J. David Davis, President of WABC-TV, will unveil a plaque at The City University of New York’s College of Staten Island (CSI) in recognition of The Walt Disney’s Company Foundation’s gift to the Don DiFranco Memorial Scholarship Fund (on behalf of WABC-TV).
Don DiFranco, a CSI alumnus, died tragically in 9/11. He was a broadcast engineer who worked atop the World Trade Center for WABC-TV. His story received national coverage on the latest anniversary of 9/11.
WHO:
J. David Davis, president of WABC-TV
Angelina DiFranco, Don’s mother
Lisa Pipitone, Don’s sister
Richard Truitt, vice president for college advancement, CSI
Gail Simmons, dean of science and technology, CSI
CSI engineering students
WHERE:
College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Boulevard
Engineering Science and Physics Building (1N)
Staten Island, NY 10314
WHEN:
Friday, February 2, 2007
1:45pm (plaque unveiling)
CSI’s engineering department has received an unprecedented amount of financial support for scholarships in the past year. The DiFranco endowment has now exceeded the $100,000 mark (as a result of a large Walt Disney Foundation gift); a generous board member of the CSI Foundation has established a new engineering scholarship endowment; and a third organization is establishing an endowment (pending contract agreement). Overall, there is potential for approximately $150,000 in new money, according to Richard Truitt, CSI vice president for college advancement, and executive director of the CSI Foundation.
The College of Staten Island Foundation is the private not-for-profit organization in a public/private partnership with the College of Staten Island. The Foundation was established in 1992 to stimulate and strengthen community, corporate, and foundation support for public higher education on Staten Island.
The CSI Foundation allows the College of Staten Island to expand the margin of excellence, and ensures that CSI students and the community have the finest facilities and faculty available. The Board of Directors of the Foundation is composed of distinguished alumni and prominent community leaders committed to excellence in education.
For more information visit: www.csi.cuny.edu/foundation
