E-JOURNAL
Thank you to our sponsors!
Diamond Sponsors Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
Silver Sponsors AvalonBay Communities, Inc. Ruth Pachman & Don Fallati
Bronze Sponsors Bill & Jan Arnold Kalaivani & T.J. Duane Edward Fitzpatrick Kekst CNC Dan & Nancy Paduano Dawn Zappetti & Patrick Sullivan
Friends BTQ Financial Jagdeep & Shashi Dayal Jennifer & Greg Geiling and Family Brad & Shirin Green Eli & Jennifer Gross Reggie Harwell & Pia Flanagan Mickie & Bob Kerson Mass Mutual Mt. Sinai Hospital Mutual of America David Nocenti & Andrea Shapiro Davis Amy Sherman Robin Sparkman & Howard Robbins
BenEfactors Ed Adler Peter H. Baker Epstein Becker Green Kate Hamill & Jonathan Betts Saliq Khan Kevin Libby Eve Lilley Lateefah Odedina Ponce Bank Susan Puder & Peter Verrengia Robert Quaintance
Gina Rusch Barbara Sternberger Kate & John Townsend Dana Zappetti & Nick Lakoumentas
April 20, 2022 Dear Friends, Thank you for joining us and for your support of Union Settlement’s 2022 Spring Benefit. We are delighted to spend time with you this evening to share the multi-dimensional, critical and longstanding work of Union Settlement. Union Settlement has been a bedrock for East Harlem for more than 127 years. A hallmark of our resiliency has been our exceptional team and our ability to respond to the evolving East Harlem community and the needs of the time. The last year has been no exception. Tonight as we recognize our team and our community, we also look to the future. A future with a more equitable recovery for East Harlem and a future that envisions new heights and opportunities for Union Settlement and East Harlem. We invite you to help build that vision with us. There will be many opportunities to get involved in the months ahead. Tonight, we are pleased to celebrate our distinguished honorees: • Andreas C. Dracopoulos, Co-president of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF); • Reggie Harwell, AVP of Strategic Solutions & Business Development, Voya and a 17-year member of the Union Settlement Board of Directors currently serving as Secretary; • Pia Flanagan, Chief Operating Officer, CEO Action for Racial Equity. We are also honored to recognize Epstein Becker & Green with our Law Firm Partner award, and AvalonBay Communities, Inc. with our Corporate Partner award this evening. We especially want to thank the amazing Union Settlement team of 350 for all of their hard work, passion, and dedication to empower East Harlem. We are grateful for our generous sponsors and supporters of the evening. Your support of Union Settlement is more important than ever. We hope you enjoy the program this evening as you see first-hand the vibrancy of Union Settlement and East Harlem! Sincerely,
Amy Sherman Chair, Board of Directors
Jennifer Geiling Chief Executive Officer
HONOREE
Andreas C. Dracopoulos Andreas Dracopoulos is dedicated to the work of philanthropy in both his public and private life. He is Co-President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), which, over the past 26 years, has committed more than $3.3 billion through nearly 5,100 grants to nonprofits in over 135 countries. SNF supports organizations and projects worldwide that can achieve broad, lasting, and positive impact for society at large. Andreas is a Trustee of The Rockefeller University, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Berman Institute of Bioethics at JHU and is an Honorary Trustee of the New York Public Library, where he served as a Trustee from 2003 to 2010. He holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2021, Andreas received an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, from Simon Fraser University. Born and raised in Greece, he lives New York City.
HONOREE
Reggie Harwell Reginald ‘Reggie’ Harwell is a seasoned financial wellness executive currently working with Voya Financial on strategic projects that work at the intersection of Health and Wealth Benefits. Previously Reggie worked in PwC’s Employee Financial Education and Wellness Practice which specializes in providing financial wellness, education, and counseling services to employees of large corporations. In addition to his professional endeavors, Reggie’s passion has always been giving back to the community that has supported him. He has served as an advisor to several organizations that are focused on leadership and youth development. Has served as a Big Brother in the Big Brother Big Sister program, featured speaker at the World of Money youth Financial Camp, mentor for the Legacy Foundation of Hartford, and most proudly serving as a mentor for a young man for the last 15 years who has recently graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta. Since 2006 he has served on the Board of Union Settlement Association in East Harlem. He is the current Secretary and previously held the positions of Chair and Treasurer. Reggie resides in Connecticut with his wife Pia and their young son. He enjoys international traveling, cooking, and collecting art.
HONOREE
Pia Flanagan Pia Flanagan is Chief Operating Officer of CEO Action for Racial Equity (CEOARE) as part of a two-year fellowship that brings together more than 250 fellows from over one hundred organizations to identify, develop and promote scalable and sustainable public policies and corporate engagement strategies that address systemic racism and social injustice, and improve societal wellbeing. Using the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ platform, the fellowship mobilizes the business community collectively across industries and regions to enact change. As COO, Pia helps lead the day-to-day strategy and operations of the fellowship, which launched October 1, 2020. Throughout the fellowship, Pia will remain an employee of MassMutual, a Fortune 500 mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. Prior to taking on her COO role at CEOAFRE, Pia served as Chief of Staff to Roger Crandall, Chairman, President and CEO of MassMutual, and as a member of the Company’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Pia resides in Connecticut with her husband Reggie and their young son. She enjoys international traveling, cooking, and collecting art.
