Peter J. Morandi, the CEO of Eastman Cooke & Associates, a New York City-based full-service general contracting and construction management firm, will be presented with the 2016 Business Leadership Award by the Queens Centers for Progress (QCP), which provides a wide range of programs and services to more than 1,200 individuals with developmental disabilities.

The award will be presented at the QCP Annual Gala, a fundraising event to be held on June 21 at 7:00 pm at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. Guests will be treated to an open bar and continuous dinner buffet, live music, and dancing. The guest emcee will be Lisa Mateo of PIX-11 News. Funds raised at the Gala will go directly to help purchase items not covered by government funding, which will allow QCP to continue its mission to provide education, therapy, job training, day programs, advocacy, and housing to individuals with developmental disabilities.

“We are very pleased to honor Peter Morandi for his dedication and service to help those in need in the community,” said QCP Board President Michael Macaluso. “QCP has a long history of support from people in the construction industry, like Peter, who have been instrumental in helping us build training and treatment centers, community centers, and residences for the growing number of individuals we serve. We welcome the opportunity to thank and honor Peter at our Annual Gala and are very grateful for his support.”

Peter Morandi founded Eastman Cooke Construction in 2009, after 10 years as a construction manager, director of operations, and chief operating officer for a leading New York City contractor. Growing up, he watched his father, grandfather, uncles, and cousins build up a successful family construction business, and never doubted that construction would be his life’s work.

“I learned a lot in those formative years, including the importance of giving back to the community,” said Morandi. “I admire QCP’s longtime dedication to helping individuals with developmental disabilities learn the skills to become more independent, to live happy and fulfilling lives, and to integrate into the community through employment and volunteering. I am honored to receive this award from an organization that does so much for so many people.”

About Eastman Cooke
Eastman Cooke & Associates is a NYC-based, full-service general contracting and construction management firm. Their intelligent creative solutions center on open communication, thinking ahead, and anticipating outcomes to ensure that costly problems are prevented. Clients receive the project they envisioned and a continued relationship with a leading construction contractor. Eastman Cooke’s building expertise includes ground-up building construction, major renovations, core and shell projects, and fast-paced build-outs for a wide range of clients, including schools and healthcare facilities. As an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), they embrace environmentally-sound, energy-efficient business practices and a sustainable construction focus for every project. For more information, visit www.eastmancooke.com.

About Queens Centers for Progress (QCP)
Queens Centers for Progress was founded in 1950 as United Cerebral Palsy of Queens by a group of parents to provide therapy and educational programs for children with cerebral palsy. In 2001, the name was changed to Queens Centers for Progress (QCP) as the organization had expanded to serve individuals with a wide variety of developmental disabilities. With more than 600 employees and an annual budget of over $35 million, QCP serves 1,200 individuals, from toddlers to the elderly, with ongoing support in education, therapy, job training and placement, day programs, advocacy, service coordination, recreation, and housing to help people with developmental disabilities lead fuller lives. For more information, visit www.queenscp.org.