Promise Fund Raises $1 Million for Scholarships

Michael Corey, secretary/treasurer of Poly's Board of Trustees and managing director (retired), J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., left, his wife, Emilie, Poly student Habiba Kum Kum'08 and Ronnie and Stewart Nagler, immediate past chair of the Board and vice chairman and CFO (retired), MetLife Inc.

More than 350 guests dined, danced and were entertained with an electrifying performance from Tony Award-winning actor-singer Brian Stokes Mitchell at the 18th annual Promise Fund Dinner gala in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel. The dinner celebrated Poly's historic, continuing and future leadership in creating and advancing opportunity, invention and learning through The Power of PolyThinking.

“This year's Promise Fund activities, culminating in this dinner, have once again generated more than a million dollars of scholarship support for Promise Scholars,” cheered Henry J. Singer '57 '64, board chairman of the Promise Fund, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees and president of Reg-Nis LLC. “Without these scholarships and without Polytechnic,” he said, “the dreams of these young men and women could never be realized resulting in a tragic loss for them and our nation.” Singer was awarded the President's Medal for Distinguished Service for his years of service and dedication to Poly and the Promise Fund.

President Jerry MacArthur Hultin , right, is joined by Clifford H. Goldsmith, left, Promise Fund founder, former vice chairman of the University's Board of Trustees and principal of The Prendel Company in presenting Henry J. Singer '57 '64 with the President's Medal for Distinguished Service. Singer has served chairman of the Promise Fund Board for 16 years, and on Poly's the Board of Trustees since 1986, most recently as vice chairman. He is president of Reg-Nis LLC, a business consulting firm.

President Jerry M. Hultin told dinner guests that the University is helping each Promise Scholar set high goals and become the next generation of PolyThinkers. “Tonight's scholars join more than 2,000 Promise Scholars who through your generous support gained access to a Poly education,” he said. “These Promise Scholars are now using The Power of PolyThinking to transform the 21st century.

Promise Scholar Joshua Washington '07 speaking straight from the heart thanked the Promise Fund contributors for their financial support. “My experiences at Polytechnic University have given me the technical skills needed to be successful in the business world,” he said. “Thank you for everything you have done for me. Believe me, it has been a lot.”

Now in its 18th year, the Promise Fund has raised over $17 million to support Polytechnic scholarships and the University's pre-college outreach programs for inner-city youth.

The gala dinner/dance was held on June 20 and was hosted by Pat Carroll, morning news anchor for WCBS News Radio 880 and the 2005 winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast.

Anastasija Shytuhina '07, Jaclyn Lo Bello '07, both Promise scholars, and Frances Troche '08, who is featured in the University's newspaper and subway ads, in the lobby of the Waldorf=Astoria.	President Hultin, left, with the evening's honoree, Henry J. Singer, host Pat Carroll, morning news anchor, WCBS-AM Radio and Brian Stokes Mitchell, Tony Award-winning actor of stage and film, who delighted the audience with a musical performance.
Laura Parsons Hon '06, Promise Fund Board member, with President Hultin and his wife, Jill.	The evening's student speaker, Joshua Washington '07, a Promise scholar.