St. Mary’s Tribute Dinner, honoring Gary Segal, Raises Significant Funds for St. Mary’s Kids

Leaders from the Construction, Development, and Real Estate Industries Rally at St. Mary’s Largest Fundraiser to Help New York’s Sickest Children

Top executives and leaders from the real estate, construction, and development industries in the metropolitan New York area gathered at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers on Monday, November 16, 2015 for St. Mary’s Annual Tribute Dinner, honoring Gary Segal, from Five Star Electric Corp. The signature event celebrates St. Mary’s Kids. The event raised over $600,000 to support the essential programs and services that St. Mary’s provides to 2,000 children and their families each day.

Gary Segal is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Five Star Electric Corp., one of New York City’s premier electrical contractors. Under Gary’s leadership, Five Star became the largest union electrical contractor in New York, and was recently ranked #10 in the country by Engineering News Record. Gary is on the Board of Directors of the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry, New York Electrical Contractors Association, Subcontractors Trade Association and NY Building Congress Foundation. Gary is also a long-time supporter and advocate for St. Mary’s making him a fitting honoree for this construction industry event.

“St. Mary’s greatly appreciates the support and friendship of Gary Segal, a true champion for our children,” remarked Dr. Edwin Simpser, St. Mary’s President and CEO. “It’s through the support of the community and events like our Tribute Dinner that help us provide our life-enhancing programs and services to children throughout the 5 boroughs of NYC, Long Island and Westchester.”

Dr. Simpser’s appreciation was reaffirmed later that evening through the moving words of a grateful patient family who has benefitted from St. Mary’s cutting-edge programs. Karla Reteguis, the mother of two boys who were born with a rare, progressive condition that severely limits their mobility, emotionally thanked the audience for their support, and shared that she and her husband are amazed with the progress her boys have achieved with St. Mary’s help.  Karla shared that “Kael can now walk for longer distances without help, and can go from sitting to standing without support.”

Other highlights of the evening included a revue from the Broadway musical, Jersey Boys, and a high-spirited live auction that had guests bidding on exclusive items including a one-week getaway at a luxurious, fully-staffed ocean-front mansion in the Dominican Republic, a year of free parking in NYC, tickets to the watch the New York Knicks, the Rangers and the Harlem Globetrotters in a suite at Madison Square Garden, and a basket with vintage wine.

The event was chaired by St. Mary’s Board Director, Jeffrey Levine of Douglaston Development / Levine Builders, and was co-chaired by St. Mary’s Board Directors Ark Latt of Plaza Construction and Vincent Riso of the Briarwood Organization. Additional committee members included, Charles Avolio, Turner Construction Company; Christopher Erikson, Local Union #3, IBEW; Steve Gianotti, Arcadia Electrical Company; Cyrus Izzo, Syska Hennessy Group; William Lerner, iPark; Larry Roman, WDF, Inc. and Louis Silverman, G4 Capital Partners.

St. Mary’s would like to thank all of the event’s generous sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor, Norman Feinberg and Leading Sponsor, Cindy and Tod Johnson. Visionary Sponsors were DJ Ambulette Service; Linda and Ray Riso; Vincent L. Riso; Donna and Gary Segal. Hero Sponsors were Douglaston Development/Levine Builders; G4 Capital Partners; Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP and Lorraine and Richard Gilden. Champion Sponsors included Brookfield Office Properties; Lawrence Scott Events; Local Union #3, IBEW; Mattone Group; NY Electrical Contractors Association; Plaza Construction; Michelle and Peter Roth; Skanska; Turner Construction Company and WDF, Inc.