The Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation Holds its First Press Conference
On March 2nd, 2026, the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation held its first press conference in its history. Held at the Port Washington Fire Department’s Fire Medic Co. #1 Station, the conference honored the legacy of founder Peter Dejana, celebrated the work of the Foundation’s major partners, and served to announce the Foundation’s distribution commitment for 2026.
The station was crowded with attendees of all backgrounds. Over one hundred of the sitting and standing occupants were organizational representatives and 2025 grant recipients. Scott Reich, Dejana Foundation board member and Co-Founder and CEO of nonprofit Believe in a Cure, led the press conference. The Foundation’s announcement of “$26M in ‘26” was received with a standing ovation.
Speakers included:
- Chris Bollerman, Treasurer and Ex-Chief of the Port Washington Fire Department
- Elizabeth Merkouris Syslo, Director of Strategic & Philanthropic Partnerships of Make-A-Wish Metro New York
- John Keiserman, Co-President of Baxter’s Pond Foundation
- Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel, Spiritual Leader of Chabad Port Washington
- Jennifer DeSena, Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead
- Mariann Dalimonte, Councilwoman of the Town of North Hempstead District 6
- Marty Lyons, Founding Chairman of the Marty Lyons Foundation, NY Jets Ring of Honor, and College Football Hall of Famer
- Elena Chwat, teacher, parent, & Port Washington resident
The press conference closed with remarks from Port Washington Fire Department Treasurer and Ex-Chief Chris Bollerman, who spoke on the Dejana Foundation’s lifesaving donations for new ambulances and defibrillators. The Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation’s most recent commitment of $1 million to the PWFD’s new state-of-the-art firefighter and emergency medical training center served as the press conference’s concluding reflection that the Foundation is here to stay and serve the community for which they so deeply care.