March of Dimes 34th Annual Real Estate Awards Breakfast raises $1 million

White Plains, NY March of Dimes Greater NY Market held the 34^th Annual Real Estate Awards Breakfast Nov. 4^th at the Opus Westchester.  The event shattered its fundraising goal, raising over $1 million to support the March of Dimes’ mission to improve the health of moms and babies. Rella Fogliano and Louis Cappelli, two commercial real estate industry leaders, were honored at the event.

Fogliano, president & CEO of MacQuesten Development, LLC, received the March of Dimes Real Estate Award. “I am truly moved to have been chosen for this award. I am grateful to be a part of this industry especially in moments like these when we can help to improve the lives of babies and families,” said Fogliano.

Cappelli, founder and managing member of Cappelli Organization, received the Martin S. Berger Award for Lifetime Achievement. “I love building tall, beautiful buildings. I love helping to create and improve cities especially in Westchester, my home. What do I love most? Helping to save lives. Helping to improve lives. Like raising one million dollars with my friend Rella Fogliano and setting a new bar for this cause to save babies and moms,” said Cappelli.

The March of Dimes Real Estate Awards Breakfast was hosted by News 12 Networks’ Emmy Award-winning Anchor/Reporter Tara Rosenblum and broke all previous fundraising records. $1 million is the most the event has raised in its 34-year history.

Joe Apicella, managing director of MacQuesten Development, presented the March of Dimes Real Estate Award to Fogliano. The introduction included highlighting the transformational developments of Rella and MacQuesten in Mount Vernon, NY that have re-imagined the landscape of the city.  Rella was coined “the George Baily of Westchester” at the event.

Joe Simone, president of Simone Development Cos., presented the Martin S. Berger Award for Lifetime Achievement to Cappelli.  His introduction included a tribute in pictures and music to his exceptional career, which includes extensive re-designs of downtown White Plains, New Rochelle and beyond. Cappelli’s fingerprint has raised the bar on real estate development. His vision is “investing in tomorrow,” and building brighter futures for our communities.

Fogliano and Cappelli presented a $1 million check to the March of Dimes. Patricia Valenti, executive managing director for Newmark and March of Dimes Real Estate Awards Breakfast chair along with Mark Weingarten, partner at Del Bello Donnellan Weingarten Wise and Wiederkehr (DDWWW) and March of Dimes Fund the Mission Chair, and Annette Trotta-Flynn, March of Dimes development director, accepted the check.

The Real Estate Awards Breakfast had over 80 sponsors including Event Sponsor RXR Realty LLC and Title Sponsors: Alliance Building Services, Alliant Insurance Services, ASF, Cappelli Organization, Four M Investments, LLC, The Klein Family, LCOR, MacQuesten Development, LLC, National Realty & Development Corp., Related Companies, SL Green Realty Corp., and Wilder Balter Partners, Inc.