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. — All photos by Karen Fucito/Courtesy: United Way of Northern New Jersey
By Joshua Burd
Nearly 400 commercial real estate leaders came together last week 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-profile development projects.
The annual luncheon, one of the industry’s premier events, returned to The Meadow Wood in Randolph on Friday as developers, service providers and others leveraged their networks and rallied around causes long championed by the nonprofit. 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 Friday that his family’s Ryan Wolfe Kossar Foundation, created in 2004 in memory of his late 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 significant 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 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 first 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, exemplifies 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 & Wakefield, 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 & Wakefield, 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.”
