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2016 Highland Park Gala

2016 Gala

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Highland Park

PROGR A M

GREETINGS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE 2016 HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION’S ANNUAL GALA Your continued support of the Highland Park Community Development Corporation is greatly appreciated, especially by the people whose lives are positively impacted by your support! BOARD OF DIRECTORS William J. Ruiz, Chairman of the Board Maritza Andujar, Deputy Chairperson Joseph Giglia Jr., Treasurer Russell Gregory, Secretary Dennis Camacho, Member Nancy Marte, Member Rosa Calderon, Member Mike Core, Member Larry Fernandez, Member Robert Santiago, Executive Director

CHAIRMAN REMARKS.................................................................... William J. Ruiz, Chairman EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REMARKS........................................ Robert Santiago, Executive Director

ANNUAL GALA HONOREES Corporate Partners Award—Manuel Burgos, Chief Executive Officer By the Numbers Consulting Services Leroy Sawyer Elected Officials Recognition Award—Mathieu Eugene, District 40 Council Member Chair: Committee on Youth Services Community Service Award—Hector Luis, Comedian Community Service Award—Loycent Gordon, Proprietor of Historic Neir’s Tavern FDNY Lieutenant RAFFLE.................................................................................................................. Results CLOSING REMARKS

2016 Highland Park Gala

2016 Gala

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Highland Park

GREETINGS

OUR MISSION

Mission Statement As part of our mission to provide services that will improve the quality of life in our Brooklyn communities, we work closely with our community representatives and organizations to insure that services in our Brooklyn urban communities continue to improve for all our residents. Highland Park Community Development Corporation mission is to seek out and engage in those program areas that will help alleviate challenges associated with poverty, discrimination and urban living. We therefore, have joined together in a unified comprehensive manner to provide a diversity of services in an effort to promote the well-being and betterment of our communities and to improve the quality of life for all our Brooklyn residents. As a young organization incorporated in 1998, who received its 501 c3 status in 2003, we have continued to grow steadily and earn the reputation as an organization that not only provides quality services and programs, but can

K O We will continue to change and adapt to the new challenges presented in order

undertake new challenges and GET THE JOB DONE.

to ensure that services we provide improve the quality of life for the residents of our Brooklyn Communities and all the communities in our great city.

2016 Highland Park Gala

2016 Gala

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Highland Park

GREETINGS

THE CITY OF NEW YORK OFFI CE OF THE MAYOR NEW YORK, NY 10007

April 14, 2016

Dear Friends: It is a great pleasure to welcome everyone to Highland Park Community Development Corporation’s Annual Gala. My administration is dedicated to building a more equitable city, and by raising the living wage, creating a municipal ID program, introducing paid parental leave, increasing the number of affordable housing units, and more, we are taking steps toward this goal. In these efforts, we must rely on the support of our community partners, and I am delighted to join today in recognizing Highland Park Community Development Corporation for supporting people across Brooklyn. Providing educational programing, health and social services, and mentoring opportunities, the Corporation encourages New Yorkers to thrive. I am delighted to commend this organization and all those associated with it for lifting the ﬂoor for so many of our residents and for forging a more inclusive New York. On behalf of our great city, I offer my best wishes for an enjoyable evening and continued success.

Sincerely,

Bill de Blasio Mayor

2016 Highland Park Gala

2016 Gala

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Highland Park

GREETINGS

2016 Highland Park Gala

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2016 Highland Park Gala

2016 Gala

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Highland Park

GREETINGS

2016 Highland Park Gala

2016 Gala

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Highland Park

GREETINGS

PROCL A M ATION

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TI O A M A

2016 Highland Park Gala

2016 Gala

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Highland Park

BIOGRAPHY

Loycent Gordon

Manuel “Manny” Burgos

Established in 1829, he is the owner of NYC’s oldest

Manny founded BTN Consulting in 2013 as a way of

bar & grill, Historic Neirs Tavern. He was also seen

merging his skills in community relations, data gathering,

on NBC, Huffington Post, NY Daily News and various

with affordable housing development, construction, and

media outlets fighting to preserve this historic business

management.

when it was only 3 days from closing down. And now he’s fighting for landmark status.

Ma n ny’s work w it h a ffordable housi ng a nd commercial developers, construction contractors, nonprofit community

He also serves NYC 8.5 million residents as a Fire lieutenant in the New

development corporations, property management firms, and tenant advocacy organizations spans over two decades. He was the special assistant and principal

York City Fire Department. He has contributed over $20,000 in the past few years to community

aide and troubleshooter to the Commissioner/CEO of New York State Homes &

groups such as New York Families for Autistic Children, School Sisters of Notre

Community Renewal and before that has over 20 years’ experience working for

Dame, and Woodhaven Richmond Hill Volunteer ambulance corps among others.

leading private and nonprofit development and real estate firms.

