Page 42 - RE-NJ

40 JUNE 2025
IN THE
MOMENT
UNITED WAY HONORS KOSSAR
ALONGSIDE CROW HOLDINGS AT
CARTERET, NEST PROJECTS
By Joshua Burd
Nearly 400 commercial real estate
leaders came together in early
May in support of United Way
of Northern New Jersey, raising
$347,000 as part of a program that
honored top industrial broker Rob
Kossar along with two high-profi le
development projects.
The annual luncheon, one of the
industry’s premier events, returned
to The Meadow Wood in Randolph
on May 9 as developers, service
providers and others leveraged their
networks and rallied around causes
long championed by the nonprofi t.
That was evident from the 25
sponsors as well as the remarks
of the honorees, which included
Kossar as well as executives
associated with the winning
projects — the Crow Holdings
at Carteret industrial park and
Northeast Science and Technology
Center campus in Kenilworth.
“I’ve been consistently inspired
by the unwavering dedication in
supporting children and families
in need who are working hard but
still living paycheck to paycheck,”
said Kossar, a vice chairman with
JLL, accepting United Way’s Spirit
of Philanthropy Award. “In today’s
economic climate, United Way’s
mission is more critical than ever.
“The challenges these families
face are immense, and United
Way provides a lifeline, offering
resources and support that can truly
change lives.”
Kossar, who leads JLL’s Northeast
industrial team, is a longtime
partner in the organization’s efforts
to support children and families
who struggle to make ends meet. He
noted that his family’s Ryan Wolfe
Kossar Foundation, created in 2004
in memory of his son, has teamed
with United Way in recent years to
host the Help for Children Classic,
making him intimately familiar with
its staff and with “how powerful this
organization is and how important it
is to the community.”
The partnership around the annual
golf tournament is also a regular
reminder of the generosity of the
business community in and around
New Jersey, he said.
“As leaders in this commercial real
estate industry, we have a unique
opportunity to make a signifi cant
difference in our world,” Kossar
said. “I urge you to join me in
supporting the United Way of
Northern New Jersey. And … I want
to reiterate my sincere gratitude.
The Spirit of Philanthropy is not
just a recognition of my efforts,
but a testament to the power of
collective action and the profound
impact of the United Way’s work.
Let us all renew our commitment
Photo by Karen Fucito/Courtesy: United Way of Northern New Jersey
From left: United Way Senior Vice President of Resource Development George Xuereb, Vice Chairman and Head of JLL’s Northeast
Industrial Region Rob Kossar and United Way Northern New Jersey CEO Kiran Handa Gaudioso were on hand May 9 after Kossar
received the United Way Spirit of Philanthropy Award at the organization’s 26th annual Legacy Event.
to philanthropy to continue to
support the United Way in their vital
mission.”
This 26th annual Legacy Event,
hosted by the United Way
Commercial Real Estate Committee,
funded four childcare scholarships
in addition to its focus on so-
called ALICE families led by
essential workers who are asset-
limited, income-constrained and
employed. The commercial real
estate sector has played a major
role in supporting such initiatives,
contributing $4.8 million since 2000.
Crow Holdings at Carteret, a
three-building, 1.2 million-square-
foot industrial project that
revitalized 126 acres of previously
contaminated land near the Rahway
River, secured the fi rst of two
Impact Awards for its contributions
to the region’s economic and
community landscape. United Way
noted that the development, which
won in the industrial category,
exemplifi es the power of public-
private partnerships with a team
that includes Crow Holdings
Development, DSV Global Transport
and Logistics, Weida Freight
System, Avison Young, Cushman
& Wakefi eld, Alston Construction,
M+H Architects, Alper Audi Inc.,
SESI Consulting Engineers, Watts
Consulting, CSG Law, Riker Danzig
LLP, EastStar Environmental Group
Inc., Princeton Hydro, Petillo LLC
and Rahway Arch Properties.
The 1.2 million-square-foot
Northeast Science and Technology
Center or NEST campus in
Kenilworth won the Impact
Award for commercial projects,
thanks in large part to its role in
transforming the former Merck
world headquarters with new
users such as Revlon, New Jersey
Institute of Technology and
CoreWeave. The development
includes Onyx Equities LLC,
Machine Investment Group, Pivot
Real Estate Partners, CoreWeave
Inc., NJIT, Revlon Inc., Cushman &
Wakefi eld, JLL, Newmark, NORR,
Langan, Vanderweil Engineering and
Mancini Duffy.
“It’s a testament to the giving spirit
of our industry,” said WB Wood
Vice President Tom Hales, who
emceed the program. “If you look at
the companies represented on the
committee and in this room, they’re
some of the biggest players. And,
despite being competitors, they
come together to support United
Way.” RE