Congratulations Fred - what a wonderful gesture and lovely honor. We need more people in the world with your sense of generosity and spirit.............Marguerite

Congratulations Fred! TAPA made a wonderful choice in honoring you. You've helped so many people and always "use your power for good" . . . looking forward to celebrating tonight! Much love! Victoria

See you tonight !

Glad to have helped, and warning to all prospective honorees-as Fred says, it's hard work. Congrats to Fearless Fred for stepping up. Scott Bloom

I will be with you all in spirit tonight cheering for Fred and the Theresa Alessandra Rusdo Foundation!

You are WORTHY! and thank you for the unnecessary shout - out. Shelly and I look forward to greeting you (and seeing our many Gotham friends attending) later. All for a good cause.

I think the Thereas Fpundation made a fabulous choice, a giving, caring, driven man who is secretly very humble (don't worry I won't give your secret away). I will definitely be there rooting you on in spirit. And I can't wait to see pics!!! Rona Gura from sunny Florida

I was given the great honor of saying a few words tonight on Fred's behalf. I thought it might be nice to post them below.
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How many people do you know that truly change the world for the better on a daily basis?Susan and Vincent do it through the Theresa Foundation, the hard work they put in each day with it, and ultimately the children's lives they change by treating them with dignity, giving them challenges and the courage to meet them. I know Vincent's TV co-host, my beautiful fiancé Victoria Roberts Drogin, does this through the people she coaches and the students she inspires.

But I have never met, read or heard about anyone in the world of business who consistently changes people's lives for the better, more than Fred Klein.

I have never sat down to a meeting or a meal with Fred where he didn't say at some point "I have an idea, let's put this person and that person together. It will be good for both of them, right?". Of course he then expects you to implement that idea, mentor that person, find that person a job, or give that person a job!

I have seen so much Commerce, friendship and goodwill created by this man. He embodies the practical application of the quote "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." And what's a more admirable quality than having the talent and passionate desire to help a person provide for his or her family?

Yet I have never known anyone that desires accolades less than Fred. He truly never wants that pat on the back .... except maybe from Joanne. Thats because Joanne could fill this room with her integrity. And everyone wants the respect and admiration of someone like that. Fred and I share a favorite quote by George Steinbrenner. "If you do an act of good will for someone and more than two people know about it, you and that person, then you're not doing it for the right reason".

But we also know that what goes around comes around. And today it comes around by allowing us to give thanks back to Fred. Congratulations!

So sorry to miss this great event.
Fred deserves daily honoring.
Working on figuring that out.
He is the life changer extraordinaire!

Congrats!

Congrats Fred you make us all at the east end group proud!!
Ken Granieri

Have a wonderful, successful evening.I know you will find the right words. I hope you have raised a great deal of money for this special cause.

Jane Present

Congrats, see you tonight.

Paul said it all, and so well, that all I'll add is that I'm looking forward to celebrating Fred tonight surrounded by so many of his family, friends, and fans.

Fred, it truly is my pleasure to help you and Vincent. It is such a wonderful honor, and for such a worthwhile cause. Thanks for all you do.

Paul gave us a nice taste of what is to come tonight. Congrats to Fred and TAPA for
what will surely be a festive night.

Congratulations Fred, you are so deserving of this honor. Paul's tribute is perfect, and I will add from my perspective that working for and with you for these past 44.5 years has been better good fortune than a pot of gold.

Any time you are honored it's because you are worthy. Fred, You are one of the most worthy gentleman I can think of. I real "mench" in a world filled with not so worthy folks. . Congrats...

Hollander Sends

It looks to me that in addition to the well deserved honor you are receiving, this blog is getting you the record number of comments. Certainly well deserved.

Sincere congrats on your well deserved honor!

I agree with Paul's post, 100%.