AIR Society Honors Roger A. Silverstein

More than $165,000 Raised at Event to Support National Jewish Health

The 27^th Annual National Jewish Health AIR Society benefit held on Oct. 3, 2019, raised more than $165,000 for National Jewish Health, the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Roger A. Silverstein, executive vice president at Silverstein Properties, and a founding member of the AIR Society, was honored at the event with the Irving Borenstein Memorial Award.

Jeffrey Scott presented award to Roger Silverstein with his son Julian.

“Roger is a key member of the Council of National Trustees and serves as an ambassador for National Jewish Health,” said Michael Salem, MD, president and CEO of National Jewish Health. “He is generous with his time and talent, and always a valued advisor. We appreciate all that he has contributed to National Jewish Health and are privileged to honor him with this award.”

More than 200 young and young-at-heart professionals gathered at Ascent Lounge to honor Silverstein for his devotion, talent and integrity in his industry. He is on the Real Estate Board of New York, serves as a director of the Realty Foundation of New York, and is an executive committee member of the Real Estate Executive Division of the UJA Federation. He is a founding member of the AIR Society for National Jewish Health and has served on the National Jewish Health Council of National Trustees since 1991. He has further served the organization through dedicated fundraising and over the years has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the institution.

“When families come to National Jewish Health, our physicians spend all the time necessary to solve their medical mysteries from eczema, food allergies and asthma to any of the other diseases we specialize in treating,” said Pamela Zeitlin, MD, MPhil, PhD, professor of Pediatrics and chair of the Silverstein Department of Pediatrics at National Jewish Health, and guest speaker at the event.

The AIR Society was formed in 1991. AIR stands for Asthma, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine. Some of the founding members, or their family members, had been treated for asthma, allergies and/or immune system disorders at National Jewish Health and formed the group as a way to give back. Since its inception, the AIR Society has raised more than $5 million to fund research and patient care, as well as clinical and educational programs at National Jewish Health.

Co-chairing this year’s event were Jennifer and Kyle Widay, vice president and CFO, respectively, at Kaback Enterprises. They noted, “We are delighted to honor our good friend, Roger Silverstein, with this well-deserved recognition.”

Founding members of the AIR Society are: Kathy Chazen; Michael Comras; Bruce Dobozin, MD; Stacey & Keith Locker; Jeffrey Rubin; and Roger Silverstein. New committee members are always welcome. For more information about the New York AIR Society, contact Mattie Shepheard at 212.297.0857 or ShepheardM@njhealth.org.

Event sponsors included: Aggressive Fire Protection, Alliance Building Services; Linda & Earle Altman; Ambassador Construction Co., Inc.; CBRE, Inc.; Charge; Kathy Chazen & Larry Miller; Simona & Jerome Chazen; Citrin Cooperman & Company; The Comras Company; Cool Wind Ventilation Corp.; Freedom News; JT Magen & Company Inc.; Kaback Enterprises, Inc.; Jessica & Michael Lerner; Manhattan Mechanical Contractors, Inc.; Murnick Property Group; Newmark Knight Frank LLP; Jon Offerman; Olympus Insurance; Lisa & Joseph Scharf; Schrimmer Design Group, Inc.; Silverstein Properties; and Wilk Auslander LLP.