PHOTOS: Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Casino Jazz Night

Annual event, attended by top CRE players, raises $1.6M for charity

A sea of mostly dark-colored suits descended upon Cipriani 42nd Street last Tuesday for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City’s annual “Casino Jazz Night.” Guests from the commercial real estate industry gathered to raise their bellini glasses (as well as funds) in support of the organization’s New York City’s mentoring programs. As usual, the event focussed on good food, nonstop gambling and feting the organization’s honorees, including Anthony Malkin of Empire State Realty Trust and Robert Ivanhoe of Greenberg Traurig.

In addition to the more than 800 industry execs in attendance, Derek Fisher of the New York Knicks, former hockey star Ron Duguay, and Ralph Macchio, the original Karate Kid, were in attendance.

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One of the most notable items offered in the silent auction was a framed picture of Mr. Rogers flipping the bird, captioned, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”

Auction items aside, the event raised $1.6 million for the foundation’s mentoring programs. Paul Glickman, vice chairman at JLL and an organization trustee, said the “real estate industry has demonstrated that giving back is a critical component of the fabric of New York – it not only built this city, it continues to sustain the city through unwavering civic commitment.”