Empire Ball to honor Heller, Durst and Moudis; Event aims to raise $1.4 million

The Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) Foundation Real Estate Division will host the 12th Annual Empire Ball at the Grand Hyatt on Monday, December 6. The fundraiser, heavily supported by the New York real estate community and its affiliates, aims to raise $1.4 million in support of the DRI, topping last year's $1 million total. Located at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine, the DRI is a recognized world leader in cure-focused research and a pioneer in islet cell transplantation. This year's event will honor Jody Durst, president of The Durst Org. The company is being honored for their philanthropic efforts, including diabetes research, and their unyielding commitment to the betterment of the city. Additionally, Ted Moudis, A.I.A., senior principal of Ted Moudis Associates, will receive the Camillo Ricordi Humanitarian Award for his philanthropy in the fight against diabetes and his dedication to environmentally responsible building practices and design. Richard Heller, senior VP of Malkin Holdings, LLC, will be presented with the Distinguished Service Award for his longstanding philanthropy and commitment to raising funds for the Empire Ball. "I am so proud to be joined by our friends in the real estate community here in New York as we continue our efforts in finding a cure for diabetes, a disease that has affected millions of people of every age and background," said Peter DiCapua, COO for Atco Properties & Management, Inc. and chairman of the DRI Real Estate Division. "After last year's successful event, we are raising the bar yet again in order to help support this very important cause, hoping to make this year's event the most successful to date." There are nearly 24 million Americans living with diabetes - making the disease one of the biggest health concerns in the U.S. today. Since 1983, the New York real estate community and its affiliates have raised more than $27 million for diabetes research. The idea for an annual fundraiser was initiated by Charles Rizzo, principal of The Rizzo Group, after learning of his daughter's diagnosis with diabetes. Rizzo and 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. Over the last 27 years, the event has become the real estate 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; Gerald Schein, Lizanne Gaibreath; Edward Gordon; John Catsimatidis; Joseph "Dee" Dussich; and Frank Sciame - all heads of corporations and leaders in their respective industries. Tickets to the event are still available for purchase. For more information on tickets, advertising opportunities and other ways to support DRI, please visit www.diabetesresearch.org/2010EmpireBall.