(Brooklyn, NY) — HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services (HSVS) held its Annual Dinner on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. The Dinner raised almost $400,000 for HSVS programs, including The American Dream Program (ADP).

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of The Reverend Monsignor Robert M. Harris 2014 Youth of the Year Award to Dareth Ogle, a young woman in The American Dream Program that supports the educational goals of youth in foster care. With the assistance of Monsignor Harris, Dawn Saffayeh, Executive Director of HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services, presented the Award to Ms. Ogle, who is a freshman at Sullivan County Community College pursuing her dream to earn a joint BA/MBA.

In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Ogle credits Nelson Mandela for inspiring her and her foster mother, whom she lovingly refers to as “my Aunt,” for focusing Dareth, using the adage, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” With emerging confidence, Ms. Ogle confided, “Only 2.5 percent of the 11 percent of foster children who attend college will actually graduate. I will be among that 2.5 percent, as failure is not an option.” The Award provides, among other program supports of The American Dream Program, financial support for tuition and school-related expenses.

Also honored were Tishman Construction President & CEO Jay Badame and HeartShare Board Chairman & ASTOne Executive Vice President Paul Torre for their volunteer service and commitment to improving the lives of children and youth at-risk. Dan and Fran Maniscalco and The Heartfelt Foundation were honored for their generous support of HeartShare’s Holiday Toy and Gift Drive for 30 years. The Office of Mission at St. John’s University was recognized for its decade of connecting St. John’s students with service learning and volunteerism at HeartShare’s First Step Preschool Program that serves preschool children diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Dinner guests enjoyed wine tasting, a “cork pull” for bottles of wine and a silent auction that featured teddy bears dressed by designers, including Narcisco Rodriguez, Eileen Fisher and Kleinfeld’s. Women In Jazz, a quartet that is part of the Kit McClure All Woman’s Band, provided a wonderful mix of old favorites and current hits as background entertainment throughout the evening. For more information about HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services and The American Dream Program, please visit www.svs.org.

Photo Caption: HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services Executive Director Dawn Saffayeh (L) and former St. Vincent’s Services President, the Reverend Monsignor Robert Harris, congratulated Youth of the Year Dareth Ogle, who shared her story with nearly 400 guests at the HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services Annual Dinner on November 19, 2014 at the Brooklyn Marriott.

Photo Caption: William Motherway (R), Conner Strong & Bucklew/New York, LLC President and Co-Chair of the HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services (HSVS) Dinner, presented the 2014 Fred and Nancy DeMatteis Award to Tishman Construction President and CEO Jay Badame at the HSVS Annual Dinner on November 19, 2014 at the Brooklyn Marriott.