The Isabelle Stevenson Award is a non-competitive philanthropic award presented as part of the Tony Awards to "recognize an individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre." It is named for Isabelle Stevenson, a dancer who performed for audiences all round the world and was president and later chairperson of the board of the American Theatre Wing until her death in 2003. A single recipient is chosen by the Tony Award Administration Committee and may not be presented at every ceremony. The international press regards the Tony Awards as America's most prestigious theater awards.
The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League present the winner with a copy of a circular brass and bronze medallion designed by art director Herman Rosse at an annual award ceremony in New York City. The award has been presented annually since the 63rd Tony Awards in 2009. Actress Phyllis Newman was chosen as its inaugural recipient for her work in establishing the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative in 1995 and raising $3.5 million for the organization. Since then, another eight women and eight men have received the award and no one has won it more than once. As of the 79th Tony Awards in 2026, music director Mary-Mitchell Campbell is the most recent winner in this category.
Recipients + Winners of the Isabelle Stevenson Award Year Image Recipient(s) Notes2009 Newman established The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative in 1995 and raised $3.5 million for it.2010 Pierce is an honorary member of the national board of the Alzheimer's Association and a campaigner for research into Alzheimer's disease.2011 Ensler established the V-Day global movement to stop violence against girls and women through awareness and education.2012 Peters co-formed the animal charity Broadway Barks with actress Mary Tyler Moore to lobby for the adoption of animal shelters for homeless pets in New York City.2013 Kramer co-founded the Gay Men's Health Crisis and later established ACT UP, an international activist and direct action network to develop treatments of HIV/AIDS.2014 O'Donnell established the non-profit arts education organization Rosie's Broadway Kids (now Rosie's Theater Kids) in 2003 to allow New York City public school students to learn dance, drama and music.2015 Schwartz fostered upcoming writers as a long-time board member of the ASCAP Foundation and the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop. He assisted in developing new partnerships as president of the Dramatists Guild of America.2016 Mitchell supported those in the entertainment field who had or were in a crisis or in transition in the industry through his efforts for the Actors Fund of America.2017 Lee founded the National Asian Artists Project to promote Asian-American theater artists through community outreach, educational programming and performances.2018 – Scandalios, executive vice-president of Nederlander Organization, one of the largest theater operators in the United States, volunteers with the board of directors for the Family Equality Council to safeguard the rights and safety of LGBT families and their children.2019 Light is an HIV/AIDS advocate and a supporter of LBGT rights through her work in philanthropy.2020 Halston was honored "for her work and advocacy in raising funding and awareness for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation."2021 2022– Wankel, the CEO for the Shubert Organization, received recognition for his support of The Actors Fund, Broadway Cares, American Academy of Dramatic Arts and that "his generosity and service to the welfare of our Broadway community, over the past four decades and, especially in the face of a global crisis, is immeasurable."2023– Mitchell was recognized for "his dedication and contributions to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and for more than three decades of volunteer service through the arts." 2024 Porter was honored for his "extraordinary contributions as an activist for the LGBTQ+ community" as an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and as a member of the board of trustees for the Entertainment Community Fund. 2025 Keenan-Bolger received recognition for her "unwavering dedication to advocacy work through the arts", volunteering as a field organizer for the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign, co-founding Broadway For Obama in 2012, and advocating for same-sex marriage in the United States.2026 Campbell was recognized for her "advocacy work," as founding member of Musicians United for Social Equity (MUSE), being on the advisory board of female+ musician advocacy group Maestra, and co-founding Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP), now known as Arts Ignite.
See also Regional Theatre Tony Award Special Tony Award Society of London Theatre Special Award Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre
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