Each year, about 300 community leaders, businesses and residents attend Residents Forward annual gala. The theme of this year’s event, which will take place on Friday, March 22 at Leonard’s Palazzo of Great Neck, is “The Fabric of Our Community.” The evening will celebrate the resiliency and culture of giving that is woven throughout the entire Port Washington community.
This year’s honorees, Judith Heller, Rick Krainin and Marvin Makofsky, have invested an immeasurable level of devotion, philanthropy and leadership across the peninsula. The gala underwriter, The Peter and Jeri Dejana Family Foundation, has also woven threads of beauty throughout the peninsula by supporting countless charities and projects to help make Port Washington thrive.
Heller has spent more than 15 years in the healthcare industry, focusing on public policy, managed care strategies, revenue enhancements, process improvements and capital development. She currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Physician Recruitment at Northwell Health. Heller is also an adjunct professor at the Baruch’s Zicklin School of Business where she teaches a course entitled “Emerging Topics in Healthcare.”
She has been recognized as one of the Long Island Business News 40 Under 40, largely to acknowledge her commitment to the community. Those initiatives closest to her heart include: Twin Pines Thrift Store, the Parent Resource Center, Sands Point Preserve, Make-A-Wish, Step by Step Charitable Foundation, whose motto is “we run for those who can’t” raising awareness and funding for cancer research and Eleni’s Pop Of Color, which annually provides 1,200+ scarves for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Heller holds an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Baruch’s Zicklin School of Business and an MPA from the University at Albany. She has lived in Port Washington for eight years with her husband, Brad. They have two daughters, Shayna and Maya.
Rick Krainin is a partner at Arent Fox LLP, a 400-attorney law firm with offices in New York, Washington, DC and California. He heads the firm’s New York Nonprofit Finance Group, helping to structure finance and provide general corporate advice for non-profit organizations. Krainin’s practice focuses on representing government-sponsored enterprise for multifamily affordable housing.
Working closely with building professionals in the structuring, financing, and implementation of development projects, Krainin co-led the launch of an interdisciplinary national project finance program for public and nonprofit institutions through the architectural/engineering/design community that was recognized by the Financial Times with a 2012 Innovative Law Firms award in the “Business of Law” category. He is recommended in the nonprofit field by Legal 500 US and has been selected for inclusion in the New York edition of Super Lawyers magazine Metro Edition list since 2008.
Krainin is honored to have served on the Board of Residents Forward for 25 years, including as its co-President for the past decade. He is extremely grateful for the hard work, dedication, vision and leadership of both of his co-Presidents, the entire board and amazing staff. Krainin and his wife, Lisa Rafofsky, have lived in Port Washington for 27 years, raising sons Steven and Jordan. Rick enjoys being out on the bay in a kayak or sailboat and touring the North Shore by bike.
Marv Makofsky is an entrepreneur who received more than 120 national and international awards for his work. In 1972 he founded Pama Enterprises, Inc., which specialized in creating and selling business forms designs and systems. Makofsky owns 15 patents and, with his two children, founded Conformer Products, Inc. to license and sell patented presentation products and mailing solutions. Makofsky was also elected as one of the first members of the Business Forms Design Hall of Fame. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Babson College.
As past president of The Port Jewish Center, Makofsky helped originate the temple’s choir. He also published two volumes celebrating the 100-year history of the Main Street School and Port Washington.
A love of gardening and concern for others led Makofsky to create Plant A Row for the Hungry, in 2010. Today, over 80 beautifully painted planters have provided more than 20,000 pounds of fresh produce to those in need. In 2018, Plant A Row participated in the Residents Forward Youth Climate Summit.
Makofsky and his wife Ellen have resided in Port Washington for over 30 years while raising their two children, Sari and Bob, and now enjoy five grandchildren. When he is not working or gardening Makofsky enjoys his family, friends and touring the world with his camera.
For information about Residents Forward’s gala or otherwise, visit pwresidents.org or call 516-767-9151.
