|
|
|
December 4, 2003 New York
Press Release
Robin Hood, one of the city's leading poverty-fighting organizations, today honored five New Yorkers at the fourteenth annual Robin Hood Heroes Awards at The Plaza Hotel. The breakfast was attended by Chancellor Joel Klein and Tom Brokaw.
Each year, Robin Hood honors outstanding people whose work is transforming the lives of the poorest New Yorkers. The organizations represented by the Hero award recipients each received $50,000 from Robin Hood.
The 2003 Robin Hood Heroes:
Tuhina De O'Connor, New York Asian Women's Center
Tuhina De O'Connor has been the executive director of New York Asian Women's Center (NYAWC) for five years. In that time, she has worked aggressively against the language and cultural barriers that often make it impossible for immigrant women in abusive situations to get help. During her tenure, she has tripled NYAWC's residential capacity at its shelters, built up its board, and developed a staff that provides outreach and counseling in 15 languages. Her passion and dedication enables thousands of women to live lives free from abuse.
Sister Paulette LoMonaco and Monica Thompson, Good Shepherd Services
Monica Thompson is 18-years-old. If not for Good Shepherd Services and its residential foster care program, she could have ended up on the streets. But thanks to the amazing leadership of Sister Paulette LoMonaco, who has grown Good Shepherd from a $3.5 to a $27 million organization, Monica is thriving. And she is only one of the 10,000 children and their families who have been helped by Good Shepherd Services this year.
Edmond Taylor, The HOPE Program
Edmond Taylor spent 22 years in jail for selling drugs. When he was released, everyone thought it was only a matter of time before he'd be arrested again. But Edmond landed at The HOPE program, which helps New York's seemingly least employable adults prepare for and find work. Now, six years later, Edmond is married, reconciled with his sons, and works at the Fortune Society where he is an example to ex-offenders like himself who are looking to turn their lives around.
A Relief Fund Hero Award was also presented to Brother Joel Magellan Reyes, executive director of Asociación Tepeyac of New York. Presenting the Robin Hood Heroes Awards were Robin Hood board members Marie-Josée Kravis, Victoria Bjorklund, Jeffrey Immelt, Lloyd Blankfein, Alexandra Cohen and Lee Ainslie. Attending the breakfast were leaders from Wall Street, government, and entertainment, technology, and media industries.
###
|
|
