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Breath of Life Gala Award
The Breath of Life Award was established in 2004 to honor an individual or institution that has shown unwavering dedication in the fight for a cure for cystic fibrosis. This award recognizes those who embody the strength, determination, and resilience required to inspire hope and persistence in patients and families affected by the disease. The recipient plays a key role in the search for a cure by actively supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and contributing to the funding of critical research efforts aimed at ending the disease.
William D. Squires
Bill is a United States Naval Academy graduate and served on active duty as a naval aviator for 12 years before joining the Naval Reserves. Bill retired from the Naval Reserves as a Commander after 24 years of service.
In 1987, following active duty in the United States Navy, Bill entered the sports and entertainment facilities and events management industry. He has held top-level positions with the following facilities:
Yankee Stadium (old)
Giants Stadium (two tours)
Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland Browns)
ESPN Wide World of Sports
Bill participated in the design, construction, and operations of ESPN Wide World of Sports, Huntington Bank Field, and MetLife Stadium. His responsibilities included budgeting, staffing, training, event execution, operations, maintenance, capital improvements, and many other areas of venue management. In addition, Bill is a Past President of the Stadium Managers Association, which has members from the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the Canadian Football League, universities/colleges, and other facilities, both national and international, that host sports and entertainment events.
Bill has a consulting business specializing in sports and entertainment facilities and event management. Bill also works as an expert witness in lawsuits involving sports teams and venues.
Bill is a member of the Sports League Sub-Sector Coordinating Council. This organization works with the Department of Homeland Security on security issues involving the safety and security of sports and entertainment venues. Council members represent the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, IndyCar, New York City Marathon, United States Golf Association, the PGA Tour, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Bill is also on the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) Professional Sports Advisory Committee. The Center was established in 2006 at the University of Southern Mississippi and provides an interdisciplinary environment to increase sports security awareness, improve sports security policies and procedures, and enhance emergency response through evacuation and recovery operations. He serves on the Professional Sports Venues Advisory Committee.
Bill is an adjunct professor in Columbia University’s Master of Science in Sports Management and has taught the Sports Facilities and Events Management course since 2007. He began co-teaching Sustainability in Sports: Theory and Practice in 2024.
Bill’s son, Sean, has cystic fibrosis, and Bill and his family are among the country’s top fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Significant events that Bill has worked on include:
• Nelson Mandela’s first major appearance in the United States (July 22, 1990, at Yankee Stadium)
• 1994 FIFA World Cup (Giants Stadium - seven games, including the semi-final match)
• Major League Baseball games, including the 1987 World Series
• National Football League regular season and playoff games
• College football games
• Major concerts
• Pope John Paul II Mass (1995)
• Super Bowl games (2014 - 2024)
• Miami F1 Grand Prix (2022 – 2024)
• ICC T20 Men’s World Cup (2024)
Bill has been hired as the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee Chief Venues and Operation Officer. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, will host eight matches, including the final.
Corporate Visionary Award
The Corporate Visionary Award recognizes a company for their initiative to learn, understand, and implement support to empower people with cystic fibrosis and their families. This includes providing financial support, participating in fundraising efforts, and leveraging valuable connections to further the CF Foundation’s mission to find a cure for all people with cystic fibrosis.
CleanCapital is a diversified clean energy company focused on the middle-market solar and storage industry. Mission-driven to mitigate the climate crisis, CleanCapital leads the energy transition with strategic investments in early-stage, new construction, and operating renewables projects and development partners. To date, the company has invested over $1 billion in projects and companies, including the acquisition of BQ Energy, a national leader in landfill and brownfield renewable energy development.
Thomas Byrne is Founder and CEO of CleanCapital, a leading independent power producer focused on middle market solar and energy storage across the United States. Founded in 2015, alongside co-founders, Thomas set out with a goal of capitalizing the clean energy transition. Today, he has led CleanCapital’s growth into one the largest investors and owners of distributed solar and battery generation projects in the US with a footprint reaching 23 states and one US territory.
Headquartered in New York, CleanCapital has built a team of over 75 professionals and has secured backing from top-tier financial partners over time, including BlackRock, CarVal Investors, and, most recently, John Hancock. The company works alongside leading institutions such as Rabobank, Wells Fargo, CIT, and PJT Partners to deploy capital efficiently into the clean energy sector. To date, CleanCapital has deployed over $1 billion in capital into solar and energy storage projects.
