Bridge Financial Group In The News
Bridge Financial Group Brings Smiles to Kids at Maimonides Cancer Center December 2010 - Bridge Financial Group associates gathered together to bring gifts and smiles to kids and their families during the Maimonides Cancer Center holiday party. They read stories to the children and helped Santa Claus distribute donated gifts to all in attendance. Snoopy made a special appearance to meet the children and take some memorable photographs. Our goal was to help these young patients enjoy the holidays even though they weren’t at home. With smiles on their faces, gifts in hand, and visits from Snoopy and Santa, the goal was certainly achieved. 
Bridge Financial Group Donates Bicycles to Children
During Brooklyn Cyclones Game
Brooklyn, NY, July 22, 2010-Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brooklyn & Queens, announced today that 25 children received a free new bike and helmet at the Brooklyn Cyclones game courtesy of Bridge Financial Group, an office of MetLife . Catholic Charities Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brooklyn & Queens, an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America currently serves over 100 children and youth from at risk communities in Brooklyn & Queens. “We are very thankful to the Bridge Financial Group for the generous gifts that will put a huge smile on the faces of the children in our program and will provide them with a memory that they will never forget,” says Bonnie Rubenstein, the Program Social Worker at Catholic Charities Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brooklyn & Queens. The 25 children were selected to receive the free bikes and helmet because their circumstances reflected the highest need and their families could not otherwise afford to buy them a brand new bikes. The children range from ages 6 to 16 years old and have been participating in the community-based mentoring programs where they have the opportunity to have an additional support system in their lives and positive role models to help them as they become more confident, caring individuals and where they develop increased competence in their academic and personal lives. Bridge Financial Group Managing Director, Dominick Iorio states, "Bridge Financial Group is pleased to be able to help these young children from Brooklyn and Queens, to put smiles on their faces and give them memories that will last a lifetime. We hope that by receiving their new bikes, it will make a positive impact in their lives. Perhaps it will give them a way to get to a park to play, a method of transportation to get to school or just to see first-hand how the gift of giving can have such a positive impact on someone else's life." 
Bridge Financial Group Joins Neighbors in
Blood Drive Honoring Staten Islanders Lost in 9/11
Staten Island, NY September 2010 ---- Bridge Financial Group, an Office of MetLife joined forces with it’s corporate neighbors, who are all located in the same building at Corporate Commons Two, 2 Teleport Drivefor the first annual 9/11 Blood Drive. New York Blood Center (NYBC) brought a bus for the donors convenience. The regional operations in Manhattan, Brooklyn/Staten Island, Long Island, Hudson Valley, and New Jersey called upon the community to please donate blood in honor and remembrance of the thousands of men, women, and children affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Each pint of blood donated can help save as many as three lives. Joining Bridge Financial supporting the event were, Saint Paul’s School of Nursing, College Bound and Nicotra Group employees from the building.
Many donors enjoyed light refreshments, provided by Bridge Financial, as a gesture to thank those that turned out to give blood. “This is the type of worthwhile cause Bridge Financial Group tries to get involved with in an attempt to consistently give to the community,” Allan Socher, Marketing Manager for Bridge remarked. “Involving our neighbors wasn’t difficult. We were encouraged by the immediate cooperation and support from our neighbors. We plan to make this an annual event.”
Nicole Puglia, Human Resource Manager for The College Bound Network added, “The employees at College Bound enjoy working with each other, and they like it even more when their work involves helping others in need. We are looking forward to participating in the blood drive, which will bring all of us at Corporate Commons 2 out of our offices and into the community to support this wonderful cause.”
Pictured below from left to right: Tara Gibbs, Nadine Rando, Aprile Affrunti, Michelle Gonzales, and Patricia Rizek
Bridge Financial Group Supports
Local Food Pantries
Staten Island/Brooklyn NY July 2010--During the month of July, Bridge Financial Group set a target goal for their employees to donate 2,000 cans of food to be used by The Salvation Army for their food pantries on Staten Island.
“Bridge Financial wants to be a good neighbor and we feel getting involved where there is a need is very important” says Dominick Iorio, managing director of the firm. “The Salvation Army does so much for our community, and it is wonderful that our firm can give something back.”
According to Wanda Schell, Community Worker for the Salvation Army in Stapleton, “Our pantries are utilized even more when children are out of school for the summer as parents continue to struggle with their finances and we begin to run out of food.”
