NJ Commercial Real Estate Community Supports March of Dimes at Annual Fundraising Dinner & Golf Event

FAR HILLS, NJ, June 19, 2015 (Newswire.com) - More than 200 commercial real estate professionals came out in support of the fight for healthy babies and honored Ed Russo, CEO of Russo Development in Carlstadt, NJ, at the recent New Jersey March of Dimes Real Estate Award Reception and Pynes Putting Challenge. The annual event, which took place at the United States Golf Association (USGA) in Far Hills, raised a record amount in excess of $180,000.

The Real Estate Award Reception has been recognizing industry leaders since 2000. It provides a forum for the March of Dimes to raise awareness about its mission of preventing prematurity, birth defects and infant mortality. The event drew senior executives from real estate companies including brokers, managers, architects, developers, owners, engineers and related industries.

"Ed Russo is not only a well respected leader in the real estate industry, he and his wife Shalom experienced firsthand what it was like to have babies born prematurely. Ed's presence, along with the couple's generosity and heartfelt support, has helped to increase awareness of our mission. Everyone involved has brought great success to the event."

Gina Radice, Executive director, March of Dimes North Jersey Division.

“As we celebrate 77 years of work of the March of Dimes, we are especially grateful for the opportunity to honor our supporters tonight,” said Gina Radice, executive director, March of Dimes North Jersey Division. “Ed Russo is not only a well respected leader in the real estate industry, he and his wife Shalom experienced firsthand what it was like to have babies born prematurely. Ed’s presence, along with the couple’s generosity and heartfelt support, has helped to increase awareness of our mission. Everyone involved has brought great success to the event.”

“My wife and I feel a personal connection to the March of Dimes and its mission to create a world of stronger, healthier babies because we are the proud parents of 6 1/2 year old triplets that were born eight weeks premature and spent over one month in our hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” said honoree Ed Russo. “I recall looking around the NICU and seeing babies who weighed even less than my own.  It makes you realize just how important and needed the work of March of Dimes really is.”  

The Real Estate Award Reception was co-chaired by Robert Martie, Colliers International NJ, LLC and Geoffrey Schubert, senior vice-president of CBRE. Erik Sletteland of Structure Tone, Inc. served as Pynes Putting Chair. The challenge began with an initial competition at Ridgewood Country Club in late May. It culminated in the final match at the prestigious 16,000 square-foot Pynes Putting Course at the USGA. The 2015 winning team included Mike Tesser and Jack Callahan from Colliers International. They received tickets to the US Open, compliments of USGA, lodging by Wyndham Worldwide, a framed proclamation by Arnold Palmer, and the Pynes Trophy engraved with the winners’ names.

In addition to a gourmet buffet of hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dessert, guests enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a silent auction, with top prizes including professional sports and Broadway show tickets, golf packages, jewelry, spa services and much more. Prizes were generously donated by New Jersey area businesses as well as real estate committee members.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For more information visit www.marchofdimes.org or www.nacersano.org.

To view more photos from the event, visit http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1085211094841280.1073741948.171316836230715&type=3