Two Million Thank You$ for Frank Macchiarola
St. Francis Hosts Most Successful Single Night Fundraiser Ever
Roger Hertog, Vice Chairman Emeritus of AllianceBernstein, L.P. and Chairman Emeritus of the Manhattan Institute, was so moved by the testimonials about St. Francis College's retiring President Frank J. Macchiarola '62, that Hertog committed $1 million to the College in honor of Macchiarola's life's work before the 47th Annual Charter Award Dinner was even over.
The contribution doubles what was already by far the single most successful fundraising event in the College's history bringing in a total of $2 million which will help St. Francis increase scholarships, make classroom renovations and continue to add and enhance programs for students.
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The Tuesday, April 8 dinner, at Cipriani 42nd Street, also marked the start of the College's 150th Anniversary Celebration. More than 600 people, representing a who's who of New York City insiders and elite were on hand to listen to tales of Dr. Macchiarola's long career of public service.
NYU President and former St. Francis College Professor John Sexton was the master of ceremonies and offered heartfelt stories and insights about President Macchiarola and St. Francis College.
Among the speakers, Mayor Ed Koch proposed that just as all New York City Mayors strive to be as good as Fiorello LaGuardia, all Schools Chancellors try to emulate the work President Macchiarola did when he held the post. Perhaps no other story typifies the priorities of Dr. Macchiarola than the one told by President & CEO of the Partnership for New York, Kathryn Wylde when she worked for him at the Partnership. She said crisis calls about massive cutbacks and jeopardized programs were coming in from Governor Hugh Carey, Senator Alfonse D'Amato and Federal officials, but they were all told to wait. President Macchiarola was behind closed doors counseling a young man who was looking for help. The problems would still be there in an hour, the young man needed help now.
A video tribute featuring David Rockefeller, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Chuck Hagel and many more friends and family was also shown at the gala while several prominent St. Francis alumni like Monster Worldwide CEO Sal Iannuzzi '75, former Deloitte CEO Bill Parrett '67, former NYPD Deputy Commissioner Joseph Dunne '69 and President of Commerce Bank Long Island Edward Travaglianti '70 were in attendance.
President Macchiarola graduated from St. Francis College in 1962 and attended Columbia University where he earned a Law Degree and Ph.D. He returned to St. Francis in 1996 as President and for the past twelve years has led the College on a remarkable path, presiding over the creation of more than 150 endowed scholarships, construction of a new seven-story academic center, the Genovesi Athletic Facility as well as renovations and modernizations to the rest of the buildings that make up the College.
Over the course of his career, President Macchiarola has worked in public service, business, law and education. Among the posts he has held are Schools Chancellor of New York City, Dean of Cardozo Law School, President and CEO of the New York City Partnership and Deputy Director of the New York State Emergency Financial Control Board for New York City during the fiscal crisis of the 1970's. Macchiarola has helped redraw City Council and state congressional district lines, presided over Mayor Bloomberg's 2003 Charter Revision effort and helped mediate the musicians strike on Broadway in 2003.
On June 30 of this year, President Macchiarola is retiring from full-time public service. Chairman and CEO of Metro New York / New Jersey Division of Sovereign Bancorp, Brendan J. Dugan '68, the current Chairman of the St. Francis Board of Trustees will then become the College's 18th President.
At the dinner Mr. Dugan announced that the College was setting up scholarships for each of President Macchiarola's three sons. Scholarships for President Macchiarola, his wife Mary and both sets of their parents have already been endowed.
The Hertog pledge is the second $1 million gift to St. Francis College in the past five months. The first one was donated by alumnus John McCarthy '51 and his wife Mary in December.
St. Francis College, founded in 1859 by the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, is located in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. Since its founding, the College has pursued its Franciscan mission to provide an affordable, high-quality education to students from New York City's five boroughs and beyond.
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www.sfc.edu