Four Members of Lerner Family in Monumental Bicentennial Class

The George Washington University

We’re proud to introduce GW’s inaugural Monumental Alumni Award recipients. As we continue to celebrate GW’s Bicentennial, we mark this historic occasion by honoring and featuring GW’s living alumni who have made an impact on the world through their work and service and who embody the ideals of the university. View the complete list of Monumental Alumni Award recipients.

Mark D. Lerner, B.B.A. ’75
Real Estate Developer, Major League Baseball Owner

Monumental Achievement: Combining a passion for community and business acumen, Mark Lerner serves as the managing principal owner and vice chairman of Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals and a principal of family-owned Lerner Enterprises, a real estate development, management and investment company focused on the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Under Lerner’s leadership, the Nationals won the 2019 World Series championship. He and his family are leading philanthropists in the region, supporting numerous organizations and causes. He currently serves as a trustee of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington and as a member of the board of The George Washington University Hillel.

Theodore N. Lerner, A.A. ’48, Bachelor of Law ’50
Real Estate Developer, Major League Baseball Owner

Monumental Achievement: After founding real estate company Lerner Enterprises in 1952 with $250 he borrowed from his wife, Ted Lerner grew the company into the largest private real estate developer and largest private landowner in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with commercial, retail, residential and hotel properties in its portfolio. As the founding managing principal owner of Major League Baseball’s 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals, Lerner brought baseball back to D.C. He served as managing principal owner until 2018, when he passed that responsibility to his son Mark. Lerner, whose family foundation funds many community organizations, has been recognized for his philanthropy and successes in many ways including the American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award of Excellence; Washington Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area, and election to both the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington Sports Hall of Fame and Washington D.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, J.D. ’83
Nonprofit Executive, Major League Baseball Owner

Monumental Achievement: Marla Lerner Tanenbaum wears many hats, working alongside her family in their business, baseball, and philanthropy endeavors. She serves as principal of Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, principal of real estate company Lerner Enterprises, president of the Lerner Family Foundation, and chair of the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. Tanenbaum built and leads the baseball team’s philanthropic work which, in addition to the donations and grants given by the Dream Foundation, also includes the Youth Baseball Academy.

Robert Tanenbaum, J.D. ’82
Real Estate Developer, Major League Baseball Owner

Monumental Achievement: Robert Tanenbaum serves as principal of Lerner Enterprises, the largest Washington, D.C.-area private real estate developer as well as principal owner and vice chairman of the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball Club. He has been recognized for his industry leadership and dedication to the youth of the greater D.C. metro area by the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America with its “Good Scout” award.

View the complete list of Monumental Alumni Award recipients