Capuchin Pantries Honors RE Women

NEW YORK CITY-As in years past, real estate executives comprised the majority of honorees at the seventh annual Women of Valor Awards Tea to benefit Capuchin Food Pantries. In fact, all but one of the nine honorees at Thursday’s luncheon was an industry professional, including Kim L. Bertin, managing director of global corporate real estate for JPMorgan Chase, who was bestowed with the Francis Award for 2009. This year’s guest of honor, Bertin received her award for espousing the ideals of St. Francis of Assisi.

The six recipients of the Clarissa Award, named for St. Clare, included Diana Gonzalez, director of facilities for Scripps Networks; Stacey Ingle, assistant VP of property management for Moody’s; Rebecca Mason, executive director of Caran Properties; Connie van Rhyn, senior manager of workplace strategy and sustainability with PepsiCo’s global real estate department; Geraldine Walsh, VP and regional director of operations at Grubb & Ellis; and Cynthia Wasserberger, managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle. Lucy Carter, director of marketing and business development with Ted Moudis Associates, and COO Kate Post of Forrest Solutions were presented with the annual Humanitarian Award.

“In this industry, we give back,” Walsh said in accepting her award. The real estate sector’s philanthropic spirit has been on display in the numerous charitable awards presentations around the city this summer, and at events held at other times of year, such as the annual Realty Foundation fundraiser. Mary Ann Tighe, CEO of the New York tri-state region for CB Richard Ellis, was the guest of honor at the Realty Foundation event in April.

Organized by the Capuchin Franciscans, the Capuchin Food Pantries is a network of 12 independent programs that serve a combined 1.2 million meals annually to needy New Yorkers. A video presentation during the luncheon revealed that demand for the pantries’ services is up 26% in the current downturn.