President’s Dinner Raises $4 Million

St. John’s University’s 28th Annual President’s Dinner raised a record-tying $4 million in student scholarship aid—but that is not the entire story. 

According to Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John’s, recent donations for scholarships not specifically tied to the President’s Dinner have raised the tally to $10 million, giving the University even more reason to celebrate.

The celebratory gala was held on Thursday, October 30, in the Grand Ballroom of the New York Hilton Midtown. The event carried a joyful, hopeful spirit, grounded in gratitude and nostalgia, as the University looked optimistically toward a bright future. 

Clearly moved by the spate of recent bequests and donations in honor of this most worthy cause, Fr. Shanley noted that the President’s Dinner is his favorite St. John’s event “by a million miles.” He referenced the recent $15 million gift from the Sallie Wang Revocable Trust ($5 million of which goes to student scholarships), and another bequest of $1 million, stressing that education is the pathway to realizing hope in life.

Touching on recent exhortations by Pope Leo XIV, Fr. Shanley stressed the necessity of Catholic education in transforming the lives of the poor. “The most powerful thing you can do for an individual and a family is to give them a college education. That changes the trajectory of not just one kid, but of their whole family. The Vincentians have always known this, and that’s why they founded St. John’s.”

The President’s Dinner is also an opportunity to honor several of the University’s most active and generous alumni and friends with the Spirit of Service Award. Each honoree was celebrated with a biography video that traced the arc of their lives. 

“You realize that in every St. John’s story, there was no guarantee of success,” Fr. Shanley offered.

It was faith, hard work, education, and the providence of God that led to their success, he emphasized. “We honor four people who led very exemplary lives that represent the core values of St. John’s. It’s important to us at the University to tell stories that inspire people, particularly all the students here tonight.”

This year’s honorees were

• Doherty Enterprises, Inc.
• Steven J. Gartner, Esq. ’84L
• Thomas K. Rudzewick
• Pamela G. Shea-Byrnes, D.Min. ’86SVC, ’90G (posthumously)

Accepting the award for Doherty Enterprises, Inc., was founder Edward W. Doherty ’68CBA, ’72MBA. “A Vincentian education allowed me to be hired by Mobil Oil Corporation as a sales rep calling on 40 gas stations in Bedford-Stuyvesant and East New York in 1968,” Mr. Doherty fondly recalled.

He added, “It was a fascinating job in a unique area at a challenging time, but it taught me the importance of connecting with people and building relationships. While working at Mobil, I attended St. John’s at night, earning my M.B.A. That led to a 10-year career at Marriott Corporation that ultimately gave me the courage to start my own business over 40 years ago.”

Mr. Gartner, a graduate of the School of Law and University Trustee, noted that he owed his great success to St. John’s. “I had great St. John’s mentors throughout my career.” He explained that he benefited from academic and law review scholarships that significantly defrayed the cost of his tuition.

Three pillars formed the foundation of Mr. Rudzewick’s life—family, faith, and education. “My Catholic education has always been a strong thread throughout my life,” he observed. “The interactions and inspiration of the clergy at each school left a profound mark on how I have chosen to live my life.”

Maspeth Federal Savings, where he serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, “is built upon a commitment of helping others,” he said. “Our earnings are not distributed to shareholders, but held for those that truly need help. Our donations, grants, and contributions are spread out through the neighborhoods we serve. We pray that our organization’s leadership inspires our employees and members, setting an example to help others. Be an extraordinary minister at your church or volunteer at your parish food bank. Make a difference so that you can help others live better with faith-based decisions.”

Jeffrey R. Byrnes ’83SVC, Dr. Shea-Byrnes’s husband, accepted the Spirit of Service Award on her behalf. “There is a passage from scripture that truly embodies the spirit of Pam Shea-Byrnes: Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with your God,” he said. “These words defined her life. In everything Pam did, her deep Catholic faith was always at the center.”

Dr. Shea-Byrnes was a devoted mother, a passionate Catholic educator, and a tireless advocate for her faith, Mr. Byrnes recalled. “She shared her knowledge, her talents, her skills, and her connections generously to help wherever she could. Pam brought people together, always working to strengthen and support Catholic education at every level.”

