Celebrating Achievement
Annual Spring Benefit
Each year CDI supporters, Scholars, alumni, partners, and staff come together to celebrate the achievements of the students we serve and raise money to provide ongoing support for our programs and services, while honoring an individual who embodies the principles upon which the organization was founded.
The 16th Annual Spring Benefit will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. To purchase a ticket or become a sponsor, please visit the event page.
Marks Medal
The Marks Medal for Academic Excellence and Career Achievement was introduced in 2018 in honor of CDI founders Nina and Jonathan Marks whose trailblazing leadership in education has become a beacon of excellence and whose legacy will live on through the lives of our Scholars. Each year the award is presented to honor an individual who has used education as a transformative tool to change their circumstances and fulfill their potential.
Past award recipients include:
2025 - Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, Senior Pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church
2024 - Jason Wright, President of the Washington Commanders
2023 - Seth Goldman, co-founder and CEO of Eat the Change
2022 - The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation
2021 - Wes Moore, New York Times Bestselling Author and former Chief Executive Officer of the Robin Hood Foundation
2020 - Roger Ferguson, 17th vice chairman of the Federal Reserve and former President and CEO of TIAA
2019 - The Honorable Eric Holder, former United States Attorney General
2018 - Eric L. Motley, Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute and former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush
Marks Medal Awardees
2025: Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley receives the Marks Medal from CDI President and CEO Amma Felix.
2024: Jason Wright receives the Marks Medal from CDI President and CEO Amma Felix.
2021: Wes Moore, New York Times Bestselling Author and former Chief Executive Officer of the Robin Hood Foundation.
2020: Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA.
2019: CDI President Amma Felix presents the Marks Medal for Academic Excellence and Career Achievement to the Honorable Eric Holder, Jr.
2018: Eric L. Motley receives the Marks Medal from CDI President Amma Felix (L), founders Nina and Johnathan Marks, and Board Chair Stephen A. Weiswasser (R).
2022: Seth Goldman receives the Marks Medal from CDI President and CEO Amma Felix.
2025
Founders Nina & Jonathan Marks with Marks Medal Recipient Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley of Alfred Street Baptist Church.
2025 Benefit Sponsors
CDI Alumni
CDI Staff
2024
Jason Wright, President, Washington Commanders, was the 2024 Marks Medal honoree.
CDI staff members and counselors at the 2024 Annual Benefit.
Thank you to the sponsors of the 2024 Annual Benefit!
Click to download the program for the 2024 Annual Benefit.
2023
Seth Goldman, Co-Founder and CEO of Eat the Change.
Click to download the program for the 2023 Annual Benefit.
Seth Goldman receives the Marks Medal from CDI President and CEO Amma Felix.
Thank you to the sponsors of the 2023 Annual Benefit!
CDI Scholar Program alumni at the 2023 Annual Benefit.
2022
The 2022 Marks Medal recipient, The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, continues a multi-generational history of family philanthropy.
Thank you to the sponsors of the 2022 Annual Benefit!
Click to download the program for the 2022 Annual Benefit.
2021
2021 Marks Medal recipient Wes Moore, New York Times Bestselling Author and former Chief Executive Officer of the Robin Hood Foundation.
Click to download the program for the 2021 Annual Benefit.
Thank you to the sponsors of the 2021 Annual Benefit!
2020
The 2020 Spring Benefit was cancelled due to COVID restrictions. We are grateful to 2020 Marks Medal recipient, Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., for allowing us to celebrate him through this video.
2019
CDI President Amma Felix presents the Marks Medal for Academic Excellence and Career Achievement to the Honorable Eric Holder, Jr.
The Honorable Eric Holder, Jr., 82nd Attorney General of the U.S.
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder poses with CDI President Amma Felix and CDI Scholar Program alumni.
Click to download the program for the 2019 Annual Benefit.
2018
Eric L. Motley, Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute and former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush.
Click to download the program for the 2018 Annual Benefit.
Eric L. Motley receives the Marks Medal from CDI President Amma Felix (L), founders Nina and Johnathan Marks, and Board Chair Stephen A. Weiswasser (R).