United Way raises $365,000 at fundraiser honoring Mark Romanski
Valley Bank Headquarters and Bridge Point 78 were this year’s winners of United Way of Northern New Jersey’s 2022 Impact Award, which honors commercial real estate projects with the greatest positive impact.
The winners were announced June 3 during the 22nd annual Legacy Event. Hosted by the United Way Commercial Real Estate Network, the fundraiser was attended by 400 leading commercial real estate industry professionals and featured a conversation between Pfizer’s former Chief Financial Officer Frank D’Amelio and Greater Trenton Senior Vice President Bryan Evans.
Mark Romanski, vice president of the Global Development Team at Turner Construction Company, was also honored at the event as the recipient of the United Way Spirit of Philanthropy Award. The award honors an individual from the commercial real estate industry whose actions reflect the values of United Way.
The event, which raised over $365,000, was focused on improving life for ALICE. The acronym, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, represents the essential workers people have relied on throughout the pandemic who struggle to afford the basics. Since 2000, the commercial real estate industry has helped to raise nearly $4 million for United Way.
“Event proceeds will help United Way continue the important work of putting ALICE essential workers on a path to financial stability,” said United Way Senior Vice President for Resource Development, George Xuereb. “We are deeply grateful for the longstanding support and generosity of the commercial real estate industry and extend our congratulations to this year’s winners.”
The Valley Bank Headquarters team received the Commercial Impact Award for transforming a string of vacant Morristown structures into new, modern headquarters for Valley Bank, bringing 400 construction jobs and more than 600 employees to the area. The winning team includes SJP Properties; Scotto Properties; Valley Bank; Newmark; Walsh Company; Gensler; Barr & Barr; Sills Cummis & Gros; Thornton Tomasetti; AMA Group; Stonefield Engineering and Design; Syska Hennessy Group; and Cerami & Associates Inc.
The three other finalists for the Commercial Impact Award were CSG Law, Edge Works at SciTech Scity and PIM Brands, Inc. Global Headquarters.
The Bridge Point 78 team received the Industrial Impact Award for its extensive remediation and transformation of a former brownfield site in Phillipsburg and Lopatcong Township into 2.2 million square feet of Class A industrial warehousing for high-profile tenants. The winning team includes Bridge Industrial; CBRE; Cushman & Wakefield; JLL; Mark Anthony Brands; OMLog; ScottsMiracle-Gro; UNIQLO; Cornerstone Architects Ltd.; Dynamic Engineering Consultants, PC; and PREMIER Design + Build Group.
Two other finalists for the Industrial Impact Award were Bob’s Discount Furniture and Phillipsburg Logistics Center at 78.
The event was made possible by a total of 37 sponsors, including Gold Sponsors JLL and Turner Construction Company.
For more information about the United Way Commercial Real Estate Network or to support its mission, email George.Xuereb@UnitedWayNNJ.org or call 973.993.1160, x117.