Harvard Business School Club of New York Raises Scholarship And Community Assistance Funds; Pays Tribute To Business Leaders

NEW YORK, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Harvard Business School Club of New York (HBSCNY), the largest alumni chapter of Harvard Business School (HBS), last night honored three alumni leaders in business and social enterprise at its 47th Annual Leadership Dinner.  Stephen A. Schwarzman (MBA '72), Joseph R. Perella (MBA '72) and Kathy Giusti (MBA '85) were recognized for distinguishing themselves through their exemplary leadership in the world of business and for their extraordinary contributions to their communities.  Jeffrey R. Immelt (MBA '82), chairman and CEO of GE, served as chair for the dinner, which took place at the American Museum of Natural History. 

The annual event raises funds that are devoted to scholarships for New York students and HBSCNY's social enterprise programs specifically focused on the New York area, including Community Partners and the Skills Gap Program.  The Community Partners Program enables HBS alumni in the New York area to strengthen local nonprofits through pro-bono consulting.  HBSCNY's Skills Gap Program gives need-based grants to interns at city community colleges working in NYC early-stage developing companies.  Scholarships provided by the Club include the HBSCNY Fellowship Fund at HBS and multiple full scholarships for local non-profit leaders to attend the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management Course at HBS.

"We are thrilled to recognize these extraordinary business leaders for their philanthropic contributions and unparalleled business accomplishments," said Hemali Dassani, president of HBSCNY.  "This fundraising event is designed to inspire other HBS alumni to raise their commitment to philanthropic endeavors by learning from exceptional examples in our business community.  The event also recognizes and raises funds for HBSCNY's popular Community Partners program, which helps to improve business skills of non-profits in our area."

Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone, received HBSCNY's Business Statesman Award.  In addition to building the world's largest alternative asset management firm, Mr. Schwarzman is an active philanthropist with a history of supporting education and culture, globally.  In 2013, Schwarzman founded a $350 million international scholarship program, "Schwarzman Scholars," at Tsinghua University in Beijing to educate future leaders about China.  In 2007, he donated $100 million to the New York Public Library, a gift that served as the anchor commitment in a $1 billion fundraising capital campaign to prepare the library to meet the challenges of the 21st century.  In addition to his philanthropic work, he is a member of The Council on Foreign Relations, The Business Council, The Business Roundtable, and The International Business Council of the World Economic Forum.  He is a Trustee of The Frick Collection in New York City and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.   

Joseph Perella, Chairman and CEO of Perella Weinberg Partners, received HBSCNY's Leadership Award for his distinguished career in investment banking and his commitment to the community.  Perella founded this leading independent financial services firm and currently serves as worldwide head of its investment banking division.  Mr. Perella is a director of the American Italian Cancer Foundation, The Atlantic Salmon Federation, Boys & Girls Harbor, Inc., Foundation for Italian Art and Culture, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., Japan Society and Italy and the Holocaust Foundation.  His trusteeships include Lehigh University, where he endowed a scholarship fund for students from the Newark, N.J. area, and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.  Mr. Perella also serves as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Brookings Institute. 

Kathy Giusti, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), received HBSCNY's John C. Whitehead Social Enterprise Award in recognition of her profound commitment to social enterprise.  To date, the MMRF has raised more than $250 million in support of myeloma research, and has built collaborative models that are transforming cancer research.  Its work has resulted in approval of six new drugs to treat the disease.  Mrs. Giusti also serves on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the Executive Management Committee of Stand Up to Cancer and the Harvard Business School Healthcare Advisory Board.

About the Harvard Business School Club of New York (HBSCNY)
HBSCNY was founded in 1920 and is the largest Harvard Business School alumni club worldwide.  The mission of HBSCNY is to enhance the value of the Harvard Business School network for the benefit of New York area alumni, HBS and the Community.  HBSCNY hosts over 100 educational programs per year for HBS alumni and other interested individuals, and provides pro bono management and strategy consulting to nonprofits in the greater New York area through its Community Partners program, which delivered the equivalent of nearly $4 million in pro bono consulting services to nonprofits in 2013.  http://www.hbscny.org/

HBSCNY Media Contacts:
[email protected] 
(212) 947-5544

SOURCE Harvard Business School Club of New York