The Annual Futures in Education Scholarship dinner held at the Cipriani Wall Street Oct. 16 raised $2 million. The money will help more than 1,500 students in 86 schools and academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens receive a Catholic education. For 28 years, Futures has supported families through partial need-based scholarships.
This year’s honores were Joanne Minieri, pictured at right, speaking during the award dinner, and Joseph Pistilli, pictured below, accepting his award from Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, diocesan vicar for development, and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
Rosanne Scotto, host of Fox 5’s morning news broadcast, Good Day New York, served as mistress of ceremonies.
Minieri, a graduate of St. Jude, Canarsie, is a CPA, an executive vice president of RXR Realty and the chief operating officer of RXR Development Services and RXR Construction Services.
She oversees an over $2 billion development pipeline of 3,200 multi-family and condominium units along with approximately 2 million square feet of commercial space. Previously, Minieri served as president and COO of Forest City Ratner Companies.
Under her management, the company diversified its portfolio with the development of 24 retail centers, 10 office buildings, two hotels and two residential projects. Minieri was involved in the acquisition of the NETS franchise and oversaw the pre-development of the Atlantic Yards project, an 8-million square-foot mixed-use development which includes the Barclays Center.
She serves on the Board of Trinity Place Holdings, Inc. and NEW (Non-Traditional Employment of Women).
Pistilli was born and raised in Queens and graduated from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Astoria. He founded Pistilli Realty Group in 1975.
He is the chairman and CEO of the group and is involved in the development, ownership and management of residential and commercial real estate in the New York metropolitan area.
Currently, Pistilli Realty Group is actively engaged in procuring multi-family building packages in Bronx County, recently described as the future of the New York metropolitan area.
Pistilli’s philanthropic side keeps him active with various charitable organizations. He takes pride in serving as a member of the Special Consul to the President of SHAREing and CAREing organization and serving as its Master of Ceremonies at its annual fundraiser.
He also served as a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the Queens Builders and Contractor’s Association and has been honored by the Kiwanis Club in Queens County for his community involvement.