BEPF Inaugural Luncheon 2024

April 20, 2024

Villa Barone MANOR

Bronx, NEW YORK

Stephanie Simmons, President

Bronx Executive Pearls FUND, InC.

Mission

The Bronx Executive Pearls Fund Inc. is the charitable arm of Tau Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.

The mission of the fund is to support and provide service and education in the South Bronx community.

This mission is advanced through a variety of activities, including:

• Educational and informational workshops

• College scholarships and support to high school students

• Financial and other support to the community at large

Stephanie Simmons, President

The President's Message

Thank you for celebrating with Tau Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. The formation of the Bronx Executive Pearls Fund, Inc. is the realization of years of grit and determination and is a testament to Tau Nu Omega’s tenacity. Named after the interest group that became Tau Nu Omega, the Bronx Executive Pearls Fund, Inc. will enable Tau Nu Omega to expand its service to the South Bronx community in a greater philanthropic way and acquire additional resources to serve all mankind.

While the South Bronx is rich in culture and diversity, it is also the poorest congressional district in the United States. The need is great, and your financial support today will allow us to continue to provide scholarships to our deserving students. Through Tau Nu Omega’s programs, we empower our families to build their economic wealth and uplift our community by addressing food insecurity and childhood hunger. Your continued patronage equips us to develop future leaders who advocate for social justice and protect our environment. Tau Nu Omega Chapter, the Bronx Executive Pearls Fund, Inc., and I deeply appreciate your support.

Stephanie Simmons

Lift Every Voice & Sing

James Weldon Johnson

Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chast'ning rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered. We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, True to our native land.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

Alpha Kappa Alpha sORORITY, iNCORPORATED (R) is the first Greek- lettered sorority established and incorporated by African-American college women.

The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Five years later, due to Nellie Quander’s vision of an international organization and perpetual membership, Alpha Kappa Alpha was incorporated on January 29, 1913.

Consisting of college-educated women of many diverse backgrounds from around the world, the sorority serves through a me membership of more than 260,000 women in approximately 1,005 chapters in the United States and several other countries. Women may join through undergraduate chapters at a college or university or by invitation of a graduate chapter after acquiring an undergraduate or advance college degree. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is part of the National Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has implemented countless programs of service since 1908. The theme of the 2022 - 2026 administration, under our International President, Danette Anthony Reed, is "Soaring to Greater Heights of Service & Sisterhood." This administration has six initiatives. lEARN mORE ABOUT OUR sORORITY AT WWW.AKA1908.COM

Tau Nu Omega Chapter

South Bronx, New York

In January 1991, a seed was sewn in the spirit of sisterhood and service. At the heart of this seed was a vision and desire to bridge a gap in the Bronx by reaching into under-served areas, providing services that empower the people, and improving the quality of life for the members of the South Bronx community. From that vision and desire, the Bronx Executive Pearls Interest Group was formed.

The Bronx Executive Pearls Interest Group consisted of several members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® of varied ages, experiences, and professional disciplines. Of note, the Group was comprised of many Alpha Kappa Alpha women who had been inactive for twenty-five years or more, but desired to reconnect with the Sorority

After eighteen months of recognized community service in the South Bronx, the Bronx Executive Peals Interest Group became chartered as of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,

To this day, our membership represents various levels of professional, educational and social backgrounds. It is this diversity that makes our chapter rich in history, experience and enthusiasm. And as we build upon our strong foundation we will continue to make an impact in the South Bronx community that we proudly serve.

Membership

The Membership of Bronx Executive Pearls fund, Inc. IS COMPRISED of the membership of tau Nu Omega CHapter and includes the following members:

Keisha Anderson-Saunders

Claudia Altagracia Aybar

Candis I. Bugg

Diandra Clinton

Vicki Cloud

Aisha Crichlow

Kayla Daley

Kristina Daley

Beverly Davis

Jennifer Davis

Shelley-Ann Dezil

Leah T. Dixon

Sherema Fleming

Veronica Frazier-Howard

Shantell Golding

Vanessa Gouldbourne

Aisha Lewis-McCoy

Cecelia Newkirk

Otelia Oteng-Sarkodie

Oribel Reyes

Carolyn Sadler

Mahogany Salisbury

Sherrille Shabazz

Stephanie A. Simmons, President

Valerie C. Smith

Tiffany J. Sutherland

Trinidell Thomas

Simone Thompson

Peta-Gay Tomlinson

Kadesha D. Washington

Jasmine Young

Karla Zuber Charter Member

Bronx Executive Pearls FUND, InC.

The Bronx Executive Pearls Fund, Inc. takes great pleasure in recognizing this year's honorees and extends our most sincere thanks to our 33rd North Atlantic Regional Director, Ms. Meredith Henderson, for joining us today.

Bronx Executive Pearls FUND, InC.

Together, with hundreds of our supporters, Westhab delivers hope and opportunity and fosters vibrant and just communities by:

✓ Creating high-quality homes that are affordable

✓ Providing robust services that meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness and establish pathways to permanent housing

✓ Supplying ladders to