January Edition 2010 - New York Nonprofit Press

January ‘10 New York Nonprofi t Press www.nynp.biz 17
2009 Union Square Awards
Ten local nonprofits were honored last month at the 2009 Union
Square Awards celebration held at Riverside Church in Manhattan.
Five organizations received the prestigious Union Square Award in
recognition for exceptional efforts addressing critical social and economic
issues facing New Yorkers. They are:
• Brandworkers International organizes employees in the retail and food
industry to improve working conditions and provides workers with
social change tools needed to increase employer compliance with the
law. Brandworkers seeks to ensure that workers’ rights are protected
and expanded.
• Cidadão Global (CG) is the first Brazilian community-based organization
in New York City. Located in Long Island City, CG works with
Brazilian immigrants and the larger immigrant community to advance
human rights.
Washington Heights CORNER Project members with the Union Square Award.
• Garifuna Coalition USA serves as a resource, forum, advocate and united
voice for the Garifuna immigrant community. Its Advocacy Center in
the heart of the South Bronx provides information, education, cultural
opportunities, and social services referrals.
• RightRides for Women’s Safety is dedicated to creating safer communities
by eliminating gender-based violence through direct services,
safety advocacy and educational outreach. Its core program offers
women, LGBTQ and gender nonconforming individuals free, late night
rides home through high-risk areas.
• Washington Heights CORNER Project (WHCP) aims to eliminate high-risk
practices of the drug using community in Washington Heights by providing
culturally competent and linguistically appropriate services to anyone who
wishes to learn about harm reduction or utilize assistance. WHCP strives
to reduce the transmission of disease and infections.
Each of the Union Square Award winners also receives a $50,000
grant.
Five other nonprofits will receive the Union Square Arts Award as well
as a $35,000 grant. These winners are:
• Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP)
• Century Dance Complex (CDC)
• Diversity in Arts and Nations for Cultural Education (DANCE)
• The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA); and,
• Opening Act
“With minimal resources, these organizations make extraordinary
contributions to local neighborhoods, and their work is vital to New York
City. Given the current economic situation, the Award represents an important
support to sustain these emerging organizations,” says Executive
Director, Iris Morales.
AWARDS
UJA-Federation Awards Recognize Work
in Disabilities Field
UJA-Federation
of New York’s
Task Force on
People With Disabilities
and The
J.E. and Z.B. Butler
Foundation presented
the annual
Zella Bronfman
Butler Award to
Dr. Robert Marion,
MD of Montefiore
Medical Center/
Albert Einstein
Medical School
Pat Goldman Butler, Dr. Ozuah, Dr. Robert Marion, Laurie Corlin,
and Laurie Corlin
Devora Thau, Bruce Doniger, President, J.E. &Z.B. Butler Foundation
of Jewish Board of
Family and Children’s
Services Mishkon Division on Wednesday.
The J.E. and Z.B. Butler Foundation and UJA-Federation of New York have
established the annual Zella Bronfman Butler Award to honor two professionals
in UJA-Federation’s network of agencies who exemplify the highest standards of
service. Those selected for this award each receive $10,000 and are chosen for
their compassionate commitment to enriching the lives of children and adults
with physical, developmental, and learning disabilities.
Dr. Robert W. Marion, recipient of the Change Agent Award, is the Professor
of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health at the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine and the Ruth L. Gottesman Professor of Developmental
Pediatrics at Einstein. He is also Director of the Children’s Evaluation and
Rehabilitation Center and the University Center of Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities at the Rose F. Kennedy Center. He is Chief of the Divisions of Genetic
and of Development Medicine at the Children Hospital at Montefiore and Director
of the Center for Congenital Disorders. In addition, he is Director of Genetics at
Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla New York and an adjunct member of the
faculty of the Joan Marks Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College
in Bronxville, NY.
Laurie Corlin, LCSW, recipient of the Direct Service Award, is the Director of
Clinical Services at Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services’ Mishkon Division.
Corlin joined JFBCS/Mishkon shortly after graduating social work school in
1981 and has continued her devoted service to their special needs population
ever since. In addition to her work at Mishkon, Corlin is currently involved in MSC
Supervisors Development Team, working to develop and enhance training for
Medicaid Services Coordination Supervisors and she serves as a pre-marital counselor
in her community.
Leake & Watts Staff Honored
by Foster & Adoptive Parents
Several staff members from Leake & Watts were honored at the recent New
York State Foster and Adoptive Parent Association annual award banquet. The association
grants awards based on the votes of foster parents across all agencies in
the state.
• Miriam Rosenberg-Sica won in the category of Adoption Specialist.
• Wayne Woodburn won for Home Finding Supervisor.
• Anthony Orji won as Supervisor.
• Joann Daughtry was honored as a Family Support Worker.
• Valerie Brown shared the award in the category of Social Worker.
Overall, Leake & Watts was also granted the distinction of Most Improved
Agency due to improvements in crisis intervention and responsiveness to the needs
of foster families that have occurred over the past year.
The award banquet was the culmination of the 27th Annual Training Seminar
in Callicoon, NY.