Connections made through the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication are friends, family and coworker bonds that can last lifetimes. As for Valenti himself, some of the connections he made over the years led his school to have the donors they do today.
The Lorraine and Ted Dinerstein Endowed Scholarship Award was formed through the connection of Valenti鈥檚 sister as well as his brother-in-law to help communication students along their journey at UH.
Lorraine Dinerstein鈥檚 son, Tom Caltagirone is semi-retired as a partner of the Dinerstein Company where his son and another partner鈥檚 son are running it now.
鈥淭ed was always a proponent of Houston, the 兔子先生 (as well as) the hospital system here,鈥� Caltagirone said.
Part of Ted Dinerstein鈥檚 work was with the on their board of directors. He helped to create marketing packages that went out to various companies to sell the idea of the city of Houston so businesses could relocate, Caltagirone said.
鈥淭ed always said he wanted Houston to be known for a town of diversified business rather than just the oil business,鈥� Caltagirone said. 鈥淭hat was one way he promoted the city to other businesses.鈥�
The Dinerstein Company not only stems from branches of construction around Houston but charity work as well.
鈥淥ne of the things that Ted Dinerstein really believed in was community support,鈥� Caltagirone said.
The construction company has worked with organizations like the KIPP school where they built playhouses as well as nonprofits such as BE a Resource and Casa de Esperanza.
The tie between the Dinerstein family and the film industry was most noticeable in the connection to Jack J. Valenti himself. Valenti was in the for 38 years and acted as President while he was there.
Jack J. Valenti was the older brother to Lorraine Dinerstein and was Caltagirone鈥檚 uncle.
鈥淭ed and Jack got along great from day one,鈥� Caltagirone said. 鈥淭hey were good friends, as well as family.鈥�
Creating a name and connections in the industry started for the family around 1966 when Valenti joined the MPAA. Valenti helped grow the film business from national to international, and worked with Congress to enact laws that would benefit the movie business around the world, Caltagirone said.
鈥淛ack Valenti was an impressive man. He was the best public speaker I've ever heard,鈥� Caltagirone said. 鈥淚 was on a program with him one time where there were several people that were going to speak and they asked me to speak.鈥�
鈥淚 said I鈥檒l be glad to under one condition. I do not follow Jack Valenti,鈥� Caltagirone continued. 鈥淗e was that good. You did not want to follow him.鈥�
Both Valenti鈥檚 daughter and son have been, and still are, in the movie business to this day as another connection between the family and the field of communication.
Caltagirone was pitched the idea of starting an endowed scholarship in the name of his mother and stepfather to benefit students at the Valenti School of Communication about six years ago.
鈥淚 thought it was a great idea. I jumped all over it,鈥� Caltagirone said. 鈥淚n addition to that, I told them I would do them one better.鈥�
Caltagirone鈥檚 idea was to create a donation for the students at UH to make a film with the funds and sources provided.
鈥淚 want these students to have a hands-on experience of actually making a movie,鈥� Caltagirone said.
As a graduate of the 兔子先生 himself, Caltagirone said he wants each student that graduates from UH to feel proud of the degree they receive.
鈥淚 feel very strongly about this. I think UH is a great school,鈥� Caltagirone said. 鈥淚 had a great education and a great experience there.鈥