New York Annual Gala Event Journal 2023

Event Journal

September 27, 2023

Celebrating esteemed honorees

Jody Slone Spitalnik

Pete Trizzino President, North America Sales Dell Technologies

VP, Supplier Partnerships Beverage Media & SevenFifty Daily (Provi Publications)

A Chance In Life empowers at-risk young people around the world with education and leadership development. This year A Chance In Life will serve 5,851 children and families in 12 countries across 4 continents. We provide children with education, leadership development training, housing, medical care, nutrition, financial literacy training and–most important–hope for a brighter future.

Our approach: Positive Youth Development

Youth education and empowerment are at the heart of our mission. A Chance In Life and our Partners emphasize Positive Youth Development, which fosters competence, confidence, connection, compassion and character development. Our approach ensures young people have the resources and opportunities to grow as leaders in their communities.

78 years, 50,000 children and counting

Our story began in Italy in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing established The Boys’ Republic (La Repubblica dei Ragazzi, later called Boys’ Towns of Italy) in 1945 to provide “a chance in life” to vulnerable and orphaned children facing famine and homelessness in war-devastated Rome. In 2015 the organization expanded its mission to include at-risk youth around the world. We changed our name to A Chance In Life to capture this international spirit.

Since our founding, we have served over 50,000 young people in Italy, Ethiopia, India, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, Palestine, Uganda and Venezuela. We opened our first United States-based program on Staten Island in 2021. A Chance In Life’s work continues to capture the vision of our founder to educate and empower the most vulnerable.

Message from the CEO

Dear Friends,

Buona sera and benvenuti! Welcome to the A Chance In Life New York Annual Gala Dinner. As I look around the room this evening, I see a galaxy of supporters, each one shining with a purpose and commitment to our shared vision

Just as the night sky is illuminated by countless stars, our mission has been brightened and energized by the dedicated hearts and minds in this room. Your support has enabled nearly 6,000 young stars in 12 countries to shine brightly this year, even against the backdrop of challenging circumstances It is through your generosity that A Chance In Life is able to provide these promising young people with the skills they need to flourish: leadership development, academic support, recreational and vocational activities, and STEM training among so many others.

Tonight, we are graced with the presence of two of our brightest luminaries in our constellation of supporters: this evening’s honorees Jody Slone Spitalnik and Pete Trizzino.

Jody has harnessed the energy and passion of the wine and spirits industry, creating a cohesive community with her innate ability to build and unite Her radiance has not only illuminated the path for A Chance In Life but has also reminded us of the power of collective brilliance. Her commitment to and talent for community building is one that we at A Chance In Life are always seeking to replicate as we expand our reach to ever more vulnerable young people We are so grateful to Jody, and to the wine and spirits community, for their generous support of our work over so many years

Pete, a true champion of digital inclusion, has ensured that young people in the underserved communities where we work have access to technology and the opportunity to pursue every educational path imaginable As a dedicated philanthropist, Pete’s commitment to educational inclusion and increasing opportunities for those often left in the dark has served as a beacon, guiding numerous young minds towards opportunities that allow them to harness their potential and shine even brighter.

Both Jody and Pete exemplify the essence of our founder's words: "When you wipe a tear from the face of a child, a star lights up in the sky." They, along with each one of you, are the reason our sky is brilliantly lit.

As we gather tonight under this canopy of dreams, aspirations, and shared commitment, let us remember that every gesture, every contribution, and every act of kindness adds another star to our sky, ensuring that the children we serve are never lost in the darkness.

Thank you for ensuring that our universe at A Chance In Life is always aglow with possibilities

With stellar appreciation,

Gabriele Delmonaco President & CEO, A Chance In Life

2023 Honoree

Jody Slone Spitalnik

VP, Supplier Partnerships Beverage

Media & SevenFifty Daily (Provi Publications)

Jody Slone Spitalnik is the VP of Supplier Partnerships for Beverage Media and SevenFifty Daily, (Provi Publications). In this role, Jody oversees media partnerships across the beverage alcohol industry through strategic trade programs.

Jody is an accomplished executive in the beverage alcohol industry, bringing over 25 years of experience with her to Provi, Beverage Media and SevenFifty Daily. Prior to her role at Provi, Jody was Vice President of Partnerships at SevenFifty where she spearheaded the strategic build out of supplier partnerships for the company.

Jody also served as Chief Operating Officer and head of Advertising Sales and Corporate Partnerships at Beverage Media Group, a company founded by her grandfather in 1936 shortly after the end of Prohibition. Jody's family legacy in the wine and spirits industry spans three generations, giving her a unique and deep understanding of the industry. She has created many long-term partnerships with critical local and national organizations.

Jody serves on the executive committee for both the UJA Federation and American Cancer Society Wine & Spirit divisions annual charity dinners.

2023 Honoree

Pete Trizzino

President, North America Sales

Dell Technologies

Pete Trizzino is President, North America Sales, a multi-billion-dollar organization spanning enterprise, corporate, mid-market, state/local public sector and Federal customers across the U.S. and Canada. Together, Pete and the team use technology to help customers transform their businesses and solve their most complex challenges to achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Prior to this role, Pete served as President, Dell Technologies Select, a global sales and transformation organization serving Dell’s global accounts business.

