80^th AL SMITH DINNER TO BE HELD AT WALDORF ASTORIA NEW YORK
Historic Dinner Returns to Iconic Manhattan Hotel Following Eight-Year Renovation

The 80th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner benefiting women and children in need will take place on October 16, 2025 at the newly reopened Waldorf Astoria New York. The event, hosted by Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will feature keynote address by former Secretaries of State Antony J. Blinken and Michael R. Pompeo, with Robert K. Kraft as the recipient of the 2025Happy Warrior Award.

The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, held annually on the third Thursday of October at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, is hosted by the Archbishop of New York and raises funds for charities supporting vulnerable women and children in the Archdiocese of New York. The upcoming event will mark the 80th anniversary of this distinguished gathering, adding special significance to its return to the historic venue. The dinner has been a fixture of New York’s social and political calendar for decades, traditionally bringing together presidential candidates in election years for an evening of humor and charity.

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. After an eight-year closure for extensive renovations, the iconic hotel reopened in 2025, restoring the legendary Park Avenue landmark to its former grandeur.

The 2024 dinner raised a record almost-$10 million, demonstrating the enduring appeal and importance of this charitable tradition. The reunion of the Al Smith Dinner with the Waldorf Astoria reinforces both institutions’ roles as cornerstones of New York’s cultural and philanthropic heritage.

Secretary Pompeo served as 70^th Secretary of State from 2018-2021.  Prior to becoming Secretary of State, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and as a Congressman from Kansas.

Secretary Blinken served as the 71^st Secretary of State from 2021-2025.  He also served as deputy Secretary of State from 2015-2017 and as Democratic staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Previous Smith Dinner speakers include former Secretary of State Henry Kissenger, columnist and speech writer Peggy Noonan, General Dwight Eisenhower, and Michael Bloomberg.  President Donald Trump addressed the 2024 dinner.

Robert Kraft, recipient of the Happy Warrior Award, is founder, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group.  He is an American entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist and owner and CEO of the New England Patriots, among other holdings. Previous Happy Warrior recipients include Ken Langone, Peter Grauer, and Rob Speyer.

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NOTE: Media wishing to cover the event must obtain a credential from the Office of Communications of the Archdiocese of New York. To apply for a credential, please email the following to alsmithmedia@archny.org:

Name:
Media Organization:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Coverage (reporter, writer, photographer, camera operator, etc):

Applications do not guarantee approval for a credential. Credentials will be issued to journalists at the discretion of the Archdiocese of New York and the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation. Anyone wishing to cover the dinner must apply for a press credential by Monday, October 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Once approved, applicants will be notified and additional information about attendance will be sent by email. 

The Smith Dinner will be available via livestream at www.alsmithfoundation.org/dinner.

About the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Established to honor the legacy of four-time New York Governor Alfred E. Smith, the foundation supports Catholic charitable works throughout the New York metropolitan area through its annual dinner and other fundraising activities.

About the Waldorf Astoria New York Opened in 1931, the Waldorf Astoria New York has served as an international symbol of luxury hospitality for nearly a century, hosting world leaders, celebrities, and landmark events throughout its storied history.