The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island
Honors Borough President James P. Molinaro
Sunday, June 12, 2013
June 9, 2013 Dear Friends, The Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award is the highest honor that the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island bestows. It is reserved for those leaders who have, over an extended period of time, served as agents for social change and human betterment in our Jewish community and the Staten Island community at large. Borough President James P. Molinaro is truly deserving of this extraordinary honor. We pay tribute to him tonight for all he has done and will continue to do out of love for Staten Island and all of its citizens. We could go on and on about the accomplishments of Jim Molinaro during his twelve years as Borough President. We could commend him for keeping Staten Island the “Greenest Boro,” encouraging new business to come to the Island, helping to improve traffic flow, envisioning a light rail system, and funding school improvements to enhance the learning experience of our students. We could heap further accolades upon him for being an advocate for every senior housing project on the Island in the past 20 years, working to improve health care, establishing the Borough President’s Committee on Autism, and supporting so many of the borough’s cultural organizations. But, just as importantly, we commend Jim for being a mensch, a Yiddish word that means “a person of integrity, someone who is responsible, has a sense of right and wrong and is the sort of person other people look up to.” These are the qualities that define Jim and the reasons why we at the JCC hold him in such high esteem. Jim Molinaro and the JCC share many areas of mutual interest. As Jim himself once stated, “One of my three priorities when I took office was children. They are 25% of our population, but 100% of our future.” We, too, see caring for our children as an important part of our mission. Our First Foot Forward program for developmentally disabled preschoolers receives annual funding from the Borough President’s office, and our after-school program, the Kids Club for Special Needs, enhances the quality of life of our autistic children, and is a focus of Jim’s efforts for this vulnerable population. Jim’s great respect for our seniors has led him to advocate on their behalf as well. Buses which were purchased through his discretionary funds bring seniors to the JCC where they enjoy the company of their peers, eat nutritious meals, exercise to improve their health and participate in cultural and educational programs which stimulate their minds. Additionally, the JCC’s Solar Energy Initiative, which placed solar panels on the roof of our building, has reduced our carbon footprint and saved us thousands of dollars annually, thanks to funding from the Borough President’s office. This truly has helped make Staten Island the “Greenest Boro.” And speaking about our building, Jim Molinaro was involved from the earliest stages of negotiations for the property the JCC stands on today. So, you can see that the JCC and James P. Molinaro have been “perfect together.” We wish him good health and much happiness, and look forward to continuing to benefit from his wisdom and experience for many years to come.
Susan Sappin, JCC President
David Sorkin, Executive Director
June 9, 2013 Dear Friends, We gather this evening to honor a truly exceptional individual, Borough President James P. Molinaro, as he receives the Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award. It gives us great pleasure to chair this gala celebration in recognition of Jim’s dedication and commitment to the Jewish Community Center and the Borough that he has led with distinction for the past twelve years. All Staten Islanders have been impacted by programs and projects he has initiated and nurtured. Throughout his tenure, the vitality of our community and improving the quality of life of our citizens have been his focus. Jim has been a force for good, and we are profoundly grateful. We are honored to have called him our friend for so many years. The JCC is not the first to honor him, nor will we be the last, but none could honor him more enthusiastically than we do this evening. Jim, enjoy this special evening. You deserve all the accolades you will receive tonight. We want to thank the committee and the staffs of the Borough President’s office and the JCC for helping to make this evening a great success. Best wishes,
Alan Bernikow, Jay Chazanoff Event Chairs
Allan Weissglass, Honorary Chair
About the honoree James P. Molinaro is Staten Island’s 14th Borough President, and the first registered Conservative to hold borough-wide office in New York City. First elected in 2001, Molinaro is currently serving his third term in office. The son of Italian immigrants, Molinaro grew up on the Lower East Side and began his career running a successful recycling business. He moved to Staten Island a month before the Verrazano Bridge opened, and settled in Fort Wadsworth, where he and his wife, Carol, raised their family. As Borough President, Molinaro has exhibited a unique style and common-sense approach to government. His out-of-the-box thinking and ability to work across party lines has significantly improved the quality of life of Staten Island’s half-million residents. In his 2013 State of the Borough address, Molinaro said, “I first took office after 9/11 and now I’m leaving office after Hurricane Sandy. We endured the tragedy of September 11 because we were able to work together to build a better future. We are working together again to recover from the devastation of Sandy.” In 2002, Molinaro vowed to prioritize help for seniors, children, and people with special needs. Molinaro has been involved in every senior housing project on Staten Island in the last twenty years, and has announced plans for the city’s first senior retirement village. He established the Borough President’s Committee on Autism, which holds an annual resource fair to connect families with the programs and services available to them. Molinaro has allocated millions in capital funding for three autism centers. He also funded a therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with special needs. Molinaro believes that children are 25% of our population, but 100% of our future. He has allocated funds for “smart boards” and computers, school libraries, auditoriums and athletic fields. Molinaro spearheaded waterfront improvements, such as the South Beach Boardwalk, to capitalize on one of Staten Island’s best assets. St. George will soon feature Lighthouse Pointe, Empire Outlets and the New York Wheel. Overall, these three projects represent a $1 billion private investment that will create more than 1,600 permanent jobs, make St. George a tourist destination, and put Staten Island on the world stage. In memory of his late wife, Molinaro is active in health-care related charitable works. In 1991, Bayley Seton Hospital dedicated a new dialysis unit in the name of Carol E. Molinaro. In 2000, St. Elizabeth Ann’s Health and Rehabilitation Center opened the James P. and Carol E. Molinaro Health Care and Rehabilitation Center Atrium. The Borough President is fond of the adage: “Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.” It is fair to say that Molinaro, to a great extent, is the father of many successes on Staten Island.
