NEW YORK — On Saturday evening, Pennsylvania’s wealthy and political elite held their lavish annual gathering in midtown Manhattan to celebrate civility and philanthropy in the state, with a dinner presided over by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The dinner capped off an elegant weekend in which lawmakers, policymakers and lobbyists jostle between a dozen parties, encouraging Pennsylvania’s most powerful officials to meet where no one has a home-court advantage.
Shapiro, a first-term Democrat, cited his administration’s accomplishments over the past year and how Democrats and Republicans have been able to come to agreement on key issues such as creating a fresh public education funding system with historic investments as well as fresh college completion incentives and retain more students. He also noted that this year, Pennsylvanians elected a divided Legislature to represent them in Harrisburg.
“Despite all of the changes we have seen in recent elections across the country, here in Pennsylvania, voters returned the exact same partisan makeup of our General Assembly,” Shapiro said.
“While there is a lot of talk about political polarization and partisanship in this country, we have clearly demonstrated that we know how to sit at the table, have difficult conversations, and work together to get things done for the good people of Pennsylvania,” he added. Shapiro added in his remarks to a packed Pennsylvania Society ballroom, a tradition that his predecessor, former Gov. Tom Wolf, often overlooked.
The dinner at the Hilton Midtown, priced at more than $600 a ticket, began with a moment of silence for Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, who was shot outside the same hotel earlier in the week. Security measures were also increased during the tie scandal, such as requiring all participants to pass through metal detectors before entering. Television cameras continued to watch the sidewalk in front of the hotel until Saturday.
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The crowd said goodbye to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a three-term Democrat who lost to U.S. Sen.-elect Dave McCormick in a historically close race. Casey said he will still be there next year, but will have more time to explore the city.
“We would like to thank you for your 18 years of dedicated service to our Commonwealth and our country,” Patricia Wellenbach said as the audience gave Casey a long standing ovation.
Shapiro also presented this year’s Gold Medal to longtime association member and Erie giant Thomas B. Hagen. Hagen, 89, is president and former CEO of Erie Insurance Group and remains a generous philanthropist in the state.
Each honoree – including previous winners such as Presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden – can choose a charity to benefit the dinner, and Hagen chose the Erie-based educational nonprofit Eagles Nest Leadership Corporation.
