De La Salle Medal Dinner
The Manhattan College community joined alumni, friends and benefactors in February for a record-breaking De La Salle Medal Dinner. A Jasper tradition for more than 40 years, the annual event celebrates the living charism of Saint John Baptist de La Salle while raising much-needed funds for scholarships and other student aid.
Close to 800 guests attended the College's 2020 De La Salle Medal Dinner on Thursday, February 6, at the Grand Hyatt New York. This year's gala honoring Anthony Fernicola ’78, ’82 (MBA), president and chief customer officer at Salesforce, raised $2.6 million for student aid, the most in the event's history.
Upon receiving the De La Salle Medal, Fernicola said his Manhattan College education had provided the guiding light to always conduct business with the upmost integrity. The first in his family to attend college, he said, I had no idea at the time that Manhattan would have such a profound impact on my life.
Mary Beth McDade ’93, an Emmy award-winning news anchor at KTLA 5 in Los Angeles, served as emcee. The dinner chair was Stephen Squeri ’81, ’86 (MBA), chairman and chief executive officer of American Express. A Manhattan trustee, he expressed gratitude for the generosity of supporters, which, he explained, has a huge impact on young Jaspers.
Thanking guests for the dinner's unprecedented success, President Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D., presented Fernicola with the De La Salle Medal. Like generations of Jaspers, O’Donnell added, Fernicola gained from Manhattan not just the skills to be successful, but also the deepening of personal and spiritual values that give meaning and purpose to life.
Honoree
Anthony Fernicola ’78, ’82 (MBA)
President, Chief Customer Officer, Salesforce
Chair
Stephen Squeri ’81, ’86
Chairman and CEO, American Express Company
Vice Chairs
Keith Block
Co-CEO, Salesforce
Craig Cuffe
Senior Vice President, Global Sourcing and Procurement, Salesforce
Lisa Edwards
Executive Vice President, Salesforce
Donald E. Gibson, Ph.D.
Dean, O’Malley School of Business, Manhattan College
Mark Hawkins
CFO, Salesforce
Cyrus J. Izzo ’87, P.E.
Co-President, Syska Hennessy Group
Anthony P. Kavanagh ’82
Senior Vice President, American Electric Power
Charles Manning
Infrastructure Consultant
Rosanne Thomas Matzat ’82, Esq.
Former Partner, Hahn & Hessen LLP
Eileen Murray ’80, ’15 (Hon.D.Sc.)
Co-CEO, Bridgewater Associates LP
JoAnn Olsovsky
Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Salesforce
Edward V. Piccinich ’84
Chief Operating Officer, SL Green Realty Corp.
Tyler Prince
Executive Vice President, Salesforce
Kenneth A. Rathgeber ’70
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Manhattan College
John P. Rasulo ’86
Executive Director, JP Morgan Chase
Milo E. Riverso ’81, Ph.D., P.E.
President & CEO, STV Group Inc.
John M. Vazquez ’84
Senior Vice President, CSCO, Global Head of Real Estate and Supply Chain, Verizon Communications, Inc.
Robert Walsh
Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships, Manhattan College
Curt C. Zegler ’93
Vice President, Turner Construction Company
Honorary Chairs
John McAvoy ’80
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Con Edison
John R. Greed
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mutual of America
For more information, please contact Kristen Farrell, director of institutional giving and special program: 718-862-7431; kfarrell02@manhattan.edu.
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