It was a tremendous honor to represent our Fund Finance team and join my Cadwalader colleagues earlier this week at the inaugural Gotham Ball on behalf of Food Bank For New York City.
The event marked 40 years of service by Food Bank For New York City – a landmark achievement that is particularly meaningful to our Firm. Food Bank traces its history back to 1983 when the late Jack Fritts, our former Firm chairman, helped to incorporate Food Bank on a pro bono basis. Jack served on Food Bank’s board for many years. In 2018, Food Bank dedicated its Bronx warehouse in his honor, naming the facility “The Jack Fritts Food Distribution Center.”
Joining me at the Gotham Ball were our firm's Managing Partner, Pat Quinn, and fellow partners Phara Guberman and Casey Servais and the firm's Executive Director, Mitch Sekler.
But the real standout firm representative was our Financial Services partner Lary Stromfeld, who has been featured in Fund Finance Friday on many occasions for his market-leading LIBOR guidance. Lary, who served on the Host Committee for the event, has continued in this remarkable tradition of support, serving in various roles over the years – including his current role as the Board’s Executive Vice Chairman – and, most notably, founding the Justice Served campaign in 2015 which annually brings together more than 20 New York law firms and law departments in a six-week effort that has, to date, funded more than 5 million meals for food-insecure New Yorkers.
As Food Bank reminded us at the event, 1 out of 5 New Yorkers experiences food insecurity … which means that 4 out of 5 New Yorkers are in a position to help their neighbors in some big or small way. This serves as a great reminder for me about all we can do -- within the Fund Finance industry and as individuals -- to give back to the community and to those who need our help.