Hawthorne, N.J. (July 2, 2026): The DFI Educational Trust is hosting a fundraising dinner for the Manuel Fine Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund on September 9 at the Palais Royale Ballroom in Toronto, overlooking Lake Ontario.

The fund, which was established in 2013, honors Manny Fine (1929–2018), who served DFI for 24 years in many roles, including trustee, president, executive director, managing editor of Deep Foundations magazine and as publisher of the DFI Journal.

A graduate of the University of Toronto, he spent 23 years with the Bermingham Group of Companies, where he served as president of Berminghammer Corporation Limited and vice president of Bermingham Construction Limited. He served as executive director of the Heavy Construction Association of Toronto, the Heavy Construction Association of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Foundation Specialists. Fine was a member of Professional Engineers, Ontario, a fellow of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the Canadian Geotechnical Society (having served on the Executive of CGS’ Southern Ontario Section) and a member of the Engineering Institute of Canada.

"We are really excited to be hosting this gala in Toronto in support of the Manuel Fine Scholarship Fund. Started by the Ontario Association of Foundation Contractors and the Heavy Construction Association of Toronto, the fund has awarded 20 scholarships since 2016 for a total of $57,500 to support students pursuing engineering degrees in Ontario," says Shawna Munn, P.Eng., Aecon, and chair of the fundraising dinner. “Please save the date and join us for an evening of music, food, a charity silent auction/raffle and great company in support of DFI’s continued work to support engineering students in Canada."

The fund, which provides scholarships exclusively for civil engineering students attending universities in the Province of Ontario, will be accepting applications in the fall.

Learn more at www.dfi-events.org/fine-dinner26/

About the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI): DFI (www.dfi.org) is an international association of contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, academics and owners in the deep foundations industry. Our multidisciplinary membership creates a consensus voice and a common vision for continual improvement in the planning, design and construction of deep foundations and excavations. We bring together members for networking, education, communication and collaboration. With our members, we promote the advancement of the deep foundations industry through technical committees, educational programs and conferences, publications, research, government relations and outreach. DFI has more than 4,500 members worldwide.

About the DFI Educational Trust: The Deep Foundations Institute Educational Trust (www.trust.dfi.org)

 is an independent, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2006 by the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) as its charitable arm. The mission of the Trust is to support and encourage individuals in the fields of study related to the deep foundations industry by providing scholarships and opportunities to meet and work with deep foundations industry leaders.

Contact: Emilio S. Fandino, Trust Administrator, +1 (973) 423-4030, [email protected].