Voices

Dionne Warwick to Sing for New York CPAs

Legendary singer Dionne Warwick is slated to headline a gala for the New York State Society of CPAs’ Foundation for Accounting Education.

Warwick will be taking the stage on May 19 as the NYSSCPA inducts a new president at its annual banquet and awards ceremony. 

Warwick herself has earned plenty of awards, including five Grammy awards. She made her mark singing hits penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David like “Promises, Promises,” “Walk on By,” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” She has sold more than 100 million records and charted 70 hit singles.

Warwick is the cousin of the late Whitney Houston, niece of Cissy Houston and started out singing in the gospel group, The Drinkard Singers. She was one of the first celebrities to lend her name in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Warwick has served as U.S. Ambassador of Health and a UN Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization; and has raised millions for children’s hospitals, disaster relief and, most importantly, education. In 1997, her East Orange elementary school in New Jersey was renamed in her honor: the Dionne Warwick Institute for Economics and Entrepreneurship.

For the NYSSCPA, the singer will headline an event that raises funds in support of the Society’s Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program. COAP, founded in 1987, is a college readiness program aimed at students of color, which have historically underrepresented in the accounting profession.

The event will also raise money for its Moynihan Fund, named after the Society's late president David J. Moynihan.

The May 19 event includes an intimate concert with Dionne Warwick, open bar, cocktails and dinner catered by celebrity chef Abigail Kirch. Tickets can be purchased at https://moynihanfundgala.eventbrite.com.

“Proceeds from the gala will allow us to expand our Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession program for high school juniors as well as enable the Society to increase the number of academic scholarships we make available for college students,” said NYSSCPA President Joseph Falbo Jr., CPA, and a partner at Tronconi Segarra & Associates.

In the past six years, the NYSSCPA has awarded $1.1 million to future accountants and aspiring CPAs.

Also during the event, honored guest Frank K. Ross, CPA, of the Howard University School of Business Center for Accounting Education, will be presented with the NYSSCPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts to promote diversity within the accounting profession.

Incoming NYSSCPA President F. Michael Zovistoski, CPA, and managing director at UHY LLP; and other new members of the NYSSCPA’s Board of Directors will also be installed.

The honorary event chairman of the Gala is Bob Garrett, New York Office Managing Partner, KPMG.
Presenting sponsors for the event ($25,000) include UHY LLP and Crowe Horwath.

Other corporate sponsors ($10,000) include EisnerAmper, St. John’s University, Gibgot Willenbacher & Co.; and ($5,000) First Niagara, Capell Barnett, Matalon & Schoenfeld, CohnReznick, Camico, RSM, Cohen & Steers, Tronconi Segarra & Associates, and Sheridan Communications.

Corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact C.J. Orr at (212) 424.1920 or via email at cjorr@nysscpa.org.

The Moynihan Fund is named after the late David J. Moynihan who died suddenly in January 2015 after succumbing to cancer. The Fund was created to honor his memory and carry forward his passion of helping young people excel in their education and careers.

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