FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: February 14, 2008

CONTACT: Lisa Saunders

(845) 574-4244

SUNY Rockland Community College Foundation Luncheon to Benefit

Rockland Community College Students

Musicians from Broadway’s "Wicked" and "Spamalot" Will Provide Entertainment

Suffern, NY—The community is invited to a benefit luncheon to honor those whose contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of the students at SUNY Rockland Community College.

The 8th Annual Foundation Leadership Awards Luncheon, honoring leaders in education, business and the community, will be held on Friday, March 28, noon-2:00 p.m. at the Hilton Pearl River, Pearl River, NY. Tickets: $55 per person. For reservations contact Don Cairns, Executive Director of the Foundation, at 845-574-4576.

Broadway musicians Ben Cohn ("Wicked") and Sean McDaniel ("Spamalot") will play the piano and guitar and sing a mix of contemporary and traditional Broadway show tunes.

The Rockland Community College Foundation, a charitable organization celebrating its 26th year, encourages alumni, businesses, and members of the community to provide financial resources for students in need and to fund equipment purchases and enhance facilities. The Foundation has provided more than $1.8 million in scholarships to RCC students.

Business honoree

Richard Rays, CEO, Paragon Federal Credit Union

Rays was appointed President/CEO of Paragon Federal Credit Union in 1993. A non-profit, full service financial institution, Paragon has provided products and services to the College since 2001. They contribute to the Blood Drive, Toy Drive, Spring Fest, Employee Picnic, Golf Outing, Thanksgiving Luncheon for International Students, Foundation Leadership Luncheon and sporting events. They are a major contributor to the Student Support Fund, which offers aid to students dealing with physical, academic, financial or social challenges. Paragon awards a $1,500 Paragon Federal Credit Union scholarship annually.

Education

Dan Keeley, Director, Arena Management & Athletics

Keeley, the most prolific coach in the history of SUNY Rockland’s nationally recognized baseball program, has received the greatest honor in the profession; an induction into the National Junior College Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006. Keeley coached the program from 1991-2002 and was named Region XV Coach of the Year seven times. His proudest accomplishment is that more than twenty of his players from the 1990’s are now coaches or employees at various levels of baseball.

Patty Maloney-Titland, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Performing Arts

Maloney-Titland has been teaching in the Performing Arts Department since 1988. She is the adviser for the Campus Players, producer and co-artistic director of the Rockland Shakespeare Company, and has directed numerous productions for the College and the community. A professional actor, she is a member of the Arts Council of Rockland, the Penguin Repertory Company Board of Directors, the PTA, and the Parent Community Service Committee. She was nominated twice for the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities as well as for the County Executive Arts Award.

Alumni Honoree

Regina DeCicco ’98, Screenwriter

After graduating from the Sam Draper M/TS Honors Program, DeCicco transferred to Barnard College, Columbia University. Her internship at NBC's Saturday Night Live led to a full-time job as design assistant. She went on to become Executive Assistant to the four executive producers at NBC‘s "Whoopi" sitcom, starring Whoopi Goldberg, and is now pursuing a writing career. DeCicco has written a movie screenplay and is in the process of developing a pilot idea for CBS/Paramount. DeCicco, who serves on the Alumni Executive Board, says she will always be indebted to RCC for helping give her direction.

Co-Chairs

Dennis J. Dale, President of Dale and Dale Associates, Inc.

Dale is a retired New York City fireman who began his second career with CIGNA, working in the Individual Financial Services Division. After 15 years, Dale left to start his own insurance business. Dale became involved with the Foundation after his two sons graduated from the Management Development (MgD) Honors Program. Impressed by the quality of the RCC education his sons received at a fraction of the cost of other colleges, he says, "I feel like I owe RCC a lot. When one of my sons applied for his first mortgage, the loan officer couldn’t believe he didn’t have a student loan."

Clarke Osborn, ’92, Chief of Police, Village of Suffern

Osborn has the distinction of being the youngest Police Chief in Rockland County, appointed at the age of 38 in 2005.  He is also a trustee of the Ramapo Central School District. Previously he served on the Rockland County Narcotic Task Force and later with the Spring Valley Police Department.  Motivated to serve the community, he became a police officer, saying, "I am particularly concerned about our youth and about the impact of negative media influences." Osborn was Suffern’s first DARE officer, serving for 10 years. He earned a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from SUNY Empire State College.

Honorary Co-Chairs:

C. Scott Vanderhoef, County Executive

Vanderhoef is an environmental attorney who is now serving his fourth term as County Executive, the highest elected office in Rockland. Under his leadership, one-third of all County departments were consolidated or eliminated, and the Office of Community Development has built and rehabilitated more than 1,600 units of affordable housing. He has supported expanded health services for residents and enhanced programs for children. He currently serves on the boards of Rockland Economic Development Corporation, The 21st Century Collaborative for Children and Youth, and Leadership Rockland, which he also helped found. 

Ellen C. Jaffee, Assemblywoman, 95th District

Since January 2007, Jaffee has represented the 95th Assembly District, which includes Orangetown and most of the Town of Ramapo. She served as a Rockland County Legislator from 1998 through 2006, and as a Suffern Village Trustee from 1995 through 1997. Jaffee formerly served as the Rockland County legislative liaison to SUNY Rockland and sponsored legislation that enabled the College to expand cooperative education internship programs with local businesses. In May 2003, she co-chaired a successful Women’s Cardiac Symposium at the College, "The Heart of the Matter, Women and Heart Disease," with the goal of educating women about heart disease.

###

Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.