Senate Resolution No. 4154

BY: Senator GOLDEN

HONORING Annamarie Fortunato upon the occasion of
her designation as recipient of the Jacqueline
Fortunato Altruism Award by American Legion Kings
County Youth Recreational Facilities, Inc. on April
15, 2018

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve
the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato has given not only of her time and
energies but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and
consequently has been designated for special honor; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Annamarie
Fortunato upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the
Jacqueline Fortunato Altruism Award by American Legion Kings County
Youth Recreational Facilities, Inc. to be celebrated at its 24th Annual
Baseball Banquet on Sunday, April 15, 2018, at Gargiulo's Restaurant in
Brooklyn, New York; and

WHEREAS, American Legion Kings County Youth Recreational Facilities,
Inc. provides and maintains baseball fields for use by neighborhood
youth organizations and schools in Brooklyn, New York, allowing
thousands of children to play baseball in a clean and safe environment
at no cost to them or their families; and

WHEREAS, Born to Jacqueline and George Fortunato in Brooklyn, New
York, Annamarie Fortunato is proudly continuing her mother's legacy of
good citizenship and philanthropy; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Bishop Kearney High School, Annamarie
Fortunato earned her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree in political
science and journalism cum laude, from Boston University; and

WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato furthered her education by obtaining
her Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law in 1994; the
first attorney in her family, she has been admitted to both the New York
and New Jersey State Bars; and

WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato then joined her father at his office,
the Compensation Offices of George J. Fortunato, where she had interned
every summer since high school; in January of 1997, she established her
own practice, the law office of Annamarie Fortunato, P.C., specializing
in New York State Construction Labor Law, workers' compensation and
social security disability cases; within her first five years of
practice, she successfully settled numerous multimillion dollar cases;
and

WHEREAS, Throughout her distinguished career, Annamarie Fortunato
has authored numerous successful construction accident liability
motions, many of which have made pro plaintiff case law in the State of

New York, and the firm has won many verdicts and settlements through
trial and mediation; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, Annamarie Fortunato's sister, Camille Fortunato,
joined the firm and it was renamed Fortunato & Fortunato, PLLC; since
its inception, the practice has continued to expand and grow; today, the
practice is comprised of many attorneys, paralegals and support staff,
and is one of the leading construction Labor Law plaintiff firms in the
State of New York; in 2013, Fortunato & Fortunato, PLLC was featured in
New York Magazine as a leader in its field; and

WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato is a vital member of multiple Bar
Associations as well as the International Association of Women, which
recognizes women in leadership roles in various fields and professions;
and

WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to her
profession, Annamarie Fortunato has been the recipient of numerous
awards and accolades; she was named one of the 100 Top Lawyers in the
State of New York, and was recognized by the Who's Who of Distinguished
Americans of Italian Descent, the America's Registry of Outstanding
Professionals and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum; and

WHEREAS, Annamarie Fortunato is an important and active member of
her community, supporting many charitable organizations including the
Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, St. Jude's Children's Research
Hospital, the Make a Wish Foundation and the Williams Syndrome
Association, an organization which is very dear to her heart since her
nephew's diagnosis with this rare disease; and

WHEREAS, When she is not working or helping someone, Annamarie
Fortunato enjoys spending time with her beloved family; during her
mother's 20-year battle with cancer, she never left her side, and was
always available to help in any way she could; today, she continues to
take care of her family, including her father, George, her husband Lee,
and her two children Sophia and Nicholas; and

WHEREAS, This devoted mother is enthusiastically involved in her
children's schools and has served on the St. Bernard Parent Advisory
Board as well as volunteered and participated in many fundraising
activities; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Annamarie Fortunato upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the Jacqueline Fortunato Altruism Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Annamarie Fortunato.