January 27, 2018
The 20th Annual St. John’s University President’s Dinner celebrated many milestones, as well as the University’s enduring mission of service to others, while raising a record-breaking amount of scholarship funds that will directly benefit St. John’s most accomplished and deserving students—especially those with financial need.
Held in the Grand Ballroom of the New York Hilton Midtown on Friday, October 27, the President’s Dinner drew more than 800 guests including benefactors, faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni, and members of the St. John’s Board of Trustees and Board of Governors. Since its inception in 1998, St. John’s premier fundraising event has raised nearly $37 million in total revenue while championing the University’s Catholic and Vincentian mission.
The most exciting moment of the evening came when Dr. Gempesaw revealed, one digit at a time, the dollar amount raised at the dinner. When the record figure of $3,302,597 was announced, a resounding ovation filled the ballroom, which had been adorned in red and white in honor of St. John’s colors.
In addition to marking its 20th anniversary, other significant events celebrated at this year’s President’s Dinner included the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian charism, which marks St. Vincent de Paul’s call to his followers to dedicate themselves to those in the greatest need; the 50th anniversary of the President’s Society, the highest honor society available to undergraduates at St. John’s; and the 30th anniversary of Student Government, Inc., the parent organization of all 180 undergraduate student organizations at the University.
“Your presence here tonight demonstrates your commitment to help the next generation of St. John’s students,” said Dr. Gempesaw. He thanked the donors for their generosity and added, “During the past three years, we have shown that, by working together under a shared vision of ensuring student success, we can achieve transformative results.”
Dinner Co-Chairs Antoinette O’Connor ’82CBA and Joseph O’Connor ’82CBA, ’16HON, who met as students at St. John’s, are proud supporters of the annual President’s Dinner. Mr. O’Connor now serves as a Trustee of the University. “Tonight is a way to showcase and highlight everything St. John’s means to us,” he said. “To do this with fellow alumni is terrific, as is the sense of excitement that has happened on campus in the last few years. Dr. Gempesaw has presided over a rebirth [of the University]—and has positioned St. John’s for new growth and development in the years to come.”
Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D., Bishop of Brooklyn; the Most Rev. John O. Barres, S.T.D., J.C.L., D.D., Bishop of Rockville Centre; the Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan ’84C, Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre; the Very Rev. Stephen M. Grozio, C.M., Provincial of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission; Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., past President of St. John’s; William L. Collins ’76C, ’12HON, Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees; and Peter P. D’Angelo ’78MBA, ’06HON, former Chair of the Board of Trustees, and his wife, Margaret, also a current Board member.
Singling out the many current students in attendance, Dr. Gempesaw said, “You are the reason we are a University. Hopefully, 10, 20, or 30 years from now, someone from your group will be among our honorees, perhaps at the 50th anniversary of the President’s Dinner.”
Stephanie Evangelist, a Childhood Education major from the Staten Island campus, was inspired by the outpouring of generosity from alumni. “It is amazing to see that the feelings of pride and nostalgia among alumni are the same regardless of whether they graduated in 1967 or 2017.” She added, “It is really important that we acknowledge everyone who donates their time, energy, and resources so that the next generation of students can continue to benefit from the generous legacy of St. John’s.”
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology major Naveen Abdelwahab observed, “This is a great way to bring everyone together to reconnect, and it is all in the context of supporting St. John’s.”
Dr. Gempesaw concluded the evening with a strong sentiment of gratitude. “We cannot do this alone,” Dr. Gempesaw said. “I cannot thank you enough for your generosity, support, and love for St. John’s.”
Since its inception, the President’s Dinner has recognized distinguished St. John’s alumni and friends with the Spirit of Service Award. As is the case every year, the 2017 honorees exemplify the University’s Vincentian values in their life and work. The honorees this year were:
Rev. Michael J. Carroll, C.M. ’09HON, Former Provincial Superior, Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission; and Former Vice Chair, St. John’s University Board of Trustees
For 16 years, Fr. Carroll served St. John’s University in a variety of roles. As Vice President for Campus Ministry, and later as Executive Vice President for Mission and Branch Campuses, he helped advance the University’s Vincentian Mission.
Following his service to St. John’s, Fr. Carroll was elected Provincial of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, in which he served a nine-year term. Concurrently, Fr. Carroll was also Vice Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees and Chair of the Board’s Executive Committee.
During his tenure as Provincial, he enhanced recruitment efforts and established a strong Formation Program, which included opening a new residence for Vincentian seminarians.
Among his many other accomplishments, Fr. Carroll initiated a strategic communications planning process that resulted in the formation of an Office of Communications to share the story of the works, ministries, and people of the Province.
John H. Hajjar, M.D., F.A.C.S. ’77C, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Sovereign Health System, and Sharon F. Hajjar ’79SVC, ’86P
Mrs. Hajjar graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from St. Vincent’s College in 1979 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions in 1986. She currently serves on St. John’s University’s Board of Governors. Dr. Hajjar received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1977. Upon graduation, he continued his studies at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, graduating in 1981, and completed his surgical and urological training at New York University Medical Center.
Dr. Hajjar established his own private urology practice in northern New Jersey in 1987. In 1992, he established his first of many ambulatory surgery centers, SurgiCare Centers, which are now operated by Surgem, LLC, a management and development company he founded in 2005. Dr. Hajjar currently devotes his professional energies to his role as Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Health System, an integrated health care organization providing clinical expertise and technology for patients throughout the tristate area.
Frank L. Kurre ’84CBA, Managing Partner–Northeast Region, Grant Thornton LLP; and member of St. John’s University Board of Governors, and Francesca M. Kurre
Mrs. Kurre graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Adelphi University in 1984 and began her professional career as an auditor at Arthur Andersen & Co. By 1986, Mrs. Kurre was promoted several times, becoming Assistant Director and then Director of Human Resources in the audit division in 1988. In 1991, she left the business world to begin a family.
Mr. Kurre received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from St. John’s University in 1984, a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in the Diocese of Rockville Centre in 2013, and was simultaneously ordained a permanent deacon.
Over the past 33 years, Mr. Kurre has served in various capacities in Fortune 1000 companies and large not-for-profit organizations. He is currently a Managing Partner–Northeast Region of Grant Thornton LLP, a leading organization of independent audit, tax, and advisory firms.
Synchrony Financial
Accepting on behalf of Synchrony Financial was
Margaret M. Keane ’81C, ’87MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer; and Secretary and member of St. John’s University Board of Trustees
Synchrony Financial is one of the nation’s premier consumer financial services companies with roots in consumer financing tracing back to 1932. According to the June 2017 Nilson Report, the company is the largest provider of private label credit cards in the United States based on purchase volume and receivables.
Synchrony Financial’s CEO is Margaret M. Keane, a double alumna of St. John’s University, who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1981 and her Master of Business Administration degree from the College of Business Administration in 1987. She currently serves as Secretary and a member of the Board of Trustees of St. John’s University.
Beyond its business success, Synchrony Financial consistently demonstrates an unwavering commitment to working toward social change with long-term impact. The Synchrony Financial Families That Work corporate citizenship program is dedicated to assisting low- and moderate-income working families achieve self-sufficiency.