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Empire Ball


December 12, 2012



The always-elegant Empire Ball – the signature event of the Real Estate Division of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation – lit up the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Wednesday, December 12, 2012; raising over $1 million for the cure-focused work of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI.)  Three distinguished real estate industry notables were feted that evening.  The recipient of the Empire Ball’s 2012 Leadership Award was Jason D. Pizer, President and CEO of Trinity Real Estate.  Richard Wood, President of Plaza Construction, was presented with the Camillo Ricordi Humanitarian Award. And Frank A. Freda, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. was bestowed the Distinguished Service Award. 

The evening began with a VIP reception, followed by cocktails.  Guests then proceeded to the grand and capacious Empire State Ballroom, where they viewed a video recounting the recent tour of the Diabetes Research Institute in Florida by the awardees and members of the Ball’s committee.  Afterwards, each of the honorees spoke eloquently and meaningfully about the experience. 

Almost 1,000 guests mingled, dined, and danced the evening away to the swinging music of The Jay Prince Band.  No sooner was the evening over than plans for next year’s event were underway.  The DRI and Foundation are ever-grateful to metropolitan New York’s real estate community for its longstanding and generous support.

To read the post event press release, please click here.



Photo Credit:  Marc S. Levine & J.P. Verni


(l-r) 2012 Empire Ball award recipients
Richard Wood, Jason D. Pizer, and Frank A. Freda


Hundreds of guest mingled at the cocktail reception prior to dinner


(l-r) James J. Migliore of William Macklowe Company and Empire Ball Board of Governors with wife Gisela; Joseph "Dee" Dussich of JAD Corp. of America and Empire Ball Board of Governors with wife Jennifer.


Special Guest Emcee: David Ushery, Anchor, NBC4 New York and Host of "The Debrief with David Ushery"


Empire Ball Chairman, Peter L. DiCapua of ATCO Properties & Management, Inc.


Robert A. Pearlman, President and CEO of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation


A unique representation of the Empire Ball's logo and message


Diabetes Research Institute Foundation National Board Member, Bonnie Inserra, with Ted Moudis of Ted Moudis Associates, both members of the Empire Ball Board of Governors


(l-r) Diabetes Research Institute Foundation National Board Member, Charles Rizzo of The Rizzo Group, with Doug Donaldson of The Donaldson Organization and Empire Ball Board of Governors, and Empire Ball Chairman, Peter L. DiCapua


Distinguished Service Honoree, Frank A. Freda of Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.


Camillo Ricordi Humanitarian Honoree, Richard Wood of Plaza Construction


Leadership Honoree, Jason D. Pizer of Trinity Real Estate


(l-r) Diabetes Research Institute Foundation National Board Member, John C. Doscas and son, Christopher; Christie Donaldson, Sheri and Doug Donaldson of The Donaldson Organization and Empire Ball Board of Governors, with Jonathan Bennis of Icon Interior, also an Empire Ball Board of Governors member


The Jay Prince Band got the crowd
up on its feet


Dr. Camillo Ricordi, Director, Diabetes Research Institute and Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami, with Honorees Richard Wood, Jason D. Pizer, Frank A. Freda, Empire Ball Chairman, Peter L. DiCapua and Special Guest Emcee, David Ushery, Anchor, NBC4 New York and Host of "The Debrief with David Ushery"

 

 

 

 
 

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