Prior to founding CleanCapital, Thomas was a project finance attorney at top law firms before becoming a partner at a clean energy investment fund in Connecticut. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Thomas is deeply engaged in philanthropy and community service. He and his wife, Julie, have been actively involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) since 2012, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of research and advocacy following their daughter Anna’s diagnosis with cystic fibrosis (CF). He served on the board of CFF’s New York Chapter from 2021 to 2024. Additionally, he has contributed to his community through leadership roles, including serving on the council of Emanuel Lutheran Church and currently serving on the board of the Pleasantville youth sports organization.
Thomas has been recognized for his contributions to the clean energy industry, including being named one of New York’s “Trailblazers in Clean Energy”, Renewable Energy World’s Solar 40 Under 40 list throughout in his career. He resides in New York with his wife and their three children, Anna, Connor, and Sarah.
Previous Breath of Life Gala Honorees:
2004 Thomas & Virginia Hughes, Deutsche Bank
2005 Alfred F. Jr. & Margaret Kelly, American Express
2006 Kelly & Elizabeth Martin, Élan
2007 Robert & Kate Niehaus, Greenhill & Co.
2008 Robert & Donna Shafir, Credit Suisse
2009 Frank & Carol Deford, HBO
2010 Doris Tulcin, Vertex
2011 Richard Dresdale
2012 Gary Negrycz & Turner Construction
2013 Tom Grotta & Novartis Pharmaceuticals
2014 Tim Clark & American Airlines
2015 Robert J. Beall, Ph.D
2016 Paul Whetsell, Columbia Presbyterian Care Center
2017 Beth & Earle Yaffa, Scott Pelley
2018 Jo Ann & Robert Corti, Cohen Children’s Medical Center
2019 Mastercard (Linda Kirkpatrick & Tim Berger)
2020 Dr. Preston Campbell, III (Virtual National Breath of Life Celebration)
2021 Rich Mattingly (Virtual National Breath of Life Celebration)
2022 Marc & Margarete Cassalina, Dr. Maria Berdella & Dr. Patricia Walker
2023 Dr. Francis S. Collins, Edgewood Management LLC
2024 Kathleen & Mike Beatty, NYU Langone Health Pediatric & Adult Care Center
The Breath of Life Award was established in 2004 to honor an individual or institution that has shown unwavering dedication in the fight for a cure for cystic fibrosis. This award recognizes those who embody the strength, determination, and resilience required to inspire hope and persistence in patients and families affected by the disease. The recipient plays a key role in the search for a cure by actively supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and contributing to the funding of critical research efforts aimed at ending the disease.
William D. SquiresBill is a United States Naval Academy graduate and served on active duty as a naval aviator for 12 years before joining the Naval Reserves. Bill retired from the Naval Reserves as a Commander after 24 years of service.
In 1987, following active duty in the United States Navy, Bill entered the sports and entertainment facilities and events management industry. He has held top-level positions with the following facilities:
Yankee Stadium (old)
Giants Stadium (two tours)
Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland Browns)
ESPN Wide World of Sports
Bill participated in the design, construction, and operations of ESPN Wide World of Sports, Huntington Bank Field, and MetLife Stadium. His responsibilities included budgeting, staffing, training, event execution, operations, maintenance, capital improvements, and many other areas of venue management. In addition, Bill is a Past President of the Stadium Managers Association, which has members from the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the Canadian Football League, universities/colleges, and other facilities, both national and international, that host sports and entertainment events.
Bill has a consulting business specializing in sports and entertainment facilities and event management. Bill also works as an expert witness in lawsuits involving sports teams and venues.
Bill is a member of the Sports League Sub-Sector Coordinating Council. This organization works with the Department of Homeland Security on security issues involving the safety and security of sports and entertainment venues. Council members represent the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, IndyCar, New York City Marathon, United States Golf Association, the PGA Tour, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Bill is also on the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) Professional Sports Advisory Committee. The Center was established in 2006 at the University of Southern Mississippi and provides an interdisciplinary environment to increase sports security awareness, improve sports security policies and procedures, and enhance emergency response through evacuation and recovery operations. He serves on the Professional Sports Venues Advisory Committee.
Bill is an adjunct professor in Columbia University’s Master of Science in Sports Management and has taught the Sports Facilities and Events Management course since 2007. He began co-teaching Sustainability in Sports: Theory and Practice in 2024.
