Jill Brodsky DiPaola
Champion of Heroes Award
For the past nine years, Ms. Brodsky has dedicated her life to serving the Army’s premier direct- action raid force, the elite Special Operations 75th Ranger Regiment. Ms. Brodsky is the Chief Operations Officer of Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund, a 501c3 non-profit that supports Army Rangers and their families with financial assistance, where government funding falls short, in an effort to ease the financial and emotional burden on this severely pressured force. Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund was founded in honor of Manhasset resident and Chaminade High School graduate SGT James J. Regan, who was killed in Iraq while on his fourth Tour of Duty. Elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment have been consecutively deployed since 9/11, selflessly putting their lives on the line every day fighting the Global War on Terrorism in order to preserve our freedom.
Ms. Brodsky is responsible for overseeing all daily operations of the organization. In her role, she helps develop assistance programs that meet the evolving and ongoing needs of these Heroes and their families. She plans and executes all fundraising initiatives including galas, golf outings, lacrosse events and was co-founder, along with her brother Jamie Brodsky, of the annual ‘Jimmy’s Run Down Hero Highway’, a family-friendly fun-run/walk along the West Side Highway in Manhattan that honors the life and legacy of Jimmy Regan. She also produces all marketing content for the organization.
Ms. Brodsky manages relationships with sponsors and partners like Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, who assists the organization with building mortgage-free, handicap accessible homes for the most severely wounded Rangers. In what she sees as her most important role in the organization, Ms. Brodsky serves as the primary liaison to the United States Special Operations Command Warrior Care Program (Care Coalition), the 75th Ranger Regiment Unit Command, and the Rangers and their families, working together to ensure their vital needs, whether they are active duty, injured, ill or Killed in Action, are being met.
Prior to joining Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund, Ms. Brodsky served as the Director of Corporate Communications at Horizon Media, handling all media relations for the multi-billion dollar media buying agency in New York City. Prior to joining Horizon Media, Ms. Brodsky was Corporate Communications Coordinator and an Associate in the Travel & Lifestyle practice at Weber Shandwick Public Relations.
Ms. Brodsky is a third generation Long Beach resident who graduated in 1993 from Long Beach High School. While at LBHS, Ms. Brodsky was President of the Student Government, a member of both the National Honor Society and Foreign Language Honor Society and winner of the Athletic Director Scholar Athlete Award. Ms. Brodsky, who played first singles for the LBHS tennis team, was All-County, a three-time Captain and three-time MVP.
Ms. Brodsky graduated from Duke University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Management. She also received a certification in meeting, conference and event planning from NYU.
Ms. Brodsky was one of the founding members of the East End Civic Association, activated after Super Storm Sandy, to help foster more open communication between East End residents and the city’s leadership during its time of crisis. Ms. Brodsky served as President for two years.
Ms. Brodsky resides in Long Beach with her husband Christopher DePaola and is the incredibly proud mother of Emily and Alexandra Backlin, both of whom currently attend Long Beach Middle School.