According to the board of trustees of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Inc. (CCFA), Long Island Chapter, James Pappas (Jamie), the chapter's immediate past president and longtime advocate, will accept the 2008 Man of the Year Award at its Spring Gala, May 9, in the Grand Ballroom of the Garden City Hotel. Always an outstanding event, this year's Gala, promises to break all records for attendance as the philanthropic community of Long Island's Gold Coast and New York City's Real Estate and Construction industries prepare to fete one of their favorite sons. Pappas is president/COO, P.J. Mechanical Corporation, a privately held HVAC installation and service company, headquartered in New York City and founded by his father, Peter Pappas Sr., who serves today as its chairman. Brother, Peter Pappas Jr., serves with Jamie as co-president. Peter Sr. has accepted the role of gala co-chairman and Peter Jr. will be one of the Gala's Journal co-chairmen. Donald DiRenzo, Sr., vice chairman, Cushman & Wakefield and Mitchell Rechler, partner, Rechler Equity will join Pappas Sr., as co-chairmen. In addition to Pappas, Jr., journal co-chairman will be: Anthony Nastasi, president, Nastasi Associates; Stephen Soviero, senior managing director, asset services, Cushman & Wakefield; Anthony Gerrato, executive vice president, JCH Insurance; and Howard Fensterman, Esq., partner, Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato & Einiger, LLP. Event underwriters include: Nastasi & Associates, Rechler Equity, Plaza Construction, Turner Interiors, DIRTT/Lane Office Furniture, Aragon Construction, MDA Contracting, Inc., Air Perfect Corporation, B.C. Exchange. Pappas and his wife, Lisa, became involved in CCFA in 1995 when their first child and only daughter, Arianna, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 5. Like most parents confronting an unknown, chronic illness, the Pappases were confused and frightened. But when a seemingly immovable object meets an even more motivated unstoppable force such as the Pappas family, both Arianna's health and the cause of raising awareness and funds for inflammatory bowel disease education and research took an immediate turn for the better. With an unlimited reservoir of energy and unshakable resolve, Jamie and Lisa fought on two fronts—against the cruelty of Crohn's disease and for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's, Long Island Chapter. Everyone who knows the Pappases and their extended families knows of their commitment to CCFA. The Crohn's & Colitis Spring Gala is one of Long Island's most anticipated philanthropic events, drawing a glittering crowd of Long Island and New York City's most prominent citizens. Cocktails begin at 7:30, followed at 8:30 by the program, dinner and dancing. Corporate Underwriting Opportunities and Leadership packages, including VIP tables and Commemorative Journal advertising, are available.