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The James (Jim) Meyer Award - New for 2025
Presented to Pamela Mohr, Huntington Hospital Northwell Health Foundation
Presented to an outstanding fundraiser who has elevated the profession, making a long-standing and significant impact through education, facilitating connections, and sharing access to a variety of resources including funding sources.
Pamela has dedicated her mission-driven career to ensuring high-quality healthcare is accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstance. She believes that advancing research to find cures and expanding education for early detection and disease prevention will make a lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most.
With 30 years of fundraising experience, Pamela has a demonstrated history of cultivating and stewarding major donors. She takes pride in building extraordinary and transformative relationships. Since her 2019 arrival at Northwell’s Huntington Hospital as senior director of development, Pamela and her team have solicited and closed gifts totaling $24.5M.
Pam is an outstanding member of the AFP Long Island Board of Directors, where she has chaired the equation committee for four years.
The Horace Hagedorn Outstanding Philanthropist Award
Presented to the Arlindo and Evelyn Jorge Family Foundation
Honoring an individual or family who has demonstrated outstanding civic, and philanthropic leadership through a proven record of exceptional generosity and financial support.
The Jorge Family has built a multi-generational legacy of philanthropy, advocacy, and dedication to community health and well-being through the growth of the Arlindo and Evelyn Jorge Family Foundation. Their mission is to provide financial resources to organizations that focus on community, education and wellness.
The Gilbert Tilles Award
Presented to Jovia Financial Credit Union
Given to a person or organization who exhibits outstanding commitment to philanthropy and community involvement.
Headquartered in Westbury, New York, Jovia Financial Credit Union is one of the country’s top 100 credit unions with over $4.4 billion in assets, over 220,000 members, 22 branches, and access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs worldwide. With a storied 85-year history as a leading not-for-profit financial institution, Jovia provides affordable financial services and products to its members across the nation. The credit union is committed to ensuring great value through innovation while banking on the bright side.
Jovia takes great pride in being a good corporate citizen. Deeply rooted in communities served, Jovia makes an indelible impact on its members, employees, the public, charities, and businesses. Jovia’s impact can be seen in many aspects of life, most notably through supporting youth mentorship/programming, providing financial education to adults and families, strengthening community spirit, and enabling financial freedom. Jovia has made a positive impact within the communities it serves by providing its members the tools to achieve financial success.
The Outstanding Corporation Award
Presented to Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, LLP
Presented to a small business or corporation that demonstrates outstanding commitment through financial support and activity that encourages and motivates others to take roles in philanthropy and community involvement.
Established in 1975, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP is a highly respected, multi-disciplinary, full-service law firm that helps clients resolve legal and government relations challenges, from the routine to the complex. The firm’s stellar reputation as a sophisticated commercial litigation firm that is also seasoned in traditional legal transactional matters, solutions-driven government relations, and creative public affairs is unparalleled among middle-market law firms in New York. DHC has five offices located in New York City, Albany, Washington, D.C., White Plains and Palm Beach, Florida. DHC’s legal team approach, combined with an ability to successfully lobby at the local, city, state, and federal levels enables it to address each client’s specific concerns and provide a unique perspective.
The Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Mazzy Sass
This award is given to a person between the ages of 5 and 18 who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments through volunteerism and philanthropic activities. Age and grade will be considered when reviewing criteria.
Mazzy Sass, a senior at Schreiber High School in Port Washington, Long Island, is a dedicated advocate and leader with a passion for philanthropy and fundraising. Her extensive involvement with the Marfan Foundation highlights her commitment to creating positive change. As President of the Junior Board, Mazzy spearheaded the establishment of New York State’s inaugural Marfan Awareness Month in 2025, raising critical awareness for Marfan Syndrome. She has organized and volunteered at numerous HeartWorks and Marfan galas, published articles on support programs, and volunteered as a counselor and mentor at the annual week long Camp Victory in Atlanta, Georgia. Her advocacy efforts include speaking at legislative events to promote health awareness.
Beyond the Marfan Foundation, Mazzy co-chaired the Junior Board for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, leading a seven-week campaign that trained 74 team members and raised over $37,500, making her team one of the top fundraisers. She also played a key role in the Sass-Arena Foundation for Medical Research, recruiting volunteers and facilitating cancer awareness events.