the Joan & Alan bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island Honors
borough President James P. Molinaro Stolzenberg Social hall Sunday, June 9, 2013 Program for the evening Welcome………………………………………. Al Bernikow & Jay Chazanoff Event Chairs National Anthem Invocation……………………………………………… Rabbi Michael Howald Temple Israel Reform Congregation Motzi……………………………………….…………………. Dr. Ronald Avis JCC Past President Honoree Recognition ……………………….……….……………….. Ed Burke Deputy Borough President Video Tribute……………………………………… Borough President’s Office Dinner JCC Tribute……………………………………………………… David Sorkin Executive Director Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award Presentation…………………………………………………... Allan Weissglass Response…………………………………………………… James P. Molinaro Thank You……………………………………….. Susan Sappin, JCC President
ALLAn WeISSGLASS dIStInGuIShed LeAderShIP AWArdS CoMMIttee
ALLAN WEISSGLASS Honorary Chair ALAN BERNIKOW JAY CHAZANOFF Event Chairs MURRAY BERMAN
ED BURKE JASON RAZEFSKY Committee
Kimberly Avis Dr. Victor Avis Arnold Beiles Murray Berman Dr. Dennis Bloomfield Elaine Bloomfield Steve Blumert Linda Brill Alan Buxbaum Gail Castellano Jay Chazanoff Michelle Cooper
JCC Board of Directors Noah Cooperstein Ira Einhorn Samantha Goodman Sergey Guberman Dr. Denny Julewicz Ira Kamil Dr. Josh Kanner Stacie Kaplan-Magnus Alan Katkin Marcia Klein Ronit Lapid Alan Poritz
JACKIE REITER
Melissa Rabinovich Jackie Reiter Wayne Rosenfeld Manny Saks Karen Soren Marjorie Steinberg Linda Steinman Joseph Strasburg Tamra Walker Allan Weissglass Harold Wolchok
Past Honorees Dr. Ronald Avis Nancy Avis Dr. Dennis Bloomfield Elaine Bloomfield Joe Harris Marcia Klein Monroe Klein
Dick Kuhn R. Randy Lee Helene Leventhal Dr. Ronald Leventhal Marie Salmon Egon Salmon Henry Salmon Jon Salmon
SUSAN SAPPIN JCC President SHEILA LIPTON
JCC Assoc. Exec. Director KEVIN BROSNICK Director of Individual Giving
Linda Salmon Meryl Salmon Cheryl Sherman Dr. Mark Sherman Lew Stolzenberg Joseph Strasburg Allan Weissglass
DAVID SORKIN Executive Director
VICKI ROITMAN
JCC Asst. Exec. Director ANITA BRUCKMEIR Development
SYLVIA COHEN Special Events
LEWIS STOLZENBERG
JCC Exec. Director Emeritus RUTH LASSER Communications
borough President Molinaro and the JCC
Groundbreaking for the Bernikow JCC
It’s official - the ribbon cutting for the Bernikow JCC
JCC Maccabi Games 2000 Opening Ceremonies at Madison Square Garden
Welcoming visitors from Pisgat Ze’ev, Jerusalem
Enjoying Mayor Bloomberg’s comments at the Avis/South Shore JCC’s Neighborhood Senior Center
Hosting the Autism Conference
Sharing a laugh and a JCC/ESL t-shirt
Meeting with community leaders shortly after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy
Discussing the State of the Economy
Opening the doors of the JCC/Beacon Cornerstone Program at the Gerard Carter Community Center
Delivering his message at the Small Business Forum
Celebrating with Eileen and Randy Lee at the 2011 Weissglass Awards Gala
With deep gratitude, the Board of Directors thanks all of you for your generous support of our Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award Gala and Journal. We especially thank the following sponsors:
Platinum Sponsor
Bobby & Allan Weissglass
Gold Sponsor Investors Bank
Silver Sponsors
Century Coverage Corp. TGI Office Automation Wall Street Access Asset Management, LLC ADCO Electrical Corporation Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Joan & Alan Bernikow Drs. Shanthi & Chitoor Govindaraj JCC Board of Directors
Bronze Sponsors
Blue Star Group LLC Pitta & Giblin LLC
Congratulations, Jim A great community leader An inspiration to all and A good friend
/ Bobby & Allan Weissglass
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
A well deserved tribute for our friend Borough President James P. Molinaro whose dedication and strategic thinking have influenced the lives of all Staten Islanders.
d JCC Board of Directors
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Congratulations to borough President James P. Molinaro
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
For your outstanding dedication to Staten Island and the Jewish Community Center, we congratulate you on receiving the Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award.