Bill’s son, Sean, has cystic fibrosis, and Bill and his family are among the country’s top fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Significant events that Bill has worked on include:
• Nelson Mandela’s first major appearance in the United States (July 22, 1990, at Yankee Stadium)
• 1994 FIFA World Cup (Giants Stadium - seven games, including the semi-final match)
• Major League Baseball games, including the 1987 World Series
• National Football League regular season and playoff games
• College football games
• Major concerts
• Pope John Paul II Mass (1995)
• Super Bowl games (2014 - 2024)
• Miami F1 Grand Prix (2022 – 2024)
• ICC T20 Men’s World Cup (2024)
Bill has been hired as the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee Chief Venues and Operation Officer. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, will host eight matches, including the final.
Corporate Visionary Award
The Corporate Visionary Award recognizes a company for their initiative to learn, understand, and implement support to empower people with cystic fibrosis and their families. This includes providing financial support, participating in fundraising efforts, and leveraging valuable connections to further the CF Foundation’s mission to find a cure for all people with cystic fibrosis.
CleanCapital is a diversified clean energy company focused on the middle-market solar and storage industry. Mission-driven to mitigate the climate crisis, CleanCapital leads the energy transition with strategic investments in early-stage, new construction, and operating renewables projects and development partners. To date, the company has invested over $1 billion in projects and companies, including the acquisition of BQ Energy, a national leader in landfill and brownfield renewable energy development.
Thomas Byrne is Founder and CEO of CleanCapital, a leading independent power producer focused on middle market solar and energy storage across the United States. Founded in 2015, alongside co-founders, Thomas set out with a goal of capitalizing the clean energy transition. Today, he has led CleanCapital’s growth into one the largest investors and owners of distributed solar and battery generation projects in the US with a footprint reaching 23 states and one US territory.
Headquartered in New York, CleanCapital has built a team of over 75 professionals and has secured backing from top-tier financial partners over time, including BlackRock, CarVal Investors, and, most recently, John Hancock. The company works alongside leading institutions such as Rabobank, Wells Fargo, CIT, and PJT Partners to deploy capital efficiently into the clean energy sector. To date, CleanCapital has deployed over $1 billion in capital into solar and energy storage projects.
Prior to founding CleanCapital, Thomas was a project finance attorney at top law firms before becoming a partner at a clean energy investment fund in Connecticut. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Thomas is deeply engaged in philanthropy and community service. He and his wife, Julie, have been actively involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) since 2012, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of research and advocacy following their daughter Anna’s diagnosis with cystic fibrosis (CF). He served on the board of CFF’s New York Chapter from 2021 to 2024. Additionally, he has contributed to his community through leadership roles, including serving on the council of Emanuel Lutheran Church and currently serving on the board of the Pleasantville youth sports organization.
Thomas has been recognized for his contributions to the clean energy industry, including being named one of New York’s “Trailblazers in Clean Energy”, Renewable Energy World’s Solar 40 Under 40 list throughout in his career. He resides in New York with his wife and their three children, Anna, Connor, and Sarah.
Previous Breath of Life Gala Honorees:
2004 Thomas & Virginia Hughes, Deutsche Bank
2005 Alfred F. Jr. & Margaret Kelly, American Express
2006 Kelly & Elizabeth Martin, Élan
2007 Robert & Kate Niehaus, Greenhill & Co.
2008 Robert & Donna Shafir, Credit Suisse
2009 Frank & Carol Deford, HBO
2010 Doris Tulcin, Vertex
2011 Richard Dresdale
2012 Gary Negrycz & Turner Construction
2013 Tom Grotta & Novartis Pharmaceuticals
2014 Tim Clark & American Airlines
2015 Robert J. Beall, Ph.D
2016 Paul Whetsell, Columbia Presbyterian Care Center
2017 Beth & Earle Yaffa, Scott Pelley
2018 Jo Ann & Robert Corti, Cohen Children’s Medical Center
2019 Mastercard (Linda Kirkpatrick & Tim Berger)
2020 Dr. Preston Campbell, III (Virtual National Breath of Life Celebration)
2021 Rich Mattingly (Virtual National Breath of Life Celebration)
2022 Marc & Margarete Cassalina, Dr. Maria Berdella & Dr. Patricia Walker
2023 Dr. Francis S. Collins, Edgewood Management LLC
2024 Kathleen & Mike Beatty, NYU Langone Health Pediatric & Adult Care Center