CORPORATE PARNTER AWARD
AvalonBay Communities, Inc., an equity REIT, has a long-term track record of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing distinctive apartment homes in some of the best U.S. markets, and delivering outsized, risk-adjusted returns to shareholders. With equal parts experience and vision, they have established a leadership position rooted in building value for the long term. They take great pride in being good stewards of their investors’ capital, providing career opportunities and support to their associates, and acting as long-term partners in the local communities where they build and operate and where their residents live.
LAW FIRM PARNTER AWARD
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., is a national law firm with a primary focus on health care and life sciences; employment, labor, and workforce management; and litigation and business disputes. Founded in 1973 as an industry-focused firm, Epstein Becker Green has decades of experience serving clients in health care, financial services, retail, hospitality, and technology, among other industries, representing entities from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Operating in locations throughout the United States and supporting domestic and multinational clients, the firm’s attorneys are committed to uncompromising client service and legal excellence.
Union Settlement is near and dear to us and to many in East Harlem for the amazing work and devotion they have to the community. We are so proud to be involved with the great organization and look forward to its future success and impact.
Dawn Zappetti & Patrick Sullivan
To my Union Settlement colleagues, past and present:
THANK YOU for your incredible commitment, dedication and compassion. You inspired me every day, and it was a true honor to serve alongside you for the past 13 years.
David Nocenti
The Geiling Family is thrilled to be a part of the Union Settlement Family! We congratulate tonight's honorees, awardees, sponsors, and champions. We APPRECIATE THE EXCEPTIONAL UNION SETTLEMENT TEAM and extend A SPECIAL THANK YOU to David Nocenti for 13 years of dedicated leadership. Jennifer & Greg Geiling and Family
Kekst CNC is proud to support this year’s honorees – thank you all for your dedication, commitment, and generosity. And thank you also to Union Settlement’s Board, leadership, and hundreds of employees – we appreciate all you do for East Harlem, a vital New York City community.
We are enormously appreciative of this year’s honorees, and in particular Reggie Harwell -whose Board service is exemplary, culinary skills extraordinary, and friendship extra special.
Ruth Pachman & Don Fallati
Congratulations to all of tonight's honorees! And thank you to Union Settlement's incredible and inspirational staff and all our friends and supporters!
Brad & Shirin Green
Congratulations to Union Settlement on this exceptional evening celebrating the vibrancy of East Harlem!
Bill & Jan Arnold
Congratulations to the staff and the community on another successful year.
Union Settlement Supporter
We are proud and honored to support Union Settlement!
Robin Sparkman & Howard Robbins
Bravo to Union Settlement and tonight's honorees. Congratulations!
Eli & Jennifer Gross
Congratulations to all of the Honorees, and their continued support of Union Settlement!
Jagdeep & Shashi Dayal
Thank you, Union Settlement staff, for another incredible year. Amy Sherman Chair, Board of Directors
Heartfelt thanks to David Nocenti for his commitment and inspiration that he has brought to Union Settlement, and a warm welcome to Jennifer Geiling!
Bob & Mickie Kerson
It is an honor to celebrate the Union Settlement team, the East Harlem community, and all of tonight's incredible honorees, including our friends Reggie Harwell and Pia Flanagan. Thank you to all!
Vani & T.J. Duane
Thank you, Dave, for 13 years of compassion, dedication and inspiration. Fondly, Susan Puder
Special Thanks To Mayor Eric Adams
Support East Harlem Small Businesses!
The Afro-Latineers
Baked Cravings (Chocolate Chip Cookies) 1673 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10029 https://www.bakedcravings.com/
Assemblyman Edward Gibbs Andrew Filippone Jr., Videos Telling Story, Inc. Hip Hop Dance Theatre (Tati B) Emiley Powers, Graphic Design thewritecontentcompany.com Deborah Roberts & Al Roker Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez Taylor Glazebrook and Casey Russo Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Union Settlement Video Participants
Andreads Dracopoulos Segment Photo Credits: SNF Dialogues: Christos Karagiorgakis Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library: John Bartelstone National Museum of African American History and Culture: Douglas Remley
Dell'Aria (Coffee) 232 East 111th New York, NY 10029 US www.dellariacaffe.com Mojo Mousse Bar (Chocolate Bars) 177 E. 100th Street New York, NY 10029 https://mojodesserts.com/ Madd Soap (Hand-crafted soaps) Madeline Rodriguez maddsoapnyc@gmail.com
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Jennifer Geiling
Board of Directors Amy Sherman Chair Eli Gross Vice-Chair Dawn M. Zappetti Vice-Chair William Arnold Treasurer Reginald E. Harwell Secretary Ed Adler Jo-Ann Barrett David Castelblanco Susan Chapman Courtney Dankworth Jagdeep Dayal Kalaivani Duane Robert V. Edgar Elsie Encarnacion Edward Fitzpatrick Brad A. Green Kate Hamill
Mickie Kerson Saliq Khan Kevin Libby Lateefah Odedina Ruth Pachman Katia Pedraza Gina Rusch Robin Sparkman Kate B. Townsend Drew Warshaw Ariana Younai
237 East 104th Street, New York, NY 10029 | unionsettlement.org. | 212-828-6000 | info@unionsettlement.org