ACTION MAVERICK AWARD
annual action maverick award
Every spring, STREB’s Action Maverick Award Benefit honors the heroes who inspire Elizabeth Streb and serves as the company’s signature fundraising event.
Funds raised support STREB EXTREME ACTION company’s thrilling performances; educational programs that energize and empower the Action Heroes and leaders of tomorrow; and scholarship and subsidy programs which ensure broad accessibility to the community.
Co-hosted by Laura Flanders and Ellen Salpeter, the 2026 Action Maverick Award Benefit was filled with joy, community, and ACTION. Upon presenting Anna Deavere Smith with the Action Maverick Award, Elizabeth Streb said, “You come to earth from heaven. You are deep and dangerous – a maverick.” While presenting the award to Board Chair Andrea Woodner, Elizabeth said, “You have magical insight, carry on miracles. You are a visionary. We will follow you.”
Every spring, STREB’s Action Maverick Award Benefit honors the heroes who inspire Elizabeth Streb and serves as the company’s signature fundraising event.
Some highlights from the evening:
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Laura Flanders announced that Ellen Salpeter is STREB’s new A. Woodner Director
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Co-Artistic Director and Action Hero Cassandre Joseph went straight from thanking our sponsors on stage to performing MAVERICK SURF
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District 33 Councilmember Lincoln Restler joined us to honor our Mavericks and express how their work has personally impacted his life
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Co-Chair Brooke Williams and Board Treasurer Craig Tooman spoke about the impact that STREB has had on their children’s lives
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In a lively paddle raise, Co-Chair A.M. Homes joined Elizabeth as we raised funds for STREB programming and auctioned off tiny replicas of CHAOS MASS
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We ended the evening in true STREB-fashion with a dance floor and popcorn bar
benefit circle
VISIONARY SPONSORS
Neil and Machiko Mazzella
Craig Tooman* and Jill Crawford
Beth Tractenberg
Andrea Woodner* and Allison Kavey
ACTION ACES
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Marcy Carsey
Select Equity Group
DAREDEVILS
Jody and John Arnhold
Kerry Clayton and Paige Royer
Hesu Coue-Wilson and Edward Wilson
Lauren Hutton
Drew McCoy and Amy Aquino
Loren Pack and Rob Beyer
Tanya Selvaratnam
John Charles Thomas and Emily Russell
Walentas Foundation LTD
RISK TAKERS
Anonymous
Cris Arguedas and Carole Migden
Cheryl and Max Batzer
Elaine and Norm Brodsky
Susan Chin and Charles McKinney
Kimberly Conner & Nick Groombridge
Craig Dykers and Elaine Molinar
Paula Gifford* and Christopher McKenzie
Helen Marden
Donald J. Rose, M.D. and Victoria Lasdon Rose
Robert and Ann Tirschwell
Paul Wolf* and Carolina Sacio
SCS Financial
FRIENDS
Hank and Gerry Alpert
Hugo Barreca
Majora Carter* and James Chase
Cecilia Clarke and John Born
Yvonne Conza
Molly Davies and Polly Motley
Liz Diller
Danita Geltner and Thomas Gentile
Amy Hau
AM Homes
Cassandre and Sarah Joseph-Donnelly
Marion Chajet Koltun
Andrea Lauer
Cynthia Mayeda
Susan Bay Nimoy
Rosalind Petchesky
Ann Philbin and Cynthia Wornham
Noni Pratt
Laura Sejen
Suzanne Shaker and Pete Dandridge
Anna Deavere Smith
Claire Weisz and Mark Yoes
Nadine Witkin
Elizabeth Streb* and Laura Flanders*
Brooke Williams and Josh Liberson
PATRONS
Alex and Paul Herzan
Karen Brooks Hopkins
Jacqueline Davis
Lydia Davis
Nancy Grossman
Karen Jenkins
Bonnie Payne and Roger Tobin
Ed Rawlings
Ellen Salpeter
Julie Scelfo and James Cavoli
*Member of the STREB Board of Directors
List as of 5/7/26
Specialized cocktails provided by our friends at Casa Dragones Tequila
Prosecco toast provided by Gnarly Vines & T Edward Wines
