inner-city Newsletter of Inner-City Scholarship Fund | Fall 2017 CONTENTS INNER-CITY CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF 2017 COVER STORY 1 On May 15, ffty-one members of the New York University, SUNY Geneseo, class of 2017 attended a graduation Clarkson University, and Fairfeld MESSAGE FROM THE 2 celebration at Dillon Hall with their University. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Be A Student’s Friend sponsors. While some sponsors have known The event ended on a high note with SPECIAL EVENTS 3 the students they support for many great applause from all when it was years, others met for the frst time that announced that these accomplished FAMILY ALBUM 4–5 evening. It was a special gathering for students will receive a total of $1.5 FRIENDS OF INNER-CITY 6–7 old and new friends. million in scholarships, grants, and fnancial aid—a true testament to IN THE NEWS 8–9 Greg Hauser, a Be A Student’s Friend their hard work and dedication. sponsor since the beginning of the CLASS OF 2017 10–11 program in 1992, was recognized for Inner-City is proud of all the members his many years of commitment. of the Class of 2017 and eagerly looks Mr. Hauser expressed great pride when forward to watching their continued looking back on his students’ academic growth, in college and in life. and personal accomplishments over twenty-fve years. For a full list of Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s Class of 2017, please turn to One hundred percent of seniors who page 10. ~ attended the reception will continue t"nner -city scholarship fund their education at myriad colleges and universities in the fall, including A Child . A Chance. A Future . 1 A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SPECIAL EVENTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES 41ST ANNUAL GALA RAISES OVER $1 MILLION Timothy M. Cardinal Dolan CHAIRMAN Peter T. Grauer PRESIDENT Lawrence B. Benenson KIDS~5~ John M. Callagy, Esq. Margaret Crotty Anthony J. de Nicola CAPITAL Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr. John Q. Doyle Dear Friends, Michael P. Esposito, III John J. Farrell We’ve had another busy and exciting year full of fun, growth, meeting challenges, making Robert Gittings Thomas H. Golden, Esq. new friends, and all the while striving to do our best for the families and students we serve. Edward D. Herlihy, Esq. As we begin a new school year, it is my pleasure to share with you some of the wonderful George B. Irish accomplishments of 2016–17. Thomas S. Johnson Catherine M. Keating With just under $2 million to go to complete our frst ever endowment campaign, Arthur J. Mahon, Esq. Inner-City Scholarship Fund is guaranteeing hundreds more students an opportunity to Michael J. Millette receive scholarships to attend a Catholic school. I hope you will consider joining our list Timothy C. Muccia of donors to the Kids Are Our Capital campaign. Thomas S. Murphy, Jr. Christopher H. Peterson This year our FRIENDS Committee, four decades strong, focused on growing membership Ponchitta Pierce and strengthening engagement of all volunteer-led enrichment programs for which it Cardinal Dolan (center) with Gala Chairs Michael and Wendy Esposito Patricia A. Quick Thomas C. Quick provides oversight, including the Junior Committee, the Be A Student’s Friend Advisory Mo Rocca Committee, Learning to Look, and the Job Opportunities Program. It worked! In particular, On May 9, more than four hundred and plans to study to become a Following the musical performances, Mauro C. Romita the Junior Committee Spring Soiree, a boat cruise around New York harbor, boasted nearly supporters of Inner-City Scholarship diplomat. Darwin said, “Some people guests participated in their own “Battle Stephen G. Rooney, Esq. three hundred attendees and recruited over one hundred new young professionals to help Fund gathered for the 41st Annual believe that being able to attend a of the Boroughs” text-to-pledge Frederic V. Salerno with tutoring, feld trips, and basketball programs in East Harlem schools. FRIENDS Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in Catholic institution is the best thing that drive, collectively raising an additional Christine H. Schwarzman New York City. Led by the Gala Chairs, can happen to you; I am living proof that $100,000 for Catholic schools in the Martin J. Sullivan I know you will join me in congratulating the class of 2017 and wish them good luck as they Inner-City trustee Michael Esposito this is true. And as we always say at All borough they were assigned. Mary Ann Tighe begin their college years. Their milestone, and all we have accomplished this year, would not and his wife Wendy, the event raised Hallows: Until we meet again, may God Walter S. Tomenson, Jr. have been possible without your generous support. On behalf of our graduates, alumni, and over $1 million to support Inner-City’s continue to hold you all in the palm of Before concluding the program, Robert P. Weisz those still in school, I thank you for your continued commitment to our work. Hon. Milton L. Williams, Sr. mission to provide tuition assistance His hand.” Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan and enrichment programs for Catholic thanked the Espositos for their work TRUSTEE EMERITUS Sincerely, school students across the Archdiocese The evening also featured the as Gala Chairs as well as everyone in Howard J. Rubenstein of New York. “Battle of the Boroughs,” introduced attendance for the success of the event. by Master of Ceremonies Mo Rocca, He echoed Susan George’s statement Susan George The evening featured Inner-City who sang a special version of the that “Each borough and county in Executive Director supported students Isabella American Standard “Manhattan” with the Archdiocese of New York has a Guzman Gallego, a fourth grader at clever references to Catholic schools special place in the heart of the St. Raymond’s Elementary School who in each of the three boroughs within Inner-City family.” delivered the invocation, and Darwin the Archdiocese of New York. Contreras, a senior at All Hallows High Save the date now for Inner-City’s major School in the Bronx, who was this year’s The “Battle” featured students from fall events: the Lawyers Luncheon on STAFF Sarah Davis Vanessa Luciano Alyson Vetter Development Associate Coordinator, Director, student speaker. the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten November 8 and the Awards Dinner on Scholarship Programs Special Events Island wowing the guests with their December 4. Susan George Christine Desposito Executive Director Coordinator, Daniel Mileno Jennifer Ward Darwin spoke about the sacrifces his musical talents. Kristen Kaiser of Moore Job Opportunities Program Director, Gift Processing Associate mother made to send him to Catholic Catholic High School performed George To learn more about Inner-City’s Nicholas Gulde Marketing and Deputy Director Alexandra Failla Communications Thomas Zwilling school and the achievements made Gershwin’s “I’ve Got Rhythm.” The St. events, please contact Alyson Vetter Manager, Coordinator, possible by that education. A First Raymond’s Elementary School Choir at [email protected]. Donor Relations Mark Robinson Direct Marketing Associate Director, Honors student every semester of high performed “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Christine Berko Kelvin Gentles Institutional Support school, he was chosen for leadership Justin Timberlake, and Justina Diaz of Offce Manager Director, Development Caitlan Rossi conferences in Chicago and Dublin, Blessed Sacrament performed “Home” Vivian Chabrier Manager, Ireland. He will attend the College of from The Wiz. Director, Mindy Goldstein Institutional Support Scholarship Programs Executive Assistant the Holy Cross on a full scholarship 2 3 INNER-CITY FAMILY ALBUM INNER-CITY FAMILY ALBUM 1 2 1 4 3 2 3 6 5 4 5 1. The St. Raymond Elementary School choir performing at the 41st Annual FRIENDS Gala 1. Cesar Matanza and Milya Robles-Diaz at the 2017 2. Gala Chairs Wendy and Michael Esposito with Inner-City Be a Student’s Friend graduation reception President Peter Grauer and friends 2. Sponsor Catherine Pietronuto and Jeremiah Dueno 3. Gala attendees taking a break on the dance foor 3. Angela and Edward Murphy with Janine Alonzo 4. Emma Kramer, Celee Belmonte, Charlotte Gardiner, and 4. Tini Rocca and Kelly Morel Margaret Souther at the Junior Committee’s Spring Soiree 5. Laura and Steven Cohen with Kiara Reyes 5. Tony Cennamo and Nicole Rafajac at the 2017 Spring Soiree 6. Trustee Christine Schwarzman and some of her sponsored students 4 5 FRIENDS OF INNER-CITY FRIENDS OF INNER-CITY JUNIOR COMMITTEE 2017 HIGHLIGHTS LEARNING TO LOOK Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s from reproductions, and in one their teachers, the art that they learned Junior Committee is experiencing a Learning to Look program just particular class the students recreate about all year. The response from the great year with new leadership and completed its twenty-second year the paintings live by making their own budding young artists is incredibly signifcant growth in membership. in the Archdiocese of New York’s costumes and posing. positive. Inner-City is so grateful to the Young professionals volunteer their elementary schools. Nine hundred staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art time running enrichment activities, students in second through ffth Learning to Look is growing too. for being so supportive of this program primarily in Harlem Catholic grades at nine different elementary This year, two new volunteer teachers, and for allowing students the unique elementary schools, including feld schools enjoyed in-depth art with help from two experienced opportunity to see the museum before trips, basketball, tutoring, and holiday appreciation lessons from a group of teachers, added Incarnation School it opens. The staff at the museum could parties. The committee also hosts thirty dedicated women who bring with in Washington Heights to the program.