During his 29-year sales career, Pete has led teams across global, enterprise and mid-market segments for Dell, EMC and Xerox. His focus has always been, and remains, on building collaborative, high-performing teams and partners who operate with a customer-first mindset.

Having seen the transformative power of technology up close, Pete has developed a passion for advancing digital inclusion. For 3 years he has served on the board of NPower, a national nonprofit that creates pathways to economic prosperity by providing veterans and underestimated individuals with IT foundational skills.

Pete received a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Loyola University in Maryland where he was the captain of the University’s NCAA Division 1 soccer team.

Pete lives in Northport, NY with his wife and their four children.

Program

Welcome Remarks

Gabriele Delmonaco, President & Chief Executive Officer

Claire W. Gallagher, Senior Vice President, Development & Communications

Presentation of Awards

Jody Slone Spitalnik,VP, Supplier Partnerships Beverage Media & SevenFifty Daily (Provi Publications) by Steve Bellini, A Chance In Life Board Member

Student Speaker

Giacomo Murdulo, La Repubblica dei Ragazzi

Dinner

Presentation of Awards

Pete Trizzino, President, North America Sales

Dell Technologies by Guy Chiarello, A Chance In Life Board Member

Call to Action

Claire W. Gallagher, Senior Vice President, Development & Communications

Closing Remarks

Gabriele Delmonaco, President & Chief Executive Officer

A Chance In Life would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the following individuals who were instrumental in making tonight’s event, and our work, possible:

Katie Bobinski, Joe Chahwan, Guy Chiarello, Jesse Demers, The Estée Lauder Companies, Vinny Fyfe, Herman Hochberg, Suzan Kereere, Anna Krauze, Tomasz Mikluch, Jack Miller, Brother Sean Patrick Moffett, Giacomo Murdolo, Fayth Pentek, and all of tonight’s volunteers

Our Team

Board of Directors

Robert Iommazzo

Chairman

Managing Director, ZRG Partners

Mauro C. Romita Vice Chair

Stephen Bellini Treasurer President, Broken Shed Vodka, LLC

Jeanine T. Margiano Secretary

Partner, Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP

Gabriele Delmonaco President & CEO, A Chance In Life

Kate Bullis

Managing Director, ZRG Partners

Guy Chiarello

Chief Operating Officer, Fiserv, Inc.

Phil Guarnieri

CEO, Empire State Bank

Herman Hochberg

Lawrence Nibbi

CEO, Nibbi Brothers General Contractors

Gabriele Pera Piscopo

Emilie Puzio

Realtor Associate, D’Amico & McConnell

Realtors – Spring Lake, NJ

Mark Quattrocchi

Principal Emeritus, Quattrocchi Kwok

Architects

Srii Srinivasan

Chief Executive, Chargeback Gurus

Tim Tynan

Former CEO, Bank of America Merchant Services

Roy Van Pelt Consultant, Lathrop Construction

H E Card Giuseppe Versaldi

Prefect Congr Catholic Education (Honorary Member)

Staff

Gabriele Delmonaco President & CEO

Guadalupe Aguirre Building Manager – The Village

Jaqueline Arenales Programs Manager – The Village

Clara Chahwan Senior Vice President of Operations

Christopher Dowling Director of Community Engagement – The Village

Claire W Gallagher

Senior Vice President of Development & Communications

Elser Llanos Vice President of Programs

Cynthia Valle Executive Director – The Village

Loziana Vejuka

Office Manager

Claire Walton Communications & Development Manager

Caroline Ziccardi Director of Donor Relations

COMPLIMENTS OF Comm. Joseph Sciame

President, Sons of Italy Foundation

In Loving Memory

Emily and Frank M Puzio friends and supporters of Founder, Monsignor

John Patrick Carroll-Abbing

Con Affetto,

Emilie Puzio, ACIL Board Member

Amy Margherita Puzio Education Fund at La Repubblica

Sustainer's Circle

MAKE A LASTING IMPACT. Become a Sustainer

We invite you to become a recurring monthly donor and join our esteemed Sustainer's Circle. By making a monthly contribution, you provide us with a reliable base of unrestricted support, enabling us to plan more effectively and dedicate more resources directly to the programs that empower vulnerable youth worldwide.

To join our Sustainer's Circle, scan the QR code or visit our website at https://achanceinlife.org/getinvolved/sustainers-circle/.

For recurring gifts of $50 or more, we'll send you a tote bag to say thanks!

Expand Your Impact Today!

Are you looking to support A Chance In Life even further, while potentially reducing your future tax burden in the process? Join your fellow community members and consider donating from your IRA!

Donors that are 70.5 or older can give from their IRA to support vulnerable youth today, while fulfilling a Required Minimum Distribution for 2022, if you’re required to take one.

Get started today and learn about the benefits of giving from your IRA at FreeWill.com/QCD/ACIL, or scan the QR code.