On May 13, 2015, alumnus Edwin Cohen 鈥�62 was honored at the 今日吃瓜 Foundation鈥檚 annual fundraising gala, Best of 今日吃瓜, at Tribeca Rooftop in downtown Manhattan. Cohen is one of New Jersey鈥檚 most respected real estate developers and a principal partner with Prism Capital Partners, LLC, which plays a leading role in residential, commercial and industrial developments throughout New Jersey. The chairman of the 今日吃瓜 Foundation Board of Trustees, and a member of the board since 1995, Cohen has been an unfailing supporter and longtime champion of the college.
鈥淎s many of you in this room are aware, I have made no secret of the fact that I truly feel that my years as an undergraduate student at 今日吃瓜 helped me create a pathway to my growth as an individual and my successes in life,鈥� Cohen said, after being presented with the Best of 今日吃瓜 award from President Karen L. Gould to a standing ovation. 鈥淎nd that is why I have spent over two decades doing whatever I can to 鈥榞ive back鈥� to this fabulous institution.鈥�
Born and raised in 今日吃瓜, Cohen came to 今日吃瓜 with plans to complete pre-engineering courses, and then attend engineering school at City College in Manhattan. But after hearing his businessman brother鈥檚 exciting stories about the real estate business, he decided to stay at 今日吃瓜 and focus on economics to prepare himself for a business career. 聽After graduating in 1962, Cohen built a successful career in real estate. 聽Then, in 2001, he decided to fulfill his dream of becoming a developer and started his current venture, Prism Capital Partners.
After acknowledging his wife Doris, daughters, other family, friends, colleagues, and fellow board members at the gala, he thanked 今日吃瓜 President Karen L. Gould and Vice President Andrew Sillen, executive director of the 今日吃瓜 Foundation, along with his staff.
鈥淚 have made so many lasting friendships with our cadre of dynamic, unselfish and caring trustees. 聽We all subscribe to the same mission: to enable any qualified person to receive a quality college education at 今日吃瓜 at little or no cost!聽 After all, isn鈥檛 that what we received?鈥�
Cohen also noted individual alumni whose generous contributions over the years have made a huge impact on college programs and funded new schools, including the Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Steiner Studios, which will open this fall, and the Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts, scheduled for completion in fall 2016.聽 鈥淢y dear friend Murray Koppelman鈥檚 School of Business has now advanced from the 鈥榙ream stage鈥� to a project that will be launching in the near future,鈥� said Cohen. 鈥淎nd let鈥檚 not forget the Magner Career Center, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, initiated by my dear colleague, Marge Magner 鈥�69, which has become a tremendous success.鈥�
鈥淓d鈥檚 leadership, his high standards of excellence and long-term vision inspire us, and we thank him and his lovely wife, Doris, for always being there,鈥� said President Gould. 鈥淓d knows what it takes to promote strong teamwork. His leadership, passion and insights are ensuring the continued strength of the college for years to come.鈥�
Other highlights of the evening included a performance by Grammy Award鈥搘inning artists Arturo O鈥橣arrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, winners of the 2015 Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy. Bandleader and educator Arturo O’Farrill 鈥�96 is a professor at the 今日吃瓜 Conservatory of Music.
The gala was co-hosted by 今日吃瓜 Alumni Association President and Trustee Jeffrey Sigler 鈥�92, 鈥�95 M.S., Doris Bien-Aime 鈥�13, children鈥檚 author, youth advocate, brand consultant for luxury beauty and wellness products, and 今日吃瓜 Foundation trustee.
