Two global leaders from very different worlds—African business mogul Tony Elumelu and American cleric Cardinal Timothy Dolan—will share the spotlight at the Appeal of Conscience Foundation’s 60th Annual Gala on September 29, 2025, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
The foundation announced the dual recognition on September 4, noting that the award celebrates leaders who embody moral courage, ethical leadership, and interfaith cooperation. Since its creation in 1965, the honor has gone to prominent figures who reinforce the belief that “a crime committed in the name of religion is the gravest offense against religion itself.”
Elumelu: Driving Africa’s Transformation
Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings and the United Bank for Africa, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most visionary business leaders. Through his guiding philosophy of Africapitalism—the idea that the private sector must drive social and economic transformation—he has invested heavily in creating jobs and opportunities across the continent.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation has disbursed over $100 million to nurture more than 24,000 African entrepreneurs from all 54 countries. Recent initiatives include BeGreen Africa, which has trained 1,600 eco-focused enterprises to promote sustainability while creating youth employment. A recently released 15-year impact report from Heirs Holdings shows the group’s activities have positively touched over 500,000 lives across industries ranging from finance to healthcare.
Dolan: A Voice of Faith and Unity
Cardinal Dolan, who has served as Archbishop of New York since 2009 and was elevated to cardinal in 2012, is recognized for his leadership within the Catholic Church and his ability to build bridges across faiths. He previously chaired the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (2010–2013) and participated in both the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis and the 2025 conclave that ushered in Pope Leo XIV.
A Shared Honor
Rabbi Arthur Schneier, founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, praised the honorees:
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Elumelu, he said, “represents ethical entrepreneurship and visionary leadership.”
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Dolan, in his view, embodies “compassion, vision, and the trust of communities across religious divides.”
Past recipients include Michael Bloomberg, Mary Barra, and Stephen Schwarzman. This year’s gala will be chaired by Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America and a previous honoree.
Both Elumelu and Dolan expressed humility, stressing that true leadership is about service. Elumelu called the award a reminder that business must center on impact, while Dolan underscored the importance of unity, peace, and human dignity.
For the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, this year’s event reinforces its six-decade mission of promoting interfaith dialogue and recognizing leaders who foster understanding in a divided world.