He operates the successful Neirs Tavern annual food and toy drive for Highland Park Homeless Children and Families.

Now, with Serge Champagne/COO, and Darma Diaz/Tenant & Community Relations Manager, the three work together under BTN Consulting

Please welcome the community service award recipient Lieutenant

Services providing much needed supportive services, outreach, and advocacy for New York State’s leading affordable housing developers, general contractors, and

Loycent Gordon.

property managers. Manny is a member of Brooklyn Community Board 5, serving on the land use and bylaws committees. In his free time he enjoys writing and illustration, combining the two in a semi-autobiographical comic strip titled, “Average Man.” He loves the great outdoors, both summer and winter sports like bodyboard surfing, snowboarding, and much more.

2016 Highland Park Gala

2016 Gala

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BIOGRAPHY

Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene

50,000 jobs for students over the summer. In addition, Council Member Eugene

Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene, who was elected to

round jobs for young adults.

advocated to ensure the establishment of a new program, which created 6,000 year-

the New York City Council in a special election in 2007, is

In addition to providing opportunities for youth, another top priority for

Chairman of the Youth Services Committee. A long-time

Council Member Eugene, who is a medical graduate and doctor, is health. Council

advocate for youth, Council Member Eugene has dedicated

Member Eugene’s commitment to the community has allowed him to take a

his life to ensuring that all youth have the recreational and

leadership role in public health efforts in Brooklyn, including acting as an advocate

educational opportunities they need to succeed.

for quality and affordable health care for all residents. He is a former member of

Prior to Council Member Eugene’s service as an elected official, he taught

the Community Board for In-patients at Maimonides Medical Center. As a Council

Latin and French. It was his experience as a teacher that inspired him to create more

Member, he continues to host annual health fairs, medical symposiums, and other

opportunities for young people. He has founded several non-profit organizations

community events to address the health issues impacting his constituents and other

tailored to help children, teenagers, and young adults, including the organization

New Yorkers. His events help residents in some of the most medically underserved

Youth, Education, and Sports (YES). This organization — which has impacted the lives

populations in the borough attain free access to crucial screenings and other health

of thousands of Brooklyn youth — promoted peaceful conflict resolution and helped

preventative measures.

children and teenagers gain confidence and self-esteem through skill development.

Every year, he allocates funds to hospitals throughout the city to help ensure

Council Member Mathieu Eugene embraced a simple philosophy for helping local

that New York City’s hospitals have the resources they need. Council Member

youth: he offered positive outlets to vulnerable children and teenagers. He saw that

Mathieu Eugene — who allocated funds to Kings County Hospital for the new Linear

offering youth educational activities and sports — especially martial arts, which helps

Accelerator (LINAC) — recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the

cultivate discipline — made an immediate difference in the attitudes of young people.

state-of-the-art machine, which provides radiation therapy for cancer patients by

As Chairman of the Youth Services Committee, Council Member Eugene applies

destroying cancerous cells while leaving healthy tissue intact.

the same positive philosophy that he followed as founder of YES to make meaningful

He also was pleased to provide funding to support SUNY Downstate Medical

changes in the City Council. In 2015, he worked with children’s advocates and his

Center’s Advanced Biotechnology Incubator to ensure that Brooklyn is a leader in the

colleagues in government and successfully obtained the restoration of funding for

medical biotechnology industry.

summer and afterschool programs that were facing budget cuts. Council Member Mathieu Eugene also played an instrumental role in the expansion of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which now offers

Council Member Eugene previously served as a member of Community Board 14 and a co-founder of the Committee for the Development of Northern Haiti. He is also a former president of the Haitian Community of Holy Innocence Church.

GOLD SPONSOR

2016 Gala

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Highland Park

BIOGRAPHY

Hector Luis Hector is a Comedian that has been in the NY Comedy scene for over a decade. He has performed in clubs & colleges throughout the United States. Whenever he performs, Hector entertains audiences with his highenergy & engaging stage persona. Hector is featured in an upcoming yet untitled web series from Upright Citizens Brigade & ABC Media to be released this Summer You can see Hector regularly on Planet Comedy TV on BRIC Arts Media plus MNN & hear him on “The Conspiracy Weary Podcast” on NetwaveRadio.com

GOLD SPONSOR

strengthen neighborhoods Manuel Burgos – Corporate Partners Award Mathieu Eugene – Elected Officials Recognition Award Hector Luis – Community Service Award Loycent Gordon – Community Service Award

WE SALUTE THE

HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND CONGRATULATE ITS 2016 HONOREES

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