Mazzy’s dedication to empowering others is evident in her founding of a scoliosis support group, which provides resources and a sense of community for those affected. Her leadership, compassion, and drive to make a tangible difference in the lives of others reflect her unwavering commitment to advocacy and public service.
A Special Letter from Jim Meyer
January 30, 2025
To: Attendees of the 2025 Annual Meeting of the AFP,LI
From: Jim Meyer
Re: James (Jim) Meyer Award
You may find this note a little unusual but anyone who knows me knows that I can be a little unusual. The reason for the note is that while I will do a short introduction of myself when presenting the award to Pam Mohr, I do not want the attention to be on me but rather on Pam who is a most worthy recipient.
That said, as this is the first year the award is being given there are people I want to thank publicly who helped me grow within the non-profit community in general, the fundraising profession, and my special area of expertise Planned Giving. Nothing gives me more of a professional high as when I hear from former students (class or seminar) who have gotten some very large gifts utilizing Planned Giving techniques.
First, in a general sense I want to thank the members at large, the board members, and committee members of the AFP,LI, the Council for Advancement and Support Education, District II, of CASE, the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP), the Financial Planning Association, LI, (FPA,LI of which I am a former President), and The New England Trust/New York Consortium (NEC/NY), for everyone’s help and support and especially friendship. Specifically, as relates to my being mentored the following list tells a wonderful story (mostly alphabetical).
Allan Arlett – who brought me into the profession and taught me all the basics of the job as I became the Director of Alumni Relations and Development at Queens College, CUNY. Allan went back to Canada, his home country, and started the Canadian Philanthropic Center as well as being a consultant.
Robert Barnett and Lou Karol who were and are invaluable to me as Estate Attorneys as I work in Planned Giving.
Denise Coleman* an extraordinary fundraiser for Stony Brook and The New School and preceded me as President of the New England Trust (now the National Education Alumni Trust/New York Consortium.)
CCS (going back to John G “Jack” Foerst, Jr., and continuing with Tom Kissane) for the many education lessons learned at their seminars and from their printed reports.
Guido Foglia* who taught me endlessly about administration in the non-profit arena. He also introduced me to my wife and gave me my first long-term job at Queens College.
Al Gabrielli who has been a friend for some 52 years and shared his fundraising knowledge with me as one of the top consultants for Community Counseling Services (CCS) where he served for approximately 41 years broken only by two stints at universities. It is estimated he brought in gifts totaling over $3 Billion.
Ann Moran* and Fran Sheeley who were sisters and two great fundraisers for the University of Pennsylvania, and Iona, amongst others and were my mentors through CASE.
Frank Regnante* for 45 years of friendship, service and wisdom.
Jeff Steele* who literally was an encyclopedia of Planned Giving.
*Deceased
At my table are (mostly alphabetical):
My wife of 54 years Roberta Meyer (who really deserves an award)
My daughter Michele a nurse at NYU Langone in Mineola for almost 30 years
Nancy Seid my daughter from other parents
Marie Smith, New York Community trust, Long Island Office
Larry Foglia, Consultant in Farming and Land Preservation, and son of Guido Foglia
Lisa Gatti, Founder and CEO of Pal O Mine
Ellen Lear, LMSW – Board Member, Pal O Mine
David Okorn, Vice President, New York Community Trust, Long Island Office
Frank Tepedino, President of the Firefighter’s Charitable Foundation, former Major League Baseball player with the NY Yankees and Atlanta Braves and former member of the FDNY
Invited and could not attend (I did check and they all have legitimate reasons for being absent)
Robert Barnett, Estate Attorney, Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld
Al Gabrielli, Retired CCS
Alex Brovey, Assistant Vice President Gift Planning, Northwell Health Foundation
Robert Budd, CEO, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises/National Foundation for human Potential
Lou Karol, Estate Attorney, Moritt Hock & Hamroff
Tommi Michalik, CFP, former President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals
Sister Eileen Nolan, Sisters of Saint Dominic
Jennifer Marino Rojas, Executive Director, Child Care Council of Suffolk, daughter of Denise Coleman