The 2013 Record-Breaking Wine and Spirits Annual International Dinner
New York City, New York: Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Italy (BGTI), a nonprofit that empowers war refugee, migrant and at-risk youth living on the streets, announced today the honoree of its Wine and Spirits Annual International Dinner to be held on Thursday, September 12 at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York. BGTI will present the Man of the Year Award to Joe Lehane, Senior Vice President of Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business.
At Diageo, Joe manages the domestic sales, marketing and distribution networks of the Charmer Sunbelt Group. He has a passion for developing his team both personally and professionally. During his tenure in the industry, Joe has been very successful at mentoring and developing people, many of whom have gone on to have notable careers.
Joe lends his time and support to many charitable foundations and organizations. He is a regular contributor and organizer of two scholarship funds at his alma mater Stonehill College, the Timothy J Coughlin Memorial Scholarship and the Reverend Joseph S. Lehane Scholarship. Joe is also involved in the National Melanoma Foundation and many local New York charities. In Joe’s free time, he can be found on the sidelines coaching his children’s soccer and basketball teams.
“I am honored to be selected as the 2013 Man of the Year by Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Italy. I have three young children and I am very involved with youth sports. It’s important to me that the BGTI youth have a chance to remake their lives after everything they have been through,” said Joe.
BGTI’s success lies in its innovative self-government approach. Arriving from 18 different countries, young people who have fled war, violence, extreme poverty, human and sex trafficking live at the two campuses outside of Rome where they become citizens responsible for running their Town. They elect one another to positions such as mayor, judge, and commissioner and hold frequent assembly meetings to discuss the affairs of their Town. Through this activity, along with schooling and vocational training, they develop vital skills needed to integrate into and contribute to society as active, self-reliant adults.
“We are very pleased to be honoring Joe this year. Over 30 years ago, my friend [and BGTI founder] Monsignor Carroll-Abbing asked me to help raise money for kids in need. At the Wine and Spirits Annual International Dinner, we continue to support Monsignor’s labor of love and give young people a stable environment in which to grown,” said Dinner Chairman and longtime supporter, Herman Hochberg.
Since its founding in 1945 by Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing, BGTI has been funded by a generous American community of donors moved by the immigrant experience and a desire to give back.
“Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Italy is a volunteer-driven community of Americans committed to helping young people around the world. Today, young refugees are entering Italy at an unprecedented rate, making our work BGTI more important than ever before,” said Executive Director Carrie Sackett.
The event will begin with cocktails at 6:30 PM followed by dinner, music, and entertainment. Tickets are $300 each. For more details or to make a donation, please call the Boys’ & Girls Towns of Italy New York office: 212.980.8770 or email office@bgti.org.
Visit their website at: http://bgti.org