Faith Reel, Director of Special Events for The Salvation Army on Staten Island, met Allan Socher, marketing director, at the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation Conference and expressed the need of their pantries during the summer. His response was one of action.
“Bridge Financial is part of the Staten Island community and we are active in helping meet the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves,” said Socher. “We are committed to the community of Staten Island not just in the way we conduct business, but as a helping hand. “
MetLife Associates Send Local Child
to Summer Camp
Staten Island, New York July 5, 2010 - When one of our families was faced with financial difficulty and unable to send their child to summer camp, we had to reach out to some friends, says Chris Caruso of Kids Connect USA.
Employees from Bridge Financial Group, an office of MetLife came together to help out Michael Buono, a student at Kid's Connect USA. Kids Connect USA is a socialization program for children affected with Autism. At Kids Connect, the children learn social skills such as, sharing, turn taking, dealing with winning and losing and conversation skills. kids Connect is an integrated program, typically developing children are the social role models in the classroom. "This is great program, children learn real life skills", says Christine Buono, Michael's mom.
Kids Connect USA has social skills classes on Saturdays and after school. The program is available to children throughout all school closings, which is why there is a full nine week summer camp. Children can continue to have consistency, while learning new social skills.
Individual employees from Bridge Financial Group donated their own money to help Michael attend the summer camp program. "We're very grateful to have such generous people in our community willing to help out despite tough economic times." - Kids Connect USA
Back Row: Bridge Financial Group Associates, James Muro, William D’Angelo, John Ross, Jonathon Brooks, Mark Intoccia, Matthew Kotula, Glenn Saul and Frank DeVito.
Middle Row: William Diodato and John Calabrese of John Calabrese Financial.
Holding Check: Dominick Iorio, Managing Director of Bridge Financial Group
Bridge Financial Group Associates, Paul Fried & Peter Vitale
Bridge Financial Group Celebrates Grand Opening of New Staten Island Location Staten Island, NY June 2010-- Bridge Financial Group celebrated the grand opening of their new location on June 24th. The space located at Corporate Commons Two is nearly double the size of their previous location in Pleasant Plains. Joining Managing Director, Dominick Iorio for the members of MetLife's Senior Leadership, home office partners, clients, the firm's associates, family and friends. Pictured below during the ribbon cutting from left to right are Michael Farrell, Executive Vice President, MetLife; Snoopy; Dominick Iorio, Managing Director; Steve Day, Senior Vice President, MetLife; Richard Nicotra, CEO of The Nicotra Group, LLC.  
Pictured above from left: Michael Farrell, Executive Vice President, John Brett, Senior Vice President, Dominick Iorio, Managing Director, Steve Day, Senior Vice President, Allan Socher, Marketing Manager. (Floor) Michelle Cutler, Marketing Director and Snoopy! Local News,Staten Island Advance June 25, 2010: www.silive.com/westshore/index.ssf/2010/06/bridge_group_moves_to_new_digs.html NY 1 June 25, 2010: statenisland.ny1.com/content/top_stories/121047/bloomfield-complex-sees-new-life--tenants
The Bridge Financial Group Businessman of the Year Award to Wagner College Athlete Staten Island, NY May 4, 2010-- Bridge Financial Group's Managing Director and Wagner Alumni, Dominick Iorio, presented student Athlete, Chris Ridente, with the Bridge Financial Group Businessman of the Year Award during the annual Athletics Awards Dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn. The award is presented to the student athlete with the highest GPA in a business related major. Ridente, a Lacross players from Cranford, NJ, has a GPA of 3.575. 
Bridge Financial Group Associates Join The MetLife Foundation At Staten Island Playground Unveiling Staten Island, NY June 2009 -- Bridge Financial Group's associates joined MetLife Foundation's Director of Civic Affairs, at the unveiling of PS 41's million dollar community playground on June 10th in New Dorp. The playground which was partially funded by the MetLife Foundation was designed with input from P.S. 41's students and residents of the neighborhood. Once a bland asphalt area, the playground now shines with new play structures, tennis and basketball courts, trees and plants, and even boasts a butterfly garden. A beautiful place for students and neighborhood residents to get out and play. Among those in attendance were John Calabrese, Michael Gigante, Robert Consola, Gloria Zazula, Michelle Cutler, and Jacqueline Feminella. Pictured cutting the ribbon below are Dominick Iorio, Managing Director and April Hawkins, MetLife Foundation's Director of the Civic Affairs Program. 
|
