October 28, 2011
Service Takes Center Stage at
Record-Breaking President's Dinner
There’s something about reaching out to others that has an
energy all its own. Being good is commendable, but it becomes truly
useful only when combined with doing good.
Photo Gallery
Margaret LaRosa D'Angelo '70Ed and Peter P. D’Angelo '78MBA, '06HON
- A&E Networks Biography Video
William J. Janetschek, Jr. ‘84CBA - A&E Networks Biography
Video
James P. Pellow, Ed.D. - A&E Networks Biography Video
The 14th Annual President’s
Dinner, which brought together more than 1,150 friends of St.
John’s in the traditional venue of the Grand Ballroom of The
Waldorf~Astoria, saw an unmatched outpouring of generosity that
raised $3 million to support student scholarships. Scholarships for
students and service to those in need have always combined to make
St. John’s one of the world’s most respected universities.
For a few very special people, the call to service has become a way
of life, an opportunity for them to create an investment in the
future by making a difference in the present. Four of these
exceptional individuals were honored with the prestigious Spirit of
Service Award, at the University’s premier fundraising event.
Those honored included Margaret (Peg) LaRosa D’Angelo ’70Ed;
Peter P. D’Angelo ’78MBA, ’06HON, President of Caxton Associates,
LP; William J. Janetschek, Jr. ’84CBA, Chief Financial Officer and
Partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Company; and James P.
Pellow, Ed.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council
on International Educational Exchange.
“This is a celebration of St. John’s, and a wonderful celebration
it is,” noted St. John’s President Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.
“Our graduates are men and women of competence with hearts for
service who represent us so very well throughout our city, our
country and our world. We are so very proud of them.”
President’s Dinner Co-Chairperson William L. Collins ’76C expressed
the Committee’s appreciation to those in attendance for making the
evening such an overwhelming success. He was effusive in his praise
for the Spirit of Service honorees, noting that they had extended
themselves in ways that “…reverberated throughout every segment of
our society, without fanfare and without expectation of reward,
simply because it was the right thing to do.”
For these very generous
individuals, the satisfaction that they get from reaching out to
others is the only recompense they need. They firmly believe that
every person has an obligation to show gratitude for their own
blessings by sharing them with others who may not be as
fortunate.
Peg and Peter D’Angelo have long been aware of the extreme poverty
that exists in nearly every segment of our society. They both agree
that education is an essential step along the road to a better
life, and have devoted significant time and resources to fostering
initiatives and supporting institutions that provide learning
opportunities for financially burdened students and their
families.
“Peter and I really believe that education is the key to helping
people out of poverty,” said Peg. “That’s why supporting education
is such an important commitment for us. St. John’s has always done
a wonderful job of giving people so many a opportunities, and we’re
really glad to do whatever we can to help make that happen.”
“If you’re lucky enough to do well and be successful in life, our
Vincentian mission tells us that we have an obligation to help
those that aren’t as fortunate,” agreed Peter. “St. John’s doesn’t
only provide a great education, it teaches the values that show
people how to lead their lives. Peg and I really believe that
education is the only real way to break the cycle of poverty, and
the University is at the absolute forefront because of what it does
for others.”
St. John’s has always held a pivotal place in the Janetschek
family, and Bill became acquainted with the Vincentian commitment
to service at an early age. His father, William, Sr., graduated
from the University in 1963 and served as a powerful role model for
his son, who proudly followed in his footsteps. For Bill, his
personal family and his St. John’s family are one and the same, and
generosity to others is a defining characteristic of both.
“My parents raised me to always
take care of the less fortunate,” he said, “and those values were
further molded when I went to St. John’s. I was fortunate enough to
get a scholarship to the University, and although I never met the
person who funded the scholarship, I know that he believed in me. I
told myself that if I ever had a chance to do the same thing for
others, I’d do it.”
Early family influences were also important factors that led to
Pellow’s lifelong passion for making the world a better place.
Growing up with an aunt who was a nun and an uncle who was a
priest, he developed a strong realization that people could devote
their lives to serving others. In accepting his Spirit of Service
Award, he noted that, in addition to being both proud and humbled
by this singular honor, he was particularly moved by the fact that
it was presented by the University that has been such an important
part of his life for two decades.
“At St. John’s, the culture of service is pervasive,” he said. “It
thrives in [the] classrooms, it thrives in [the] students and
faculty, and it thrives in [the] leaders and alumni. Few
organizations can lay claim to such a robust culture of service.
It’s been an honor to be part of this family and to contribute in
some small way to bringing to life the spirit of St. Vincent –
action with impact.”
For many alumni, supporting the President’s Dinner is a way for
them to acknowledge the continuing importance of the University in
their lives while helping to ease the financial burden of the
current and future students who hope to enjoy the same St. John’s
experience that they did.
Although one of the University’s
most recent graduates, William Vonortas ’10TCB is already committed
to doing what he can to show his appreciation for the support that
he received from St. John’s.
“The President’s Dinner is the perfect event for me to be a part
of,” he remarked. “I was able to complete my undergraduate
education because of a scholarship from St. John’s, and I feel that
it’s important for me to give back and help out the students who
will be going there in the future. Coming to the President’s Dinner
is a great opportunity to say thank you to the University in a very
real way. I love St. John’s!”
James Melone ’74C, ’76P has tended to the healthcare needs of Long
Islanders as a pharmacist for more than two decades. His
long-standing attachment to the University is based on the
realization that the success he enjoys today is the result of his
St. John’s education. For this grateful double alumnus, supporting
the President’s Dinner is the perfect way for him to reconnect with
friends while acknowledging the role of the University in his
life.
“I’m here because I’m proud of my University and I appreciate what
it did for me, first when I was a student and later in my career,”
he said. “St. John’s definitely got me started on the path to
success. I was the owner of a community pharmacy on Long Island for
21 years and now I’m the Night Supervisor of Pharmacy at Winthrop
University Hospital. My careers are the direct result of the
education I received at St. John’s and the University will always
be important to me. Many of my family also graduated from St.
John’s, and I’m proud to be an alumnus of this great
institution.”
Adding a student touch to this elegant event, members of The
President’s Society were on hand to graciously assist the
dignitaries and guests. The President’s Society consists of
students who combine scholarship, integrity and maturity with
leadership skills. It is St. John’s highest honor society and its
members are considered part of the President’s official staff
Shevon Calley ’12C, a senior majoring in Psychology in St. John’s
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was excited to be taking part
in an event that she had heard about from other President’s Society
students. “It’s very humbling for me to be here,” she said. “As a
student, it’s nice to be able to see this aspect of St. John’s and
realize where so much scholarship support comes from. Lord willing,
I’ll be here as a donor myself once I get established in my
career.”
Without a doubt, the spotlight on
service has always made the President’s Dinner a truly signature
event. It is a striking reflection of the unique mission that has
served as the bedrock of the St. John’s experience since 1870, a
mission that is more vibrant and alive today than ever.
“St. John’s is a Vincentian University, which means that it’s
committed to offering as many deserving people as possible the
opportunity to get a first class education, regardless of where
they come from or whether their families have the financial ability
to afford it,” said WNBC-TV Sports Anchor and honorary St. John’s
alumnus Bruce Beck, who again served as Master of Ceremonies.
“That’s a great mission, and it’s a real example of how service to
others is at the heart of everything that happens at this great
University.”