Nearly $450,000 Raised for National Jewish Health at Financial Industries Dinner

More than 700 leaders of New York’s financial industries gathered on March 13 to honor Joseph Pollicino Jr., Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Wells Fargo Bank, NA, at the 35th annual Financial Industries Dinner. The event at the New York Hilton raised nearly $450,000 for the nation’s #1 respiratory hospital, National Jewish Health.

Michael Salem, MD, President and CEO of National Jewish Health, thanked the guests at the Financial Industries Dinner for their support of the institution. “For 35 years now, the Financial Industries Dinner has formed an important bridge between the wonderful support we receive from the Tri-State Area and the care and research that National Jewish Health provides to benefit patients worldwide,” said Dr. Salem.

Pollicino accepted the prestigious Humanitarian Award for his significant civic and charitable contributions and leadership in his industry. Pollicino is a board member and past president of the Catholic Big Sisters and Big Brothers of New York, the Plandome Civic Association and Plandome Country Club. He serves on the board of advisors of the Georgetown University Wall Street Alliance and on local youth sports boards for basketball, soccer and baseball.

One of the most prestigious philanthropic events for New York’s financial industry, the Financial Industries Dinner began in 1977, spearheaded by the late New York banker and philanthropist Lou Moskowitz. Over the years, the Financial Industries Dinner has raised more than $17 million for National Jewish Health.

In addition to awarding Pollicino with the Humanitarian Award, National Jewish Health inducted last year’s Honorary Chair Carl A. Toriello of Jefferies Finance into the National Jewish Health Council of National Trustees. “I am honored to be a Trustee,” Toriello said. “This is a reunion tonight -- the first time a father and a son were honored.” Joseph Pollicino Sr., received the Humanitarian Award at the same event in 1992.

The 2012 Financial Industries Dinner was chaired by FTI Consulting’s Abby E. Parsonnet. Honorary Chairman was Barry A. Kastner, Keltic Financial Services. Dinner Treasurer was Kevin J. Gillespie of Wells Fargo Capital Finance.

Dinner Committee Vice Chairmen were Glenn Autorino, GE Capital Markets Inc.; Daniel Batterman, Hahn & Hessen LLP; Mitchell M. Brand, Otterbourg, Steindler, Houston & Rosen PC; William D. Brewer, Winston & Strawn LLP; Milton Cooper, Kimco Realty Corp.; Carl Giordano, TD Bank N.A.; Jonathan Helfat, Otterbourg, Steindler, Houston & Rosen PC; Daniel J. Krauss, Hahn & Hessen LLP; Frank Lourenso, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; David W. Morse, Otterbourg, Steindler, Houston & Rosen PC; Joseph P. Powers, Bank of America N.A./Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc.; David Rhodes, School of Visual Arts; Jerry Saccone, McGuireWoods LLP; Robert Santimays, GE Corporate Financial Services; and Salvatore Settineri, GE Capital Markets Inc.

National Jewish Health Trustees involved in the Financial Industries Dinner were Robert J. Arth, Herbert L. Ash, Philip F. Bleser, John F. Daly, Donald J. Gibson, David J. Kantes, William A. Kosis, Brian S. MacConnell, Lawrence A. Marsiello, Warren K. Mino, Joseph F. Nemia, Joseph A. Pollicino Sr., Steven J. Seif, Harry C. Steinmetz, Andrew H. Tananbaum, Terrence J. Ullrich and George T. Wendler.

For more information contact Mattie Shepheard, Associate Director Special Events, New York Regional Office, at 212.297.0857 or ShepheardM@NJHealth.org.

National Jewish Health is known worldwide for treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders, and for groundbreaking medical research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health remains the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders. Since 1998, U.S. News & World Report has ranked National Jewish Health the #1 respiratory hospital in the nation.