Bruce Beck ’09HON, Lead Sports Anchor for NBC4 New York, served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. During his remarks, he discussed Hearts on Fire, the transformative, $400-million campaign whose goal is to elevate a St. John’s education through access and opportunity, academic excellence, and strategic campus investments. 

“This past May, Chair of the Board of Trustees William J. Janetschek ’84CBA, ’17HON, retired Partner and Chief Financial Officer, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., already a generous and longtime University benefactor, gifted a $32.5 million donation—the largest single financial commitment in St. John’s history,” he said. That record-setting gift, Mr. Beck explained, helped launch Hearts on Fire. 

“I am also proud to report that St. John’s continues to rise in the U.S. News & World Report education rankings of the nation’s top universities,” Mr. Beck said, noting that the University advanced to 151 on the list of national universities, up from last year, and jumped an impressive 19 spots in the “Best Value Schools,” coming in at 164.

“We cannot talk about rankings without a nod to the Men’s Basketball team,” Mr. Beck explained. Earlier this month, St. John’s received its highest preseason national ranking in program history, debuting at fifth in the 2025 edition of the Associated Press Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll. Under the leadership of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino, the team is enjoying a national buzz it has not received in decades, Mr. Beck observed.

Student speaker Sarah Rao, a bachelor’s degree candidate in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business and member of the President’s Society, the University’s highest honor society for undergraduates, told the audience that her St. John’s story was built upon its Catholic and Vincentian values, “guided by faith, and made possible by the generosity of individuals like you.”

Sarah spoke of the legacy of Dr. Shea-Byrnes. “Her commitment to faith, service, and education has lit a path for me and for so many others. Because of her, I’ve found a diverse, passionate community that has become my family—a family united by a love for God and a desire to serve.”

She stressed, “The Dr. Pamela Shea-Byrnes Catholic Scholars Endowed Scholarship Fund was a miracle in my life that made my St. John’s dream a reality, making it financially possible for me to attend St. John’s University. It has given me hope, direction, and a fire in my heart that I carry with me every day.”

“Tonight, my heart is on fire with gratitude, purpose, and the love of God that has been nurtured here at St. John’s. I pray your hearts are burning, too, because your generosity does more than fund scholarships; it ignites possibility. It lights the way for students like me to rise, lead, and serve.”

Paige F. Band ’16CPS, ’18GCPS, Cochair of the Graduates of the Last Decade, an affinity group open to all alumni who have graduated from St. John’s within the last 10 years, said, “Student scholarships are the reason so many of us get to go to school. The fact that I just paid off my student loans is indebted to the many scholarships I received as a student. A dinner like this is that fundraising point that really gets everyone excited.”

Members of the President’s Society were on hand to serve as student ambassadors and engage with alumni benefactors, who could see firsthand  the fruits of their generosity. 

Pharmacy major Philip Anthony Marbid spoke of the legacy of Dr. Shea-Byrnes, a person he never met, but one who has profoundly influenced his life. Philip is part of the Catholic Scholars program, which Dr. Shea-Byrnes shepherded. “She inspired so many people. We always talk about her in Catholic Scholars, and it’s important to celebrate people like that.” 

Anthony Brandimarte, a finance major, said, “Tonight is an opportunity for us to interact with alumni and see how they moved forward from St. John’s into the world. It shows how interconnected everything is. It gives them a chance to see the impact alumni are having by giving back to the school that formed them. I want to leave St. John’s a better place than I found it—and they’re showing me the way.”

Accounting major Layla Victoria Santana said, “It’s amazing to me how much the alumni truly care about our journeys. They come to the event, buy a table, and listen to our stories.”

Molly Richardson, an international management major, observed that an event such as this “brings together so many people who care about the mission of St. John’s. We’re celebrating each other, their impact, and our impact on the life of St. John’s.”

Justin Berman, a speech-language pathology and audiology major, noted this was his first major off-campus event. “When we’re on campus, it’s so localized that a night like this reminds us how grand scale everything is. We’re a bigger university than a lot of people think, and it’s great to see how large the community really is.”