Dear Friends,

Thomas Elmezzi lived the American Dream. Coming from nothing, he became a well-respected, hard-working, successful businessman who for decades kept the secret formula of one of the world’s most famous brands — Pepsi. Tom felt it was vital that he give back for his success by creating opportunities for those who will benefit from them. He once said, “I have a goal. I call it Camelot… I want to help people. I want to use my money to do the right thing, and I want people to help me without taking any personal interest in the money. I’m coming close but I haven’t gotten there. That’s my Camelot.”

This foundation supports programs that help people become self-sufficient and lead independent lives through support for education attainment, workforce development focused on job training and career readiness, as well as breakthroughs in medical research at the Elmezzi School for Molecular Medicine at the Feinstein Institute. And, because of Tom and his wife Jeanne’s close ties to the Astoria/Long Island City community in Queens, New York, most of our funding today is used to support programs in these neighborhoods. With Thomas Elmezzi as inspiration, we hope to achieve his Camelot with measurable, positive impacts on the community.

Jose Rivero, Chairman