Engagement & Development
Bastianich & Friends Scholarship Dinner
Raises Over $1 Million
in early march, 150 alumni, parents and friends of the
prep came together at Del posto restaurant for the
Bastianich & Friends Scholarship Fund Dinner. The
evening was a tremendous success, and exceeded our
overall goal to raise $1,000,000 for the fund which
provides tuition assistance to academically promising
young men who would otherwise not be able to attend
the prep.
in his remarks at the conclusion of the evening, Fr. Devron
announced that next year’s endowment will be able to
support five students, an impressive accomplishment we
would not have been able to reach without much help
along the way. We appreciate the benefactors of the
Bastianich & Friends Scholarship Fund who continue to
maintain their annual giving and other commitments to
prep programs.
established in 2014 through an annual dining event
at their award-winning restaurant, Deanna and Joe
Bastianich ’85, p ’18 & ’20 and Lidia Bastianich p ’85,
gp ’18 & ’20 underwrote all of the dinner expenses so
that every dollar raised went directly to the scholarship
endowment. Through the generosity of our dinner guests
and donors, and the expertise of our auctioneer, Heidi
Von maur p ’19, there was lively bidding on trips to italy
and ireland, an on-set visit with Lidia Bastianich for a
taping of her public Television Series, Lidia’s Kitchen, golf
outings and a college internship opportunity for a prep
alumnus with the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality group.
We also recognize that this event would not have been
possible without the hard work and dedication of
Colleen griffin Wagner p ’12, ’13 & ’15 and her dinner
committee of parents and alumni.
eileen & Scott Alberi ’94
Collette & Terrence Burd p ’15
meg & paul Chmiel p ’15
mary ellen & Andrew Coyne p ’18
Cathy & John Dougherty p ’18
Francine & marc Flamino ’85
Beth & Chris mcgrath p ’14 & ’17
eavan & Conor O’Driscoll p ’14
ellen & Chris Smith p ’11 & 14
melinda & mike Trovini ’85, p ’15
A highlight of the evening was the student video and
introduction of this year’s three scholarship recipients:
pablo Diaz ’19, Juwan medenilla ’19 and ryan Scott ’18.
On behalf of the group, an exuberant Juwan addressed
the audience thanking them for the opportunity and
privilege to attend Fordham prep (and for the wonderful
dinner he and his classmates were enjoying).
16 | r AmV ie W
Together, our efforts have allowed us to fully capitalize
the endowment and help pablo, Juwan and ryan receive
a Jesuit education.