NEW YORK, June 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Annual Young Jewish Professionals Gala brought together over 1,000 leading real estate principals, investors, and YJP members to the Cipriani Wall Street on June 19th.
Steve Siegel, Global Chairman of Brokerage at CBRE, who has been involved with the Young Jewish Professionals since its inception, was honored with the YJP Founders Award. A dozen of Steve’s closest colleagues and friends, including Gary Jacobs of Glenwood, Paul Pariser of Taconic Investment Partners, and Richard Chera of Crown Acquisitions, joined Siegel on stage to present him with the award on behalf of the organization.
Through the evening YJP recognized key mentors from the organization, for excellence in leadership, business and philanthropy. Among those were Laurent Morali of Kushner Companies, Jane Gol of Continental Ventures, Sonny Kalsi of GreenOak Real Estate, Joel Bergstein of Lincoln Equities Group, Greg Kalikow of the Kalikow Group, and Jonathan Schultz of Onyx.
Each honoree was presented with a shofar—a ram’s horn typically played during Jewish high-holidays, signifying strength, charity, and humility—the symbolism not lost among the crowd.
“I want to congratulate all the honorees,” beamed Shahab Moreh, practice leader of the real estate group at Mazars USA LLP, and one of many attendees pledging to get more involved in the coming year. He added, “it is truly an honor and a pleasure to be able to support this invaluable organization. I commend YJP’s vision to nurture young people who seek to follow in these footsteps.”
The sold-out gala was co-chaired by major supporters of the organization; Ziel Feldman (HFZ Capital), Jon Mechanic (Fried Frank), and Ofer Yardeni (Stonehenge Partners). Marking not one but two major milestones; the gala celebrated the Young Jewish Professionals’ own decade birthday, and long-awaited completion of the HFZ Leadership Center, a community space designed to help YJPs’ aspiring leaders grow.
The evenings’ program commenced with cocktails and classic YJP power-networking, while a private VIP Reception sponsored by Mazars USA LLP was held for speakers, mentors, and year-round mega-donors of the organization.
Mechanic and Yardeni commanded the stage, emphasizing the caliber of attendees in the room were “a true testament to YJPs ability to mobilize and support the community.” Naftali Rotenstreich, co-founder of YJP followed suit, addressed a full house in true YJP fashion, giving a dvar-torah (inspirational speech connected to the week’s bible portion).
In tone with the theme of “Giving Back” Steve Siegel gave immediate call to action, encouraging each guest to swab at the gala for the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, the same organization which saved his wife, Wendy Siegel, and countless others.
Major sponsors of the gala included VIP Reception Sponsor Mazars USA LLP, Fisher Brothers, Besen & Associates, Fried Frank LLP, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Wonder Works Construction Corporation, CIT Group Inc., Lincoln Equities Group LLC, Asbestways Service Corporation, Maverick Capital Partners, Margules Properties Inc., Fairstead Capital, HFZ Capital, Continental Ventures, Bayport Funding LLC, GreenOak, SterlingRisk Insurance, and Madison Realty Capital.
Young Jewish Professionals, New York is a non profit, and the largest organization of its kind. Dedicated to providing business, educational, and mentoring opportunities, the Young Jewish Professionals provide programs and services to young people in the Real Estate, Venture Capital, Finance, Biotech, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Goods, and Marketing sectors. To learn more, visit the YJP home page .
For more information, please contact realestate@yjpnewyork.com , or visit yjp.org or www.facebook.com/theyjp .
