2015 Bishop’s Humanitarian Dinner Honored James F. Crystal, Executive Vice President of Crystal & Company, Peter M. Meyer, Market President, NYC of TD Bank, and Mary C. E. Thompson, Member, Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens
The annual event, which was attended by 600 guests, raised more than $1,100,000 toward the work of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, the human service agency of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Photo Credit: Matthew Adam Photography
Pictured above from L to R: Honoree Mary C. E. Thompson, Board of Trustee, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens; Honoree James F. Crystal, Executive Vice President of Crystal & Company; Rev. Msgr. Alfred LoPinto, CEO of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and affiliated agencies; Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D., Bishop of Brooklyn; Honoree Robert Marquez, Retired Vice President of Early Childhood Services for Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens; Honoree Robert Siebel, Retired CEO of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens; Honoree Judith Kleve, Retired Vice President of Older Adult Services for Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens; Peter M. Meyer, Market President, NYC of TD Bank;Very Reverend Patrick J. Keating, Chief of Staff, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens; and Ken Rosato, Anchor, WABC-TV New York.
On Wednesday, June 3rd, James F. Crystal, Executive Vice President of Crystal & Company and Peter M. Meyer, Market President New York City, TD Bank, were honored by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens at the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner at Pier Sixty in Manhattan. Along with Crystal and Meyer, Mary C. E. Thompson, Board of Trustee, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, was presented the Ubi Caritas/Progress of People’s Award, and Robert Siebel, Retired CEO Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and affiliate agencies, Robert Marquez, Retired Vice President of Early Childhood Services, and Judith Kleve, Retired Vice President of Older Adult Services were all honored with the Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Service Award.
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D., Bishop of Brooklyn, served as Honorary Chairman. The Dinner Chairpersons were: Peter J. Striano, Chief Executive Officer, Unity International; John J. Farrell, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, JP Morgan Chase, Retired; Charles F. Murphy, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Turner Construction; Andrew Hughes, VP, TD Bank; and Elizabeth Mary Lutas, MD, FACP, FACC, Attending Physician, Help/Project Samarian. Ken Rosato, Emmy-award winning anchor of WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News served as Master of Ceremonies.
“I was so delighted to present the Bishop’s Humanitarian Awards to Jaime and Peter for their dedication and work on behalf of those in need throughout Brooklyn and Queens,” remarked Msgr. Alfred LoPinto, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and affiliated agencies.
James F. Crystal, Executive Vice President, is a third-generation principal of Crystal & Company, a leading strategic risk and insurance advisor with 10 offices throughout the United States and clients operating around the world. Founded in 1933, the firm ranks among the world’s largest family-owned insurance brokerage firms. At Crystal & Company, Crystal is a member of the Board and serves on the Executive Committee with responsibilities for the firm’s commercial insurance services. In addition to working extensively with larger clients in the manufacturing, retail, real estate, healthcare, and nonprofit industries, Crystal manages the firm’s International operations. He also serves as Vice Chairman of Brokerslink, a global insurance alliance of more than 7,000 insurance professionals in over 85 countries.
Peter M. Meyer, Market President, New York City of TD Bank, is responsible for Commercial, Small Business, Middle Market and Not for Profit Banking. Peter joined TD Bank, N.A. in 2002 to execute the bank’s aggressive expansion into the market. During this time, TD has grown to 125 retail stores and has become a major lender to small & middle market companies as well as to Not for Profits and healthcare institutions.
Peter began his banking career as a teller while attending college, working his way to branch manager and later served as a commercial lender. He has held senior positions with various banks in New York City and has been instrumental in shaping loan programs and products for healthcare and nonprofit organizations, thereby providing greater access to capital for organizations delivering essential services to New Yorkers in need. A graduate of St. Joseph’s College, Peter earned his MBA from Long Island University. Peter grew up in Woodhaven, Queens and now resides in Brooklyn Heights.
Mary C. E. Thompson, who received the Ubi Caritas/Progress of Peoples Award, has been a registered nurse and a seasoned health care executive for decades. During that time, she has served in Bellevue Hospital’s C-Suite as Chief Operating Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer. She was also Chief Nurse Executive at Queens Hospital while also serving as interim Chief Nurse Executive at Elmhurst Hospital. In addition, Ms. Thompson has served as an Adjunct Professor in Health Care and has served on many Greater New York hospital committees and health and hospital committees, including Medicaid Managed Care and Health Care Restructuring. She also served with distinction as the Incident Commander for Bellevue Hospital Center during 9/11 and was quoted in a special edition of Modern Healthcare. She was eventually promoted to Chief Executive Officer at Bellevue and later retired, but she continues to remain active in health care, and is recognized for her continuous pursuit of excellence in health care delivery.
Ms. Thompson has been the recipient of many awards for outstanding administrative and nursing leadership. She was awarded the EMS Award from the People of the City of New York in 1990 and was awarded a fellowship to the Wharton School of Business in 1991. Ms. Thompson received a City Council Citation in 2006 for Exemplary Service to the Community. Currently a pastoral advisor and a trained Spiritual Director, she has been active in local and national Church forums, having served as a member of the Parish Council of Saint James Cathedral Basilica, Faith Formation Director, Diocesan Pastoral Planning, and a four-year term on the National Advisory Council of United States Catholic Bishops. Ms. Thompson is a member of the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, a member of the board of SS. Joachim & Anne Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, and a member of the board of Fidelis.
Also honored at the dinner were newly retired Catholic Charities administrators Robert Siebel, Judith Kleve and Robert Marquez, who were honored with the Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Service Award. Created in 2014 by Catholic Charities to honor the memory of Bishop Joseph Sullivan, the award recognizes those who have followed in his footsteps by devoting their lives to the people of Brooklyn and Queens.
Two years ago, Bishop Joseph Sullivan died of his injuries after a car accident on the Long Island Expressway. An ardent advocate for social justice and a tireless leader, Bishop Sullivan dedicated more than 50 years to improving the lives of New Yorkers in need. Catholic Charities upholds his strong vision and unwavering leadership.
“I am so happy to be presenting this award this year to three individuals who have a combined 114 years of service to Catholic Charities,” said Msgr. LoPinto. “Each of them retired from Catholic Charities during the past year, and we greatly miss their vision, leadership and friendship.”
For more than 20 years, the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner has been held annually through the generous support of concerned individuals and organizations who champion the agency’s mission on behalf of children and families, older adults, those with developmental disabilities, those suffering from mentally illness, the formerly homeless and the isolated. It has generated millions of dollars in support of the work of the agency.
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