/ Your friends, Lucille and Jay Chazanoff
Silver Sponsor
Congratulations to our dear friend borough President James P. Molinaro Your efforts and commitment to improving the quality of life of your fellow Staten Islanders has been an inspiration to us all.
k Joan & Alan Bernikow
Silver Sponsor
To our very dear friend, James P. Molinaro Thank you for your many years of friendship, and your outstanding service to the Staten Island community.
k Drs. Shanthi & Chitoor Govindaraj
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
reCIPIent oF the 2013 ALLAn WeISSGLASS dIStInGuIShed LeAderShIP AWArd
Bronze Sponsor
Congratulations and thank you for all you have done for Staten Island during your term as borough president.
James Molinaro
Fred LaMarca Jeff Potter Zoltan Kemeny and staff
Congratulations JCC of Staten Island on the occasion of your 2013 Weissglass Leadership Dinner Congratulations to
honorable James P. Molinaro on being honored with the Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award
New York State Senator Diane J, Savino 23rd District 36 Richmond Terrace Suite 112 Staten Island, NY 10301 Phone 718.727.9406 Fax 718.727.9426 www.nyssenate23.com
Camp Good Grief of Staten Island And its Board of Directors congratulates our wonderful
Borough President Molinaro on this honor and thanks him for the leadership, dedication and affection he has demonstrated for the people of Staten Island throughout his illustrious career.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GOOD FRIEND
JAMeS P. MoLInAro THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT & FRIEND OF THE JCC BY WHOM ALL WILL BE MEASURED IN THE FUTURE WITH AFFECTION EILEEN & R. RANDY LEE
Congratulations Borough President James P. Molinaro on receiving the Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award
Susan & David Sappin
Our sincerest appreciation and admiration
/ Elaine and Harold Wolchok
Congratulations Borough President James Molinaro
Murray Berman Heritage Hill Developers • Builders
Tel Fax
718.698.3960 718.698.2439
362 St. Marks Place Staten Island, NY 10301
In Honor of James P. Molinaro With gratitude from your friends at the March of Dimes for all of your years of support and dedication to our mission.
Congratulations to Borough President James P. Molinaro
/ Your Friends at Ariemma’s Garden Center
Without your leadership, there would not be a Special Needs Roundtable working collectively for the benefit of our Staten Island Special Needs families. Thank you for all you have done for Staten Island.
= Sheila Lipton
Safeharbor healthcare Services Call us- We can help Mary Krause Brady, RN 718-979-6900 www.safehrbr.com Infant to Senior Care
Serving S.I. for over 45 years
thanks to the borough President for his wonderful service to our community
In honor of a great leader And a person with a heart of gold Our Borough President
James P. Molinaro We take this opportunity to express our sincerest appreciation for your outstanding leadership and your open door to every constituent. May you be blessed with many healthy & happy years to come.
8 Barry Gottehrer Manor Properties Group LLC
It’s said that you get the best out of others when you give of yourself. Our honoree, Borough President James P. Molinaro, has dedicated himself to our borough and all who live in it. Thank you for all you do and continue to do.
d
Arlene & David Sorkin
With great admiration and respect for our Borough President, Brighton USA congratulates
James Molinaro
Congratulations Borough President Molinaro on a Well Deserved Honor
Community Agency for Senior Citizens, Inc. Providing comprehensive services for Staten Island’s older adults since 1974
56 Bay Street Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 981-6226 Fax (718) 981-5564 cascinfo@cascsiny.org
Jim Molinaro A Great borough President and A true Friend Mike & Ruth Lasser Congratulations Borough President Jim Molinaro
Freya & Alan Poritz
398 Manor Road , Staten Island, NY 10314 718.442.8600 cleanswift@gmail.com www.cleanswiftnyc.com
Congratulations James P. Molinaro upon receiving the Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award. Thank you for all you have done for our Staten Island community. Michael Breslin
ISRAEL BONDS CONGRATULATES BOROUGH PRESIDENT JAMES P. MOLINARO PURCHASE ISRAEL BONDS ONLINE ISRAELBONDS.COM For information contact: Robert Lunzer 路 212-446-5835 robert.lunzer1@israelbonds.com Development Corporation For Israel This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Member FINRA
Congratulations and Best Wishes to
Borough President James P. Molinaro
/ Joseph Strasburg President Rent Stabilization Association Of New York