A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lincoln Medal to entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, by The Honorable Mitch Landrieu, and philanthropist and golf champion Jack Nicklaus, by Marie Osmond. The recipients, through their achievements and personal attributes, exemplify the lasting legacy of Abraham Lincoln.

Performance

The event at historic Ford's Theatre included memorable performances such as "Drift Away" by Clay Walker, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Rayshun LaMarr, "Amazing Grace" by The McCrary Sisters, the words of President Abraham Lincoln spoken by David Selby and "This is Me" and "He's the Wizard" performed by the Gala Ensemble.

The event also included a moving performance of the original song "Shine," which was written and performed by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students Sawyer Garrity and Andrea Peña. The empowering anthem's lyrics ("You may have brought the dark/ But together we will shine the light/ And whoah, we will be something special/ Whoah, we're gonna shine") pay tribute to the students' 17 fallen classmates. Though the song was written for the purpose of personal healing, it quickly became an anthem showing the positive impact the arts have in inspiring hope and unity in the aftermath of tragedy.

"The students' song is about shining your light during the darkest moments in our lives," Tetreault said. "We at Ford's Theatre were inspired by their belief in the power of the arts to provide healing, to inspire others and to bridge divides. Their music reflects Abraham Lincoln's values of courage, empathy, and creativity, and echoes his visionary words, which, during the darkest days of the Civil War, rekindled hope for a truly United States."

First Lady Melania Trump served as the honorary chair of the gala celebration. Honorary co-chairs were Mrs. Rima Al-Sabah, Mrs. Abigail P. Blunt, Hon. Murial Bowser, Mrs. Candy Carson, Mrs. Sandy Cornyn, Mrs. Kasey A. Crowley, Ms. Gloria Story Dittus, Mrs. Marlene A. Malek, Mrs. Gayle C. Manchin, Mrs. Judy McCarthy, Mr. Paul Pelosi, Mrs. Hilary Geary Ross, Mrs. Janna Ryan, Mrs. Doreen M. Spiegel and Ms. Iris Weinsall.

The Ford's Theatre Annual Gala benefits the Ford's Theatre Society and its programming, including Ford's Theatre theatrical and education initiatives. This event is made possible by the generous support of lead underwriter General Dynamics. Ford's Theatre gratefully acknowledges Gloria Story Dittus and Story Partners for their support of the 2018 Lincoln Medal Presentation and Ovation as this year's Red Carpet Sponsor.

Lincoln Medal

The Lincoln Medal, first bestowed in 1981 to Senator Milton R. Young, is an annual award given by the Ford's Theatre Society to a person or persons who, through their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes, exemplify the lasting legacy and mettle of character embodied by the most beloved president in our nation's history, President Abraham Lincoln.

Sheila C. Johnson is an entrepreneur and philanthropist whose accomplishments span the arenas of hospitality, sports, TV/film, the arts, education, women's empowerment and community development. She is founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts; Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment; founding partner of Black Entertainment Television and an impassioned supporter of women, education and the arts. In 2016, she co-founded WE Capital, a venture capital consortium to support female-led enterprises and empower the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

Jack Nicklaus changed the face of golf as a player, designer, businessman, philanthropist and goodwill ambassador. Nicklaus, known globally by his moniker the "Golden Bear," won a record 18 major championships and is widely considered the greatest player in golf history. He is the fourth person in history—and the first athlete or sportsman—to be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005), the Congressional Gold Medal (2015) and now the Lincoln Medal. Champions of pediatric health care, Nicklaus, and his wife, Barbara, lead the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, which supports numerous pediatric healthcare services in South Florida and nationally, raising almost $90 million since its inception in 2004. Both were inducted into the International Pediatric Hall of Fame in 2010, and their charitable legacy was celebrated with the renaming of globally renowned Miami Children's Hospital to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, and the rebranding of the Miami Children's Health System hospitals to Nicklaus Children's Health System, which includes 14 outpatient facilities located throughout Florida. Nicklaus is Trustee and national chair of The First Tee, which teaches valuable character-building life lessons through the game of golf. In 2017, he became a spokesperson and the Nicklaus Companies a Trustee of PGA REACH—the charitable arm of the PGA of America, with focuses on youth, military, diversity, and inclusion.

Past recipients of the Lincoln Medal include former NFL player Peyton W. Manning (2017), businessman and philanthropist Ronald O. Perelman (2017), civil rights activist Diane Nash (2016); Former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice (2015); Congressman John Lewis (2007); The Honorable John D. Dingell (2014); Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel (2012); human rights activist Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu (2010) and Justice Albie Sachs (2010); filmmaker George Lucas (2009); actors James Earl Jones (2014), Ruby Dee (2008) and Sidney Poitier (2009); Dr. Maya Angelou (2008); singer Aretha Franklin (2009); and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Former Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court (2008).

Ford's Theatre Society

One of the most visited sites in the nation's capital, Ford's Theatre reopened its doors in 1968, more than a hundred years after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Operated through a partnership between Ford's Theatre Society and the National Park Service, Ford's Theatre is the premier destination in the nation's capital to explore and celebrate Abraham Lincoln's ideals and leadership principles: courage, integrity, tolerance, equality and creative expression.

Ford's Theatre Society was founded under the guidance of executive producer Frankie Hewitt, who, during her 35-year tenure, established Ford's as a living, working theatre producing performances that highlighted the diversity of the American experience. Since the arrival of Paul R. Tetreault as Director, critics and the theatregoing public have recognized Ford's for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the Tony-nominated Come From Away, the nationally acclaimed Big River to the world premieres of Meet John Doe, The Heavens Are Hung In Black, Liberty Smith, Necessary Sacrifices, The Widow Lincoln and The Guard, Ford's Theatre is making its mark on the American theatre landscape. In the past decade, the mission of Ford's Theatre Society expanded to include education as a central pillar. This expansion led to the creation and construction of the Center for Education and Leadership, which opened in February 2012. For its accomplishments, the organization was honored in 2008 with the National Medal of Arts.