NEW YORK – October 29, 2026 -- Town & Country's November 2026 Philanthropy issue, with four different covers, is available on townandcountrymag.com now and everywhere by November 3. It arrives alongside the magazine's 13th annual Philanthropy Summit, held at Hearst Tower in New York City.
Four honorees take the first Philanthropists of the Year Awards
For the first time, Town & Country presented "Philanthropists of the Year" awards to individuals and institutions working toward the greater good. The honorees were Tory Burch; Ciara and Russell Wilson; Andrew Shue; and Aerin Lauder with The Met Visionaries. That group includes the Lauder Family, Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang, and Jen Rubio and Stewart Butterfield.
Three additional Town & Country Philanthropy Awards went to organizations. CityMeals on Wheels was accepted by CEO Beth Shapiro. FreeFrom was accepted by Founder and CEO Sonya Passi. The Dollywood Foundation was accepted by Vice Chair and President Jeff Conyers.
Stellene Volandes hosts a summit themed "Thinking BIG"
This year's theme was "Thinking BIG: How to Make Your Philanthropy Truly Transformational." Town & Country Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes hosted. Ciara, Russell Wilson, Tory Burch and Andrew Shue, all featured in the November issue, took the stage. The magazine, which turns 180 this year, launched the summit in 2014.
Panels cover democracy, giving strategy and the next generation
Andrew Shue, founder of The Forum, spoke on "Restoring Faith in American Democracy" with Tony-winning writer and performer Sarah Jones. Journalist Cynthia McFadden moderated "Transformational Giving: Matching Vision with Execution." Panelists were Dianne Chipps Bailey of Bank of America Private Bank, Lear de Bessonet of Lincoln Center Theater, Sheila Kelly of NewYork-Presbyterian, and Shauna Nep of The Brighter Days Ahead Foundation.
Tory Burch discussed "Investing in the Business of Opportunity" with CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King. Nate Burleson, also a CBS Mornings co-host, moderated "Why Not You?: Inspiring a Next Generation of Citizens" with Ciara and Russell Wilson.
Presenters range from museum executives to a pop star's written remarks
Whitney W. Donhauser of The Metropolitan Museum of Art presented the award to Aerin Lauder and The Met Visionaries. Sharon Miller of Bank of America presented to Tory Burch. Dr. Samantha Boardman, a CityMeals on Wheels board member, presented to that organization. Volandes read remarks from Olivia Rodrigo when presenting to FreeFrom, and actress Carrie St. James presented to The Dollywood Foundation.
Bank of America Private Bank presented the summit, with support from NewYork-Presbyterian and 1 Hotels.