Honoring the Life and Work of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
For over two decades, David Monn has planned prominent events from White House State Dinners and the Met Gala to gatherings for some of the most prestigious institutions, organizations and corporations internationally including The Guggenheim Museum, Tiffany & Co and more.
Luncheon guests will receive a complimentary copy of his book The Art of Celebrating.
About
Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy
O'Connor Institute Ladies of the Court
O'Connor Institute Ladies of the Court
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1981, founded the O’Connor Institute in 2009 following her retirement.
O'Connor Institute Ladies of the Court
O'Connor Institute Ladies of the Court
O'Connor Institute Ladies of the Court
The Ladies of the Court are the Women's Auxiliary Board of the O'Connor Institute. These dedicated members of the community support the Institute throughout the year and honor Justice O'Connor each year through the Legacy Luncheon.
2023 Legacy Luncheon
Smithsonian American Women
Luncheon Co-Chairs Carrie Hulburd and Alexa Schnieder along with the Ladies of the Court, presented the 5th annual Legacy Luncheon ~ Smithsonian American Women ~ Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at the Arizona Biltmore.
The Legacy Luncheon honoring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, welcomed Dr. Anthea Hartig, first woman director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal and listened to Dr. Hartig speak about the book, Smithsonian American Women, which each person received. Ambassador Barbara Barrett (a Smithsonian regent) conducted a “Fireside Chat” interview with Dr. Hartig, discussing many of its artifacts.
To view photos from the event, click here.
2022 Legacy Luncheon
Entertaining at the White House
Luncheon Co-Chairs Ina Manaster and Kolby Moffatt along with the Ladies of the Court, the Women’s Board of the O’Connor Institute, presented the 4th annual Legacy Luncheon ~ Entertaining at the White House ~ Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the Arizona Biltmore.
The Legacy Luncheon honoring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was a supremely successful sell-out. Featured speakers included former White House Florist Laura Dowling and former White House Chef John Moeller. Award-winning Chef Mark Tarbell introduced the speakers and moderated the onstage conversation.
To view photos from the event, click here.
2020 Legacy Luncheon
Susan Page & Barbara Pierce Bush
Under the direction of Luncheon Co-Chairs Jan Lewis and Carolyn O’Malley and the Ladies of the Court, the Women’s Board of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute For American Democracy, the virtual Legacy Luncheon “Home for the Holidays” premiered Friday, December 18, 2020 and was deemed a heartwarming success.
USA Today political editor Susan Page, author of The Matriarch, the biography of Barbara Bush was the keynote speaker along with Barbara Pierce Bush, the granddaughter and namesake of the late memorable First Lady.
2019 Legacy Luncheon
Dr. Jill Biden
The Ladies of the Court, the Women’s Board of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute hosted the annual Legacy Luncheon Friday, May 10, 2019 at the Arizona Biltmore. Following the success of Laura Bush for last year’s annual event, former Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden spoke of her new book Where the Light Enters, Building a Family, Discovering Myself. The Legacy Luncheon honors Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
2018 Legacy Luncheon
Laura Bush
Mrs. Laura Bush, Former First Lady of the United States, was the featured speaker at the inaugural Legacy Luncheon, Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Mrs. Bush reflected on her life and discussed her memoir, # 1 New York Times best seller, Spoken from the Heart.
The annual Legacy Luncheon honors the life and work of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
The luncheon benefited two charitable organizations, the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute and Hospice of the Valley. Co-Chairs for the 2018 Legacy Luncheon were Gena Bonsall and Penny Gunning. Lin Sue Cooney, former NBC 12 News anchor, served as mistress of ceremonies and moderated a conversation with Mrs. Bush following her remarks.
Like Sandra Day O’Connor, who was raised in Arizona on her family’s Lazy B Ranch, Mrs. Bush stated in her book, “I was born upon the prairie, where the wind blew free, and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures, and where everything drew a free breath.” In her memoir, she also describes life as First Lady and the post-9/11 White House, when anthrax attacks cut off the mail and she was no longer permitted to take strolls outside the gates. Polled by The Gallup Organization as one of the most popular First Ladies, Mrs. Bush, with a master’s degree in library science and a former librarian, helped advance national and global concerns during her tenure, including encouraging education and literacy worldwide