SEASON OF GIVING

December is not just about egg nog, hors d'oeuvres, and office Secret Santas. This month, thousands of folks from the real estate community opened their hearts and wallets to help many charitable causes. Over 1,000 people filled the Grand Hyatt’s ballroom last week for the Diabetes Research Institute’s 13th annual Empire Ball, one of the most successful in its history. Honored at the event were Alliance Building Services prez Michael Rodriguez, who received the Camillo Ricordi Humanitarian Award; William Macklowe Co CEO Billy Macklowe, who received the DRI Leadership Award for his philanthropic efforts and his contributions to NYC; and Vanguard Construction and Development Co VP Richard Laskowski, who received the Distinguished Service Award. The real estate community has raised over $28M for DRI since 1983.
UJA-Federation of New York also had a record-breaking turnout of 630 for its New York Lawyer’s Division Annual Event, where Tishman Speyer prez & co-CEO Rob Speyer presented Fried Frank partner Jonathan Mechanic with the Judge Joseph M. Proskauer Award for his commitment to philanthropy, conduct, and service. (Jonathan, a longtime supporter and contributer to UJA-Federation, was the first real estate lawyer to receive the honor.) Also honored: Skadden, Arps’ Scott Musoff, who received the James H. Fogelson Young Leadership Award. UJA-Federation raised more than $1.6M for its annual campaign at the event; attendees also chose to forgo their dinner, instead donating hot meals to the Bronx Jewish Community Council, Jewish Community Council of Canarsie, Project ORE of the Educational Alliance, and Selfhelp Community Services.
Steve Friedman
And 1,300 members of the real estate and construction industries raised more than $3M for lung cancer research at National Jewish Health’s annual “Winter’s Evening” dinner dance, which honored SL Green CEO Marc Holliday with the National Jewish Health 2011 Humanitarian Award. Above, Marc (fourth from right) is joined by NJH president & CEO Dr. Michael Salem; Cushman & Wakefield chairman of global brokerage Bruce Mosler; Wendy Siegel; SL Green prez Andy Mathias and chairman Stephen Green; Silverstein Properties CEO Larry Silverstein; and NJH chairman Thomas Gart. Congrats to all!

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