CHAIRMAN

Nasser J. Kazeminy

 
 

ELLIS ISLAND HONORS SOCIETY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LTG Gwen Bingham, USA

Hon. Dan Burton

Amb. Nancy Brinker

Eduardo Del Riego

Jennifer Fischer

Hon. Louis Freeh

Yue-Sai Kan

Gene Lockhart

Martha “Muffy” MacMillan

Karol V. Mason

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Jane Panattoni

William Pope

Hon. Charles Rangel

Kathy Roth-Douquet

John Scarpa

John Sculley

Howard Shecter, Esq.

Hon. Eugene Sullivan

Dr. James Weinstein

ELLIS ISLAND MEDALS OF HONOR

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sanford Climan

Wendy Diamond

Adam Falkoff

Dr. Eugene Holuka

Adib Kassis

Michelle Ketchum

A. Alex Lari

Andy Madadian

Monica Mayer Morales

Commissioner Patrick Murphy

Ronald Onesti

Joseph Pizza

Marvin Scott

Rahul Singla

Charles Pei Wang

John Youn Young Park

Wallace Zeins

James Ziglar