Tomorrow's Hope Foundation's 2024 STARS for Students Gala

The STARS for Students Gala is our premier event that raises tuition assistance for underserved students attending Catholic elementary schools on Long Island. In the last 18 years, thanks to the generosity of donors like you, the STARS for Students Gala has generated more than $18 million to support our mission to ensure the excellence as well as the continuance of Catholic schools on Long Island by increasing awareness and providing scholarship and program funding for the needs of students and schools.

Please consider supporting our 2024 STARS for Students Gala and join in helping our students continue their Catholic education regardless of economic status. By doing so, our children can remain in a faith-filled and safe educational environment that will guide them towards a bright future that would not necessarily be available to them otherwise.

Today's children are Tomorrow's Hope!

MEET OUR HONOREES

Patrick Cassino, President & Owner, Sun Auto Group

Patrick Cassino was born into poverty in New York City before moving to Long Island as a child. He eventually acquired an equivalency diploma after dropping out of high school, and trained as an auto mechanic. Years later he entered Stony Brook University but did not graduate. He also trained and worked as a securities broker for a major investment firm. 

Today he is the proud owner of an award-winning auto dealership, Sun Buick-GMC of Wantagh. With a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial drive, he has run his company for over 30 years, establishing a legacy of excellence within the automotive industry. It was during his time at Sun Buick-GMC where Patrick felt a calling to give back to the community. Disturbed by the visible deterioration of our educational system, he was driven by a desire to make a difference. He is committed to supporting organizations that offer access to Catholic elementary education for those in need. This led him to Tomorrow's Hope Foundation.

Determined to pay it forward, Patrick became a two-time Tomorrow's Hope Foundation Adopt-A-School donor. Through his generous contributions, he has provided tuition support and technology to Catholic institutions including St. Patrick's School in Bay Shore and St. Martin of Tours School in Amityville. His deeds embody his commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for the less fortunate. 

Patrick's story is one of perseverance, love of country, and steadfast determination to create positive change for Long Island and beyond. 

Glenn Tyranski, King's College Executive in Residence 

Glenn's educational experience from first grade to graduate school has been in Catholic Schools - from St. Ignatius Loyola elementary school in Hicksville to St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary in Uniondale to King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. These Catholic school experiences laid a strong ethical foundation onto which a professional career and lifelong pursuit of trying to make a difference has been built upon.

Glenn has been a board member of the Tomorrow's Hope Foundation for over a dozen years and serves as the Foundation's Audit Committee Chair. He holds a BS degree in Accounting and Computers and Information Systems and a MS degree in Healthcare Administration from King's College. Glenn has served for over 25 years as part of King's Business Advisory Council, was a member of the President's Council for four years and an engaged member of the Board of Directors for 12 years. Glenn now serves as the King's College Angelo P. DeCesaris Executive in Residence, which finds him on campus each week teaching undergraduate classes and serving as a career mentor, academic advisor, and professional resource for King's students.

Glenn is a CPA and has held senior leadership positions over his almost 40-year business career at KPMG, NYSE, EY, FTI Consulting, and WWC. His professional experience includes financial regulation and compliance, accounting and auditing, capital markets, corporate governance and business and board level communications. Glenn also serves as an adjunct professor of management at Long Island University and is a member of the LIU Dean's Advisory Board. Glenn is also an advisory board member of 1BusinessWorld, an entrepreneurial start up in business communications, education, and engagement. Glenn is a longtime member of Financial Executives International (where he also serves on the NYC Chapter's board), AICPA, NYSSCPA, NACD, and NIRI. In addition to his Tomorrow's Hope Foundation board service, Glenn also serves on the board of directors of Ausonia Cruise Holdings, Deltec International Group, the Long Island Children's Museum, where he is also the Treasurer, Catholic Charities of Long Island, and Belle Voci Intergenerational Choral Scoiety.

Glenn and his wife, Susan Waiter, live in Huntington and have been married for 18 years. They have both served in volunteer leadership positions over the years at their parish school, St. Edward the Confessor. They have three daughters, Mary (St. Dominic's HS '09, Molloy '14), Grace (SEC '10, KMHS '14, St. John's '18) and Anna (The Latin School '14, KMHS '17, Hartt School '21), and two granddaughters, Thea (KMHS '33), and Abigail (KMHS '41).

2024 Gala Committee Committee

Kathryn J. Bill

Jeff Byrnes

Sister Joanne Callahan, OSU

Paul Clagnaz

Richard Conniff

Pat Curtin

Stephen V. DeSimone

Maria DiMatteo

Vicki Ferrara

Michael G. Grant

Jeff Harris

Bernadette Kasnicki

Meaghan Kelly

Frank Liantonio

Michael Maturo

F.J. McCarthy

Frank Melaccio

Rosalia Melaccio

Michael Merlo

Catherine Muscente

Lewis S. Ranieri

Michael D. Sapraicone

Maureen T. Scaduto

Theresa Lotito

Ismini Scouras

Val Seitz

Brian T. Shea

Bernadette Casey Smith

Allison Strack

Christopher Tully

Anne Walsh

Peggy York