Submitted by Susan Bevan, Lawrence F. Codraro, Jr., and Sharon Phillips – Co-Chairs, Greenwich Library Peterson Business Award Dinner
As supporters of Greenwich Library and as co-chairs of the upcoming Peterson Business Award Dinner, we wish to underscore the critical role of community support for Greenwich Library, a gem in our town.
Our library stands as a beacon of knowledge and culture, thanks in part to its unique public/private partnership with the Town of Greenwich. While municipal funding covers basic operational needs, the vibrant array of more than 1,800 annual events—including educational programs, author talks, concerts, and more—are made possible solely through donations and philanthropic gifts. These offerings, all free to the public, showcase the library’s commitment to accessible learning for everyone.
A cornerstone of the Library’s fundraising efforts is the biennial Peterson Business Award Dinner, with this year’s event set for Thursday, April 4, 2024.
We are honored to celebrate Ray Dalio, founder and CIO mentor of Bridgewater Associates. Ray Dalio’s innovative mindset and leadership in both business and charitable endeavors exemplify the qualities the Peterson Business Award seeks to recognize. His influence extends well beyond financial markets, fostering conversations on economic and social advancement and mirroring the library’s mission to enrich our community’s intellectual and cultural landscape. We are also honored that Governor Ned Lamont will present the award to Ray Dalio at the April 4 Award Dinner.
The Peterson Business Award was established in 1997 by Greenwich Library and the Peterson Foundation, and recognizes and honors individuals whose innovative thinking, leadership and sustained record of achievement have had a profound impact on the national and global economy, and whose words and deeds have demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and open access to information.
The Peterson Business Award is named in honor of Clementine Lockwood Peterson, whose 1992 bequest of $25 million made possible a new 32,000 square-foot wing at Greenwich Library.
Designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli, this wing contains expanded business and music collections. Mrs. Peterson’s gift was made in memory of her son, Jonathan, and her husband, J. Whitney Peterson.
The Peterson Business Award was conceived in order to celebrate Mrs. Peterson’s extraordinary generosity and to recognize outstanding business leadership in the community.
Past recipients of Peterson Business Award include some of our community’s most prominent corporate leaders such as Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo, Cliff Asness of AQR Capital, and Chuck Royce of Royce & Associates, LP, among other business luminaries.
Greenwich Library, encompassing the Main Library and its Byram Shubert and Cos Cob branches, seeks to serve as the cultural and intellectual crossroads of the community, offering an extensive range of programs and services. The mission of Greenwich Library is to provide exceptional resources, programs and services that promote the joy of lifelong learning and discovery, and to offer a welcoming place to gather and share experiences. With 1,800 programs and events per year, the Library’s circulation is among the highest of public libraries in Connecticut and has been named a five-star library by Library Journal for 11 of the past 12 years for the high number of patron visits, circulation, use of public computers and program attendance.
As the Peterson Business Award Dinner approaches, we invite the entire Greenwich community to join us in celebrating Ray Dalio’s remarkable contributions to business and finance and support the ongoing success of our beloved library. Together, we can ensure it remains a center of learning, discovery, and inspiration for generations to come. Tickets are available at greenwichlibrary.org/peterson.
Thank you.
Susan Bevan, Lawrence F. Codraro, Jr., and Sharon Phillips
Co-Chairs, Greenwich Library Peterson Business Award Dinner