Honor Annamarie Fortunato Award

15, 2018 WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato has given not only of her time and energies but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has been designated for special honor; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Annamarie Fortunato upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Jacqueline Fortunato Altruism Award by American Legion Kings County Youth Recreational Facilities, Inc. to be celebrated at its 24th Annual Baseball Banquet on Sunday, April 15, 2018, at Gargiulo's Restaurant in Brooklyn, New York; and WHEREAS, American Legion Kings County Youth Recreational Facilities, Inc. provides and maintains baseball fields for use by neighborhood youth organizations and schools in Brooklyn, New York, allowing thousands of children to play baseball in a clean and safe environment at no cost to them or their families; and WHEREAS, Born to Jacqueline and George Fortunato in Brooklyn, New York, Annamarie Fortunato is proudly continuing her mother's legacy of good citizenship and philanthropy; and WHEREAS, After graduating from Bishop Kearney High School, Annamarie Fortunato earned her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree in political science and journalism cum laude, from Boston University; and WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato furthered her education by obtaining her Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law in 1994; the first attorney in her family, she has been admitted to both the New York and New Jersey State Bars; and WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato then joined her father at his office, the Compensation Offices of George J. Fortunato, where she had interned every summer since high school; in January of 1997, she established her own practice, the law office of Annamarie Fortunato, P.C., specializing in New York State Construction Labor Law, workers' compensation and social security disability cases; within her first five years of practice, she successfully settled numerous multimillion dollar cases; and WHEREAS, Throughout her distinguished career, Annamarie Fortunato has authored numerous successful construction accident liability motions, many of which have made pro plaintiff case law in the State of New York, and the firm has won many verdicts and settlements through trial and mediation; and WHEREAS, In 2003, Annamarie Fortunato's sister, Camille Fortunato, joined the firm and it was renamed Fortunato & Fortunato, PLLC; since its inception, the practice has continued to expand and grow; today, the practice is comprised of many attorneys, paralegals and support staff, and is one of the leading construction Labor Law plaintiff firms in the State of New York; in 2013, Fortunato & Fortunato, PLLC was featured in New York Magazine as a leader in its field; and WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato is a vital member of multiple Bar Associations as well as the International Association of Women, which recognizes women in leadership roles in various fields and professions; and WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to her profession, Annamarie Fortunato has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades; she was named one of the 100 Top Lawyers in the State of New York, and was recognized by the Who's Who of Distinguished Americans of Italian Descent, the America's Registry of Outstanding Professionals and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum; and WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato is an important and active member of her community, supporting many charitable organizations including the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, the Make a Wish Foundation and the Williams Syndrome Association, an organization which is very dear to her heart since her nephew's diagnosis with this rare disease; and WHEREAS, When she is not working or helping someone, Annamarie Fortunato enjoys spending time with her beloved family; during her mother's 20-year battle with cancer, she never left her side, and was always available to help in any way she could; today, she continues to take care of her family, including her father, George, her husband Lee, and her two children Sophia and Nicholas; and WHEREAS, This devoted mother is enthusiastically involved in her children's schools and has served on the St. Bernard Parent Advisory Board as well as volunteered and participated in many fundraising activities; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Annamarie Fortunato upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Jacqueline Fortunato Altruism Award; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Annamarie Fortunato.