Alumni Take the Lead in Fundraising for Public Interest Programs at St. John’s Law

Spirits and energy were high in the Law School cafeteria-turned-auction house as students, faculty, and alumni raised their bidding paddles for a chance to win items and experiences at the annual Public Interest Auction. 

Coordinated by the DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center, this year’s signature fundraiser celebrated Public Interest Through the Decades, marking the Law School’s 100th anniversary, the Auction’s 30th anniversary, and the Center’s 15th anniversary. Behind the scenes, a dedicated group of volunteers on the Alumni Auction Committee helped make the event a success. 

“We formed the Committee to support the in-person auction and a silent auction held earlier in the year at the offices of Labaton Keller Sucharow LLP, through the generosity of firm partners Eric Belfi ’95 and Jonathan Gardner ’90,” says DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center Director Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz. “Meeting monthly, Committee members contributed to the events’ vision, strategy, and promotion; supported them with their own donations; and served more broadly as ambassadors for public interest at St. John’s Law. Their involvement—along with the indispensable efforts of our Center Fellows and student volunteers—made for two well-planned, impactful, and memorable fundraisers.”

The two auctions raised a total of $119,120. Together with public interest endowment fellowships, foundation gifts, alumni donations, and fellowships sponsored by the Law School’s academic centers, the proceeds will help sustain an expanding slate of public interest programming at St. John’s Law, including the popular Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program.

Serving on this year’s Alumni Auction Committee was a meaningful experience for Christopher J. Byrne ’21, who is following in his late father’s footsteps as a lawyer in public service. “I established the Lawrence Byrne Public Interest Fellowship in memory of my dad, who was an Assistant United States Attorney before becoming Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel at the New York City Police Department,” he shares. “Giving back to the community, as he did, is a huge honor for me, and I see the Committee’s work as an extension of that commitment. There is no better career than one where you serve the public, and the fellowships facilitated by the auctions ensure that students can do that vitally important work.”

Jennifer Gilroy Ruiz '92, Chief of the New York City Law Department’s Family Court Division, also valued her Alumni Auction Committee experience this year. “I’m deeply grateful for the extraordinary education and opportunities I received at St. John’s Law, which have enabled me to spend my career serving the children, families, and communities of New York City,” she says, noting that it’s an honor to help current students find fulfillment in public service, public interest, and pro bono work. 

Gilroy Ruiz also participated in the auction-adjacent SHE-Grooves Challenge to raise money for Summer Public Interest Fellowships. She is happy to lead by example. “No matter what path your career has taken, getting involved in the auctions or supporting the Law School’s public interest initiatives will enrich your experience as an attorney,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to strengthen the future of our profession, connect with students and fellow alumni who are passionate about the law, and make a meaningful difference—both in the lives of students and in the communities they go on to serve.” 

About the 2025-2026 Alumni Auction Committee
We would like to recognize the members of this year’s Alumni Auction Committee:

• Christopher J. Byrne '21
• John “Jack” P. Clarke '55CBA, '57L
• Rose F. DiMartino '81
• Jessica Giambrone Palmese ‘05
• Jennifer Gilroy Ruiz '92
• Robert J. Gunther '81C, '84L
• Natalie Mishkin '24
• Matthew R. Oster ‘24
• Queenie Paniagua ‘12
• Megan Quail ‘13
• Jonathan Sack ‘89
• Maurice Sayeh '17

Thank you for taking the lead in supporting public interest programs at St. John’s Law!