NEW YORK — Writing a check is one thing, rousing friends and supporters for a 7 a.m. breakfast is another. John Pomerantz managed to do both Tuesday for the Fashion Institute of Technology’s new Fashion Merchandising & Management Department.
As guests lingered over coffee and mimosas, Pomerantz, chairman of FIT’s Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries, reveled in his latest feat — headlining an event that raised $89,000 for the department.
Some of the money will be used for a creative presentation room that students will use to show their work in video, trend boards or other formats.
“Right now we have a really sad runway, no sound system and two spotlights,” said Robin Sackin, chairwoman of the FMM department.
The funds also will be used for scholarships. More than anything, the department aims to enlighten students to the importance of the business side of fashion, especially merchandising.
“If you don’t understand business, it doesn’t matter how pretty your designs are,” Sackin said.
Pomerantz has been lending his business savvy to FIT for decades. Standing beneath an oversized caricature Al Hirschfield drew of him when he produced Broadway shows, Pomerantz said he is committed to the school partly because so many graduates get jobs in their respective fields. With his 50th college reunion from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania approaching, he understands that today’s graduates face different challenges and curriculum.
Tuesday’s event was in the building that the younger Pomerantz established in the name of his father, Fred.
Arnold Cohen, chairman of Mahoney Cohen; Abbey Doneger, president of the Doneger Group; Joyce Brown, president of FIT; Tom Murry, president and chief operating officer of Calvin Klein Inc., and Gilbert Harrison, chairman of Financo Inc. were among those honoring Pomerantz, who attended the event with his wife, Laura, principal of PBS Realty Advisors, and daughter, Marnie. “I’m surprised so many people came,” he said. “I don’t have any customers, retailers or suppliers.”