The Children’s Dream Foundation is pleased to honor Stephen Paletta, Founder and Chairman of Give Back.Org and winner of ABC TV’s reality game show Oprah’s Big Give, where each contestant is given a large sum of money as they compete in finding “the most powerful, sensational, emotional and dramatic ways to give to others.” Stephen hopes to inspire others to engage in philanthropy on their own. He also wants to encourage people to move away from a strict career focus and spend more time on charities or caring for others.
Stephen Paletta took up civil engineering at Cornell University, where he was an All-American lacrosse player. After graduating, he worked in his family’s general contracting business. He eventually founded his own company, the Renaissance Integrate Solutions.
Thirteen years ago, someone challenged Stephen Paletta to decide whether his life was going to be about significance or about success. In 2004, a trip to Rwanda changed his life.
Mr. Paletta is currently the CEO of Giveback.org. “Give Back is dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering everyone to be a philanthropist. It allows individuals to start foundations to support the causes they care about,” he explains. Through this organization Stephen plans to “give everyone an opportunity to make a big difference in the world”.
Stephen is married and has three children. He considers his wife as his best friend and proudly announces that she’s the best thing that has ever happened to him.
The Children’s Dream Foundation is delighted to present this year’s Medical Service Award to Jesus C. Jaile-Marti, M.D. Dr. Jaile-Marti immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of five, from Cuba. A graduate of Manhattanville College in 1983, he was valedictorian of his class and the College’s first undergraduate to be accepted into an Ivy League medical school. He graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1987 and completed his residency, internship and neonatal fellowship at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Babies Hospital. Dr. Jail-Marti came to White Plains Hospital Center in 1993 as the Chief of Division of Neonatology and Newborn Services. He also took on the Directorship of Neonatology Department of Pediatrics at Nyack Hospital in 2004. Throughout his educational and medical career, Dr. Jaile-Marti has been the recipient of numerous honors and professional memberships. He has conducted a great deal of research in his field, has published extensively and continues to give professional presentations in his area of expertise.
When asked what professional accomplishments of which he is most proud, he beams as he speaks, “I have always wanted to add some humanity to the technology and create an environment where babies and their families are integrated members of the healing family.”
Dr. Jaile-Marti and his wife, Diane, live in Hartsdale, New York. and have four children: Caitlyn, Jesus IV, Samantha and Francisco.