Bishop Irinej attends Fordham Founder’s Dinner
New York City’s eminent Fordham University brought together its founders, scholars and biggest benefactors on
More than 1,000 alumni and friends of Fordham attended the black-tie affair at the New York Hilton Midtown—a new venue for the dinner and a hotel that has hosted every U.S. president since John F. Kennedy. Among the many Orthodox Christian dignitaries were His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), and His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America (Serbian Orthodox Church), a member of the Advisory Council of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham. Also present were the Co-Directors of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Professors of Theology, Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou, Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture, and Dr. George Demacopoulos, Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies.
The 2019 celebration lauded six longtime supporters of Fordham—Solon P. Patterson and Marianna R. Patterson, sponsors of a chair in Orthodox Christian Studies; Joel I. Picket and Joan Picket; and Dennis G. Ruppel, FCRH ’68 and Patricia Ann Ruppel—and honored 44 Founder’s Scholars, whose Fordham education was largely made possible by the Founder’s Scholarship.
This year’s gala also celebrated and supported Faith & Hope | The Campaign for Financial Aid. Over the past two years, the campaign has reached more than 90 percent of its $175 million
But at its heart, the dinner was more than a meal among those who love the University. It was a toast to the people—every person connected to Fordham’s 178 years of life.
In addressing the crowd, Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, state that “Fordham is a world-class faculty, a hardworking staff, talented and devoted administrators, students, trustees, donors, alumni—all of whom are men and women for others.”
Source: Eastern American Diocese
