The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation will hold its annual fundraising gala, Sunday, May 22 from 6 - 9:15 p.m. at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. and featuring comedian Dana Carvey. This annual fundraising dinner is held each year in Las Vegas during RECon, ICSC's international deal making and trade show, and aides the ICSC Foundation in upholding its mission: to provide educational scholarships and support initiatives that make a difference in the communities served by the retail real estate industry.
The dinner committee co-chairs for this year's gala are a veritable who's who in the industry: Eduardo Bross, chairman, Constructora Planigrupo; John Bucksbaum, CEO and chairman, General Growth Companies, Inc.; David Henry, president, CEO, vice chairman of the board, chief investment officer, Kimco Realty Corporation; Kim McInnes, president and CEO, Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc.; Bill Taubman, chief operating officer, Taubman Centers; Eric Zorn, executive vice president, president of Wal-Mart Realty, Wal-Mart, Inc.
"Every year the industry gathers for this prestigious fundraising event to network, enjoy an evening of entertainment, and most importantly, support the ICSC Foundation in continuing to provide outstanding philanthropic initiatives that positively impact our industry," said Kieran Quinn, chairman of the ICSC Foundation.
As part of its mission, the Foundation aims to ensure that the retail real estate industry is infused with top talent from the next generation of professionals. The Foundation attracts new entrants by sharing ICSC members' knowledge with students, universities and colleges as well as by endowing and awarding scholarships to those schools and students who are looking towards a future in the retail real estate industry.
"Not only has the ICSC Foundation Scholarship helped me from a financial perspective to pay for an MBA, but it has opened doors and enabled conversations that otherwise would have been difficult to attain," said Jeremy Griffin, ICSC 2009 graduate scholarship recipient, Columbia University. "The MBA recruiting process is an important component of the MBA program, and it helps to be associated with a well known organization such as ICSC," Griffin added.
Shopping centers contribute to their communities in a myriad of ways, from providing essential goods and services to creating jobs. The Foundation seeks to enhance the role of shopping centers by actively advancing and supporting programs that give back to the communities the retail real estate industry serves.
A strong industry community is essential to the success of any profession and it takes the effort of professionals within that industry to develop the next generation of talent, promote the interests of the industry, and enhance the communities that the industry serves. Through advocacy, volunteering and financial support the Foundation strives to make this happen.
Being part of this unique fundraising event provides attendees with high-level exposure to senior executives in a fun and relaxed format while providing the Foundation with the funding it needs to reach its goals of assisting students and rewarding the communities the industry serves. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available by visiting www.icscfoundation.org/2011gala. Tags: