Our theme, Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future, speaks to the impact VIP has made on individuals, families, and communities in the last half-century. It signifies our commitment to be here for the next 50 years as the advocate for, and partner to, people who are marginalized, who lack access to services, and who deserve our support.
VIP’s clients receive comprehensive care on their path to self-sufficiency.
Father Robert Banome and members of St. Joseph’s Church were integral to the founding of VIP.
SANDRA RUÍZ BUTTER
We honor the memory of the late Sandra Ruíz Butter, former CEO of VIP, whose visionary leadership transformed VIP from a small organization into a dynamic force that addresses the unique needs of our community in innovative ways. Her legacy continues to inspire us as we uphold her commitment to excellence.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
William Bifulco, MBA Chair
Jodi M. Sturgeon
Vice Chair
Zenali Tirado, JD
Secretary
Paul L. Wilder
Treasurer
Directors
Dorian Alexander, MD
Amelia Corbie, MBA
Lizanne Fontaine, JD, RN
Lionell G. Jackson, MBA
Neil Leibowitz, MD, JD
Donna Lichti, RN
Tina (HsinTing) Liu, CPA, MBA
Lilliam Perez
Peter Rivera, Esq.
Althea Serrant
Seth Townsend, PhD, MBA
Chairs Emeriti
Charles L. Burgess
Amanda H. Parsons, MD, MBA
Directors Emeriti
Virginia Bird
Laura Parsons, PsyD
William Trust, Jr., CPA
PROGRAM
Cocktail Reception
Musical Performance
UpBeat NYC
Welcome Remarks
William Bifulco, MBA, Board Chair
Voices from VIP’s 50-year Journey Dinner
Musical Performance
Jerrod Sanders
Staff Recognition In Memoriam
Music by: UpBeat NYC
Mission Moment
Debbian Fletcher-Blake, APRN, FNP, President and CEO
Closing Birthday Celebration
Jerrod Sanders
Networking and Dancing
Friends,
770 East 176th Street Bronx, NY 10460-4617
Debra A. De Jesus Vizzi, MSW, LCSW President
Debbian Fletcher-Blake President & Chief Executive Officer
We are humbled that you joined us for our 50th anniversary celebration and are deeply grateful for your ongoing support. Our Gala theme “Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future,” reflects our steadfast commitment to advocating for and partnering with people who are marginalized, who lack access to services, and who deserve our compassion
The Gala is an opportunity to come together in support of our friends, family, and neighbors who need addiction services, health and wellness (medical and mental health care), housing and shelter, and job readiness services. The ongoing opioid crisis, the shortage in affordable housing, and the increasing need for substance use and mental health services, are daily reminders of the urgent need for VIP’s work.
Our strategic partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as academia, and other service providers, have enabled VIP to deliver coordinated, innovative, and holistic care, resulting in several groundbreaking achievements:
• The first to launch a mobile medication unit in New York State, bringing life-saving medication and services to people with substance use disorders.
• Opening the first Sanctuary Facility in New York City to house migrant families, and providing health and wellness, ESL services, job placement and school enrollment support
• Opening the City’s first affordable housing sites (125 units combined) that integrate on-site social services and linkages to health and wellness and other services – a new model in NYC.
VIP would not be in the position to offer such comprehensive and essential services without the effort, commitment, and vision of those who came before us. We honor the memory of Father Robert Banome who founded VIP in 1974, and we are intensely grateful to all the staff, volunteers, board members, elected officials, and partner agencies throughout our 50-year history who have helped shape the organization into what it is today.
It is with the support of people like you that VIP can continue to address ongoing challenges and ensure those most vulnerable are not forgotten.
____________________________
William Bifulco, MBA, CLS (ASCP) , APRN, FNP Board Chair President & Chief Executive Officer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers: William Bifulco, Chair • Jodi Sturgeon, Vice-Chair • Zenali Tirado, Secretary • Paul L. Wilder, Treasurer
Directors: Dorian Alexander • Amelia Corbie • Lizanne Fontaine • Lionell G. Jackson • Neil Leibowitz • Donna Lichti • Tina (HsinTing)
C
Liu • Lilliam Perez • Peter Rivera • Althea Serrant • Seth Townsend
Chairs Emeriti: Charles L. Burgess • Amanda H. Parsons
Directors Emeriti: Virginia Bird • Laura Parsons • William Trust, Jr.
October 9, 2024
Dear Friends:
It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone as VIP Community Services hosts its 50 th anniversary gala.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” VIP Community Services has centered these tenets of action and prevention in both its medical interventions and comprehensive assistance. Through its family medicine options, including pediatric and women’s health, this group has helped patients manage their chronic conditions, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDs treatment, while remaining up to date on annual visits and monitoring for potential risk-factors. It has also “gone upstream” to focus on the root causes of unhealthy living, such as unstable employment and housing. I am particularly pleased to shine a spotlight on its sanctuary facilities, which work closely with the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DSS) to provide a safe space for migrant families. As a steward of a metropolis built by immigrants, my Administration is committed to helping our newest arrivals on their journeys, and this has only been possible because of groups such as VIP Community Services, which has played a crucial role in making necessary referrals, registering children for schools, and developing plans for adults to obtain gainful work and contribute to our commercial corridors. In this spirit of allyship and mutual uplift, I applaud this organization for its efforts to empower vulnerable New Yorkers and raise the floor for all.
On behalf of the City of New York, please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable golden anniversary and continued success.
Sincerely,
Eric Adams Mayor
October 9, 2024
Dear Debbian Fletcher-Blake,
Happy Golden 50th Anniversary to VIP Community Services as you celebrate this historic milestone!
For five decades, your organization has played a critical role in the success of our neighborhoods here in the Bronx. Opening your doors in 1974 to a community overwhelmed by the effects of urban blight and systemic racism, VIP Community Services became a beacon of hope and a force for positive change for countless individuals over the years. Through housing, job training, therapeutic counseling and more, you renewed the hopes of many through your patient-centered approach that works to honor, validate and affirm individuals seeking treatment
With this year’s theme, “Honoring the Past and Shaping the Future,” I am proud to stand with an organization whose legacy of uplifting individuals has helped to uplift our entire borough
I thank you, Debbian, your entire Board of Directors, and the VIP Services team, for staying on course and maintaining your vision to establish a better and stronger Bronx, one patient at a time
Sincerely,
Vanessa L. Gibson Bronx Borough President
BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT VANESSA L. GIBSON
Dear Friends,
It is an honor to celebrate VIP Community Services’ 50th Anniversary. Since 1974, VIP Community Services has provided Bronx residents living with substance abuse disorder with the tools and environment needed to radically transform their lives. By delivering comprehensive healthcare and behavioral services and by offering unconditional support to their clients, VIP has become an important player in our borough's healthcare delivery network
As we are Honoring the Past and Shaping the Future, I am excited to join you in celebrating your achievements in the Bronx and the progress your clients will make as you continue to serve as a reliable place to find help when our neighbors need it most I want to thank the President and CEO, Debbian Fletcher-Blake, and her inspiring team for the dedication to healthcare delivery and compassionate care that you demonstrate in our borough
As Chair of the Senate Health Committee and as a representative of The Bronx, I am proud to call VIP Community Services a longtime partner and I look forward to continuing working with you to improve The Bronx's healthcare landscape
Stay healthy and stay safe,
Gustavo Rivera
New York State Senate 33rd District
Debbian Fletcher-Blake CEO & President
VIP
Community Services
770 East 176th Street
Bronx, N.Y. 10460
Dear VIP Community Services,
I am writing to extend my heartfelt congratulations to VIP Community Services on the momentous occasion of your 50th anniversary! This milestone is a testament to the remarkable impact you have made on the Bronx community over the past half-century. Your unwavering dedication and comprehensive services have transformed countless lives, providing hope and support to individuals, families, and entire neighborhoods.
This year’s gala theme, "Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future," eloquently captures the essence of VIP Community Services' enduring legacy and forward-looking vision. For fifty years, you have been a beacon of light in the Bronx, offering critical housing, addiction, and health services that address the multifaceted needs of the community. By honoring your past achievements, you celebrate the countless success stories of those who have benefited from your compassion and commitment. At the same time, you are setting the stage for a future where even more lives can be positively transformed.
VIP Community Services' mission and values are evident in every aspect of your work. Your dedication to inclusivity, compassion, and excellence has made a profound difference in the lives of those you serve. As you celebrate this incredible milestone, please know that your efforts are deeply appreciated and celebrated by all who have witnessed the positive changes you have brought to the Bronx.
Once again, congratulations on your 50th anniversary. Your legacy of service and dedication is truly inspiring, and I am confident that VIP Community Services will continue to shape a brighter future for the Bronx community for many more years to come.
Sincerely,
Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda NYS Senate 32nd District
DISTRICT OFFICE
573 East Fordham Road
(Entrance on Hoffman Street)
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 842-8100
FAX: (347) 597-8570
CITY HALL OFFICE
250 Broadway, Suite 1759
New York, NY 10007
(212) 788-6966
FAX: (212) 788-8977
OFeliz@council.nyc.gov www.council.nyc.gov
September 5, 2024
Dear Friends:
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OSWALD FELIZ
COUNCIL MEMBER, 15TH DISTRICT, BRONX
CHAIR
SMALL BUSINESS
COMMITTEES
CIVIL SERVICE AND LABOR
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
HEALTH
HIGHER EDUCATION
HOUSING AND BUILDINGS
SUB-COMMITTEE
LANDMARKS, PUBLIC SITINGS, AND DISPOSITIONS
Thank you for taking the time out of your week to come together and celebrate VIP Community Services’ 50 years of exemplary service.
I am deeply grateful for VIP 's longstanding commitment to providing essential healthcare services, including primary medical care, behavioral health, substance use disorder services, and dental care –just to name a few. Over the last 50 years VIP has played a central role in significantly improving the health outcomes of Bronx residents. Not only has their center become a pillar in our community for local stakeholders but it has effectively facilitated access to quality healthcare services for our uninsured, marginalized, and working-poor constituents. VIP’s reach extends far beyond healthcare, however; their job fairs and GED preparation programs are a testament to their wholistic emphasis on long-term personal and professional growth. Our community is very fortunate to have an organization as forward-thinking and responsive as VIP Community Services.
As their elected representative in the City Council, I am incredibly proud to have them in my district. These past 50 years of service are a model that all community-based organizations should aspire to emulate, and I’m confident that the next 50 will be just as inspiring.
Sincerely,
Oswald Feliz
New York City Council Member, District 15
September 11th, 2024
VIP Community Services
770 E. 176th Street Bronx, NY 10460
Dear Friends,
It is an honor to join my associates in celebrating VIP Community Services’ 50th anniversary of serving the Bronx. The organization has helped Bronx residents lead healthier and happier lives. On behalf of my constituents, I would like to thank VIP for their work.
Many of my legislative goals center around health and wellness, so I appreciate the theme of this year ’s gala: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future. For half a century, VIP Community Services has dedicated its organization to being one of the most dependent sources of health resources for underserved community members, thanks to its person-centered approach. I continuously support them because they have saved many lives in our borough.
I take great pleasure celebrating this year ’s Gala with VIP Community Services. Today, we celebrate and honor these past 50 years of service and work on ways to continue building for the future.
Sincerely,
Chantel Jackson, LMSW Assembly Member District 79
EMAIL: jacksonc@nyassembly
2022-2023 IMPACT REPORT
This year, VIP has continued to make a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of adults, children, and families throughout New York City. I extend my gratitude to our dedicated Board and staff, and our funders and partners, who played a pivotal role in allowing us to serve our communities.
We are addressing the opioid crisis using strategies such as:
• Operating the first Mobile Medication Unit in the state.
• Providing harm reduction through widespread distribution of overdose prevention training/resources, education and supplies such as fentanyl and xylazine test strips in high-risk communities.
We expanded primary and mental health services into new communities by:
• Expanding CCBHC services to CS44 and KIPP Freedom Schools to deliver mental health services to children within the school setting.
• Partnering with the American Heart Association (AHA) to implement remote blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol monitoring programs, resulting in achieving gold recognitions from the AHA and American Medical Association
• Receiving quality recognition badges from the Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Primary Health Care.
• Bringing health care and mental health services to NYC’s sanctuary facilities, including vaccinations to enable children to attend school.
• Establishing a satellite health clinic in Brooklyn and a dental clinic in one of our supportive housing buildings in the Bronx, both scheduled to open in 2024.
The lack of housing has become an even more pressing issue today, and VIP has stepped up to help address this urgent need by:
• Providing shelter, case management, ESL, and other services to over 750 families in our sanctuary facilities to support the City’s efforts to house asylum-seekers.
• Opening a 135-bed men’s shelter in Harlem and a 64-unit supportive housing building in the Bronx.
VIP’s journey in 2023 has been characterized by growth, innovation, and dedication to the wellbeing of our expanding communities. As we look toward our 50th anniversary in 2024, we pledge to continue providing Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Oriented, and Equi-table services to those most vulnerable and in need.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our life-changing work.
CHALLENGE:
High-poverty neighborhoods experience the highest rates of asthma in the city
7,608 PATIENTS
Unique patients served increased by 29% over last year.
76% Are Bronx residents
47% Are on Medicaid
14% Are uninsured *excluding asylees
14% Are experiencing homelessness
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
Have diabetes under control (a 3% increase over last year)
Received preventive care & screening for unhealthy alcohol use (a 10% increase over last year)
Achieved depression remission at twelve months (a 65% increase over last year)
Of new HIV+ patients achieved a suppressed viral load (a 50% increase over last year)
• Provided shelter services to diverse communities, supporting over 3,700 men, women, and children.
• Administered essential Covid-19 and school-required vaccines to 440 individuals within our Sanctuary facilities.
• Ensured 100% of children in our Sanctuary facilities were enrolled in school.
• Provided mental health treatment and counseling to 32 children through 546 encounters in our school-based mental health clinic within CS44 and KIPP Freedom Middle School.
• Admitted over 100 new patients in our Wellness Center, delivering over 5,500 patient encounters.
• Recognized in the Innovation category at the NYC Imagine Awards for VIP’s emergency room-based initiative in collaboration with Healthfirst, BronxCare Hospital, and St. Barnabas Hospital. Additionally, received the Hero Award from the NYS Assembly at the SOMOS conference for our impactful work in NYC communities.
• Launched a Mobile Medication Unit in collaboration with community partners for accessible opioid treatment services.
• Engaged over 1,000 individuals in the first year of our peer-led communitybased overdose prevention program, extending services across 12 zip codes in the Bronx and Harlem.
• Facilitated vocational training, including food handling, job readiness, resume building, maintenance, security training, and OSHA 30 certification for 448 participants, 300 of whom were VIP patients, 76 community members, and 39 staff members.
VIP TAKES PROACTIVE MEASURES AGAINST OVERDOSE CRISIS
New York City confronted a somber reality in 2022 as overdose death rates spiked from 2,696 to 3,026, with Bronx County witnessing the highest fatality rate within the city. The Bronx emerged as a focal point, leading the state in opioid burden, hospital discharges related to opioid use, and emergency department visits for opioid overdoses.
Founded in 1974, VIP Community Services initially aimed to address pressing issues in the Bronx, including substance use. Today, VIP’s addiction treatment services have become pivotal in the ongoing battle against substance use disorder in the Bronx. Our comprehensive approach includes:
• CARF Certified Opioid Treatment Program (OTP): Accommodates up to 1,500 patients through our walkin clinic, seamlessly integrated within our Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) framework. We provide comprehensive Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services with access to methadone, buprenorphine and naloxone.
• OASAS 822 Outpatient Treatment Program: Offers a diverse spectrum of services, ranging from treatment to harm reduction.
• Inpatient Residential Treatment Facilities: 80 individuals successfully graduated this past year from VIP’s two inpatient residential treatment facilities.
• Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP): Focuses on education and the distribution of naloxone kits, and fentanyl/xylazine testing supplies. Over the past year, we trained over 1,600 individuals in naloxone administration, distributing 3,216 naloxone kits.
• Mobile Medication Unit (MMU): Represents a pioneering effort in New York State, expanding opioid treatment services through community-based partnerships, reducing barriers to accessing MAT, by offering crucial services such as medication induction, administration, observation, physical examinations, and counseling.
In a city grappling with an overdose crisis, VIP’s initiatives stand as beacons of hope, providing critical support to those affected by substance use disorders.
SCAN TO SEE FULL IMPACT REPORT
Patient receiving methadone in our walk-in OTP Clinic
Tenants of our inpatient residential treatment facilities
MUSICAL GUEST: UPBEAT NYC
We’re excited to welcome UpBeat NYC as our musical guest for our 50th Anniversary Gala! UpBeat NYC’s mission is to build equity, opportunity, and community through free music education and ensemble performance and to bring about positive change in the lives of South Bronx children and youth.
MUSICAL GUEST: JERROD SANDERS
Jerrod Sanders is the Executive Administrator at VIP. Previously, he sang nationally and internationally with various opera companies. He made his NY debut in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor with Opera Ebony which led to his Metropolitan Opera debut, as Mingo, in Porgy and Bess. He performed with the Houston Grand Opera and has toured throughout the U.S. His European debut was at Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Italy. He sang the Mozart Requiem and the Bach Magnificat at Perroquia de Santa Cruz in Madrid and Iglesia de la Conception in Marbella, Spain. Currently, he is a Cantor at Holy Cross Church in the heart of the Broadway District and he can be seen on the Passionists TV Sunday Mass weekly broadcast, as well as on YouTube.
MC: INEZ SIEBEN
Inez Sieben is Chief Strategy Officer at VIP Community Services. Over decades in the non-profit sector she focused on improving access to care and public health. She has served as Chief Operating Officer at OneCity Health Services and at New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC), and as Vice President of Nonprofit Consulting and Special Projects at Public Health Solutions. She has been on numerous boards and holds an MPH from Boston University. More recently she has been able to pursue her passion for art, exhibiting her work across the New York region (her work can be found at www.inez7.art)
Artist: Inez Sieben, www.inez7.art
Acrylic on canvas
“Father Banome”
“Carmen Rivera”
“VIP was my introduction to serving on the Board of a nonprofit. I served on the Board for 13 years with a dedicated group of volunteers who served with me. I learned a tremendous amount about what a committed group of people can accomplish, the challenges of working in a community that has all of the urban ills and very few of its advantages, what addiction did, not only to individuals but also to families, the frustrations of the Board in not having the financial resources that could have made so much more of a difference, what it was like for staff and clients to have hope in the face of all the obstacles they faced and, most importantly, how critical it is for all of us to be involved in addressing the needs of communities that do not live in privilege. VIP was and continues to be a model of commitment to its community and to those amongst us who have not been able to forge a path in life that they wanted. They are a constant reminder through their work that poverty, structural racism, poor education, lack of adequate health care, inadequate or nonexistent housing, and lack of social support continue with all of their consequences. They are also a constant reminder that you don’t give up. VIP has experienced some very tough financial challenges over the years but they always figured out a way and, I know, will continue to do so. That is why VIP continues to be so necessary and deserving of all our support.
“Laura Parsons, Board Member Emeritus
Here at Good Eats, we believe that everyone deserves tasty and nutritious food. Our meals are designed and crafted by trained chefs. Our Registered Dietician makes sure each meal is packed with enough nutrients to sustain a healthy body. The quality of our food is extremely important to us, which is not true of most of our competitors. We take pride in our high standards, and commitment to providing the absolute best. Therefore, we will NEVER cut corners and sacrifice quality to increase our profits.
We at Good Eats are enthusiastic about the possibilities within our collaboration with VIP. Together, we plan to build a job training program where people can gain the skills and confidence to transition out of the shelter system. We look forward to growing with VIP.
Circle of Peace Sponsors
In life’s ordinary and extraordinary health moments, you deserve support you can trust. Quick answers to your simplest and most difficult questions. Plans and pricing built around you. Guidance about which providers will cost you less, are most convenient, and deliver the correct care the first time you see them. This is health care that’s better by design. This is Cigna HealthcareSM cigna.com/better
We honor VIP Community Services for its 50 years of service to the Bronx and now to all of New York. We appreciate our partnership and congratulate this year’s honorees.
Breaking Down Obstacles, Empowering People
Tejpal Sandhu
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our VIP pioneers for laying the foundation of our success. As we reflect on our beginnings, we eagerly look to the future. Together, let’s continue to create opportunities, inspire growth, and embrace the challenges that lie ahead.
HERE’S TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS!
Debbian Fletcher-Blake President & CEO
trinity financial CongratulatesVIP on 50 Years of Service to the Community!
Delivering high-quality housing, community resources, and a stronger urban fabric.
Rooted in the Bronx: Keeping You Healthy
Caring for the community is a longstanding commitment at SBH Health System. With deep roots in the Bronx, we are dedicated to keeping our residents healthy by addressing health concerns and working towards a healthier future for everyone we serve.
With gratitude to the leadership and staff of VIP Community Services for their ongoing services to the people of New York.
George & Annette Davidson
CONGRATULATIONS TO 50 YEARS OF SERVICE
We are grateful to all the staff at VIP for continuing to exceed expectations and provide an amazing experience to both consumers and the Bronx Community
Dana & Neil Leibowitz
KEIL&CORREA LLP
Advising and Representing Employers in Labor Relations and Employment Law M atters
Established in 1991
Keil & Correa LLP applauds VIP Community Services, Debbian Fletcher-Blake, the Board of Directors, and VIP’s passionate and dedicated staff for fifty years of work well
Advising and Representing Employers in Labor Relations and Employment Law M atters
Established in 1991
KEIL&CORREA LLP
747 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel.: 212-758-7600
Advising and Representing Employers in Labor Relations and Employment Law M atters
Keil & Correa LLP applauds VIP Community Services, Debbian Fletcher-Blake, the Board of Directors, and VIP’s passionate and dedicated staff for fifty years of work well done, and for their continuing commitment to serving needy communities in New York City. A Worklaw® network affiliate –The international network of management labor and employment law firms www.worklaw.com
Fax: 833-358-9304
www.keilcorrea.com
Established in 1991
A Worklaw® network affiliate –The international network of management labor and employment law firms www.worklaw.com
747 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel.: 212-758-7600
Fax: 833-358-9304
www.keilcorrea.com
Keil & Correa LLP applauds VIP Community Services, Debbian Fletcher-Blake, the Board of Directors, and VIP’s passionate and dedicated staff for fifty years of work well done, and for their continuing commitment to serving needy communities in New York City.
747 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel.: 212-758-7600
Fax: 833-358-9304
www.keilcorrea.com
A Worklaw® network affiliate –The international network of management labor and employment law firms www.worklaw.com
Congratulations to VIP Community Services on their 50 Years of Service to the Community. We Very Much
Appreciate Being Their Partner
Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary
STAFF WITH 25+ YEARS AT VIP
Emily Betancourt-Cubero, Medical Secretary, OTP CCBHC
Janet Camacho, Clinical Supervisor, OTP CCBHC
Felix Cartagena, Maintenance Worker, Facility, Transportation, Security
Joyce Dancy, Medical Secretary, OTP CCBHC
Ellen Hoffman, Assistant Vice President of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), OTP CCBHC
Miguel Nicolau, Foreman, Facility Transportation, Security
Ruth Smith, Therapist, Wellness CCBHC
FUNDRAISING ADVISORY BOARD
Salvatore Gogliormella
Andre Vanterpool
IN MEMORIAM FOUNDER
Father Robert Banome, Founder 1974 - 1992, Deceased in 1992
BOARD
Gaetano Vicinelli, Chairman 2000 - 2009, Deceased in 2021
