The 14th annual Empire Ball was held on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The fundraiser, presented by the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) Foundation Real Estate Division and supported by the New York real estate community and its affiliates, raised $1.2 million in support of the DRI. Located at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine, the DRI is a recognized world leader in cure-focused diabetes research and working aggressively to discover a biological cure for the disease.
This year's event honored Jason Pizer, president and CEO of Trinity Real Estate, a division of the landmark Trinity Church of N.Y.C., who was presented with the Leadership Award for his commitment to philanthropic efforts as well as his leadership within the community and commercial real estate industry. When asked if he would be this year's honoree, without hesitation Pizer said, "This is an awful disease. Let's cure it. I'm in."
Additionally, Richard Wood, president of Plaza Construction, received the Camillo Ricordi Humanitarian Award for his dedication to the betterment of the city. During his acceptance speech, Wood, who has a nephew with type 1 diabetes, said, "I hope that soon enough we won't be having the Empire Ball anymore - because that would mean a cure has been found."
"This disease is not debilitating—it's a killer—and has affected my family in so many ways. That is why I am pledging my support in whatever way I can to unlock the cure. I feel strongly that the DRI and Dr. Camillo Ricordi will be the ones to do it," said Frank Freda, executive managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, received the Distinguished Service Award for his accomplishments in the city's commercial management industry, his contributions to the real estate industry, and his support of local charities and initiatives.
The event was chaired by Peter DiCapua, COO for Atco Properties & Management, Inc. and chairman of the DRI Real Estate Division.
DiCapua said, "I am so proud of the real estate community here in New York, who helped make this event one of the most successful to date. Everyone really stepped up to the plate this year. With so many families and companies affected by Hurricane Sandy and so many fundraising efforts focused on helping rebuild the Tri-State area in its aftermath, I am just overwhelmed at the huge show of support for our cause and even greatly surpassing last year's efforts. Let's continue to raise more awareness and more money for this deadly disease."
David Ushery, award-winning anchor from NBC4 New York and host of "The Debrief with David Ushery," emceed the black tie affair, which included dinner and dancing and drew nearly 1,000 guests, including representatives from Trinity Real Estate; Plaza Construction; Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.; Alliance Building Services; Fisher Brothers; Quality Building Services Corp; Unity Construction Group; Schnellbacher-Sendon Group, LLC; Ted Moudis Associates; The Durst Organization; The Donaldson Organization; Vornado; ACC Construction Corporation; Jones Lang LaSalle; CBRE, Inc.; and Time Warner, Inc. to name a few.

There are nearly 26 million Americans living with diabetes, including as many as seven million who do not even know they have it - making the disease one of the biggest health concerns in the U.S. today. The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 346 million people worldwide who have diabetes, a number that is likely to more than double by 2030. The disease kills more people than AIDS and breast cancer combined, which is why the DRI is so focused on finding a cure now.

Since 1983, the New York real estate community and its affiliates have raised more than $30 million for diabetes research. The idea for the annual fundraiser was initiated by Charles Rizzo, Principal of The Rizzo Group, after learning of his daughter's diagnosis with type 1 diabetes. Mr. Rizzo and Mr. DiCapua along with 10 other members founded the event. For 15 years, the annual fundraiser was called the Pyramid Ball. In 1998, the event was renamed the Empire Ball and began supporting the DRI. Each year, the event is attended by more than 1,000 people affiliated with New York's real estate industry.

Over the past 29 years, the event has become the New York City real estate industry's social and fundraising event of the season. Past honorees include: Alton Marshall, Former Secretary of State under Governor Rockefeller; Businessman William "Bill" Shea, for which Shea Stadium is named; Charles Urstadt; David Baldwin; Jody Durst; William S. Macklowe; Gerald D. Schein; Lizanne Gaibreath; Edward S. Gordon; John Catsimatidis; Joseph "Dee" Dussich; Ted Moudis; Frank Sciame; and Michele Medaglia - all heads of corporations and leaders in their respective industries.

For more information on the annual Empire Ball and photos from the event, please visit: http://www.diabetesresearch.org/EmpireBall2012.

To follow the NY Real Estate Division of the Diabetes Research Institute on social media, visit:
Facebook
@NYRealEstateDRI
LinkedIn

About the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and Foundation
The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute leads the world in cure-focused research. As the largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is aggressively working to shrink the timeline toward the discovery of a biological cure for this disease. Having already shown that diabetes can be reversed through islet transplantation, the DRI is building upon these promising outcomes by bridging cell-based therapies with emerging technologies. The Diabetes Research Institute was created for one reason - to cure diabetes - which is and will continue to be its singular focus until that goal is reached. For the millions of people affected by diabetes, the DRI is the best hope for a cure. For more information, visit DiabetesResearch.org or call 1-800-321-3437.

For more information on the Empire Ball, please contact:
Consumer Press:
Agnes Hansdorfer, DRI PR/Advertising Committee Co-Chair
312-203-6097, [email protected]

Real Estate Trade Press:
Michele Medaglia, ACC Construction Corporation
DRI PR/Advertising Committee Co-Chair
212-810-4471, [email protected]

Lucy Carter, Ted Moudis Associates
DRI PR/Advertising Committee Co-Chair
212-561-2040, [email protected]

For more information on the DRI, please contact:
Lauren Schreier, Director of Marketing and Communications
Diabetes Research Institute Foundation
(954) 964-4040, [email protected] Tags: