Mary Lasker

Mary Lasker, president of the Lasker Foundation, fostered medical advancements in several major fields by providing research grants to innovative physicians and persuading the government to follow suit.
Through the Lasker Foundation and citizens’ groups such as the Citizens Committee for the Conquest of Cancer, Lasker lobbied legislators to provide funds for medical research on life-threatening diseases. She also worked to persuade U.S. Congress to increase appropriations for the National Institutes of Health and to set up additional research centers concentrating on specific diseases, including the heart, lung and blood institutes.
In addition to her duties at the Foundation, Lasker served as chair of the American Cancer Society; president of the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation; chair of the National Health Education Committee; and director of the National Committee for Mental Hygiene.
A dedicated humanitarian, Lasker also lent her support to beautification projects in both New York and Washington, donating thousands of flowers, shrubs and trees. Among her distinguished awards and decorations were the Alfred Sloan Award of the American Cancer Society; the John H. Finley Medal from City College of New York, the U.S. Medal of Freedom; and the Gold Heart from the American Heart Association.
Lasker died in 1994.
BLACKWELL RECIPIENTS
May 16, 2021
Librarian of Congress Carla HaydenFebruary 3, 2021
Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgJanuary 22, 2015
Dr. Janet L. YellenNovember 10, 2013
The Most Reverend Doctor Katharine Jefferts SchoriOctober 27, 2011
Eunice Kennedy Shriver-
April 23, 2009
Rabbi Sally J. Priesand -
April 24, 2008
Dr. Wangari Maathai Sc.D.'94, P '94, P '96 -
April 27, 2007
Dr. Priscilla A. Schaffer '64, Sc.D. '94 -
September 7, 2004
Bishop Barbara Clementine Harris September 9, 2003
Loretta C. FordSeptember 4, 2001
Madeleine K. AlbrightMay 15, 1998
Billie Jean KingFebruary 10, 1996
Wilma MankillerSeptember 23, 1993
Barbara JordanSeptember 27, 1991
Margaret Chase SmithFebruary 22, 1991
Dr. Antonia C. NovelloFebruary 19, 1988
Barbara Aronstein BlackOctober 9, 1985
Cicely SaundersMarch 8, 1985
Sandra Day O’ConnorFebruary 11, 1984
Hannah Holborn GrayFebruary 26, 1982
Agnes George de MilleFebruary 15, 1980
Mary Douglas LeakeySeptember 30, 1977
Mary S. CalderoneOctober 3, 1975
Antonia BricoJanurary 23, 1974
Frances Keller HardingMay 28, 1973
Judith Graham PoolJune 8, 1972
Marian AndersonApril 10, 1972
Mary LaskerJune 13, 1971
Mina ReesJune 14, 1970
Helen Brooke TaussigJune 15, 1969
Georgiana SibleyJune 16, 1968
Constance Baker MotleySeptember 8, 1967
Catharine MacfarlaneJuly 10, 1966
Fe del MundoJune 13, 1965
Annette LeMeitour-KaplunJune 14, 1964
Margaret MeadJune 9, 1963
Marty MannJune 10, 1962
Frances PerkinsJune 18,1961
Leona BaumgartnerJune 12, 1960
Miki SawadaJune 14, 1959
Elisabeth Luce MooreSeptember 27, 1958
Gwendolyn Grant Mellon