The guest of honor at this year’s All Stars Project of New Jersey’s Annual Benefit Dinner will be Tom Carragher, executive vice president and branch manager of Savills Rutherford, NJ, office. The All Stars Project of New Jersey (ASP of NJ) is celebrating Tom’s work as a transformative partner for financially and personally sponsoring internships, workshops and experiences for New Jersey’s inner-city youth.

The ASP of NJ’s Annual Benefit Dinner, Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, supports the organization’s youth and community programs and efforts to transform the lives of youth and poor in New Jersey. Some of the programs include: the Development School for Youth (DSY), a business and leadership training program that operates in Newark and Jersey City; the All Stars Talent Show Network, where young people perform in and produce Talent Shows in their neighborhoods; and the innovative Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids, a police-community relations program which launched in Newark in 2017. I sat down for a one on one with Tom to learn more about his involvement.

Q: Why are you such an avid supporter of the All Stars Project of New Jersey?

Tom Carragher: First, I am a true Jersey boy: I was born in Belleville and raised in Verona. I understand New Jersey, its cities and its people. ASP of NJ offers these young minds an outstanding opportunity to expand their horizons, to develop meaningful career skills and connections that will provide a long-term pathway to personal and professional success. My father worked for the Newark Star-Ledger for his entire 43-year career. He would bring me along sometimes as he roamed the streets of Newark. My uncle was in law enforcement during the late 1960s/early 1970s, which were tough times for a lot of inner cities. Newark, in particular, offered few opportunities for education or work for the youth. I realized that the way to create a stronger city is through reaching and teaching the young people, as they are the city’s future.

Q: What led you to support the ASP of NJ?

Tom Carragher: I learned about the organization through Gus Milano, the president and COO of Hartz Mountain Industries, who first introduced me to ASP of NJ in 2013. I immediately found that it aligned with my beliefs and that the organization was doing meaningful work mentoring New Jersey’s youth. So, I’ve been supporting ASP of NJ ever since.

Q: What is your level of personal involvement with ASP of NJ?

Tom Carragher: Since the All Stars Project was first formed in 1981, it uses a performance-based approach to help thousands of inner-city youth and their families create success in their lives. ASP of NJ is the local New Jersey chapter that focuses on programs across the Garden State, primarily in Newark and Jersey City.

While I primarily focus on ASP of NJ, Savills is an active supporter of the Development School for Youth, which creates training and internship programs. Through the program, business leaders provide unique industry insight to inner-city youth, many of whom have never been exposed to corporate careers. Most of them believe that these types of careers are unattainable because of their background.

The program encourages companies to provide both skills training and interpersonal development opportunities. By fostering a relationship between these youth and corporate America, we provide these young people an opportunity to be a part of the world in ways they never have, and to see new opportunities for their lives, their families and their communities.

I believe that to really make a difference, you should go beyond financial support, i.e., by giving the young people the experience and teaching them skills that they can use towards building a better future for themselves and others. These are experiences that will stay with them forever. At our Savills New Jersey office, we sponsor several full-time, paid interns each summer.

Q: You’re being honored as a transformative partner for your significant commitment over the past 7 years. Is there room for growth in Savills support of the All Stars Project?

Tom Carragher: Absolutely! The All Stars Project is growing nationwide. When I learned that Savills New York office was already supporting All Stars Project, led by our Chairman and CEO, Mitch Steir, I was pleased to see how strong the company’s involvement is in various ways with other All Stars Project chapters. It’s an outgrowth of our company philosophy, “Amplify the power of people.” Our leaders champion the organization because it personifies that ethos, by sharing our knowledge with the next generation and helping them build the skills they need to become the best they can be.

Q: What’s next for you after this?

Tom Carragher: I’ve enjoyed several stages in my career, from building my own business, Strategic Alliance Partners, and then merging it in 2004 with a like-minded national company, Studley Inc., which joined the global powerhouse, Savills, in 2014. Now, I’m able to spend more time grooming the next generation. Savills has a strong mentorship program, through internships and organizations such as All Stars Project. With Savills commitment to support the All Stars Project at the most senior levels of the company, we hope to expand the program to other Savills offices. The individual offices will work with local All Stars Projects chapters to mentor youths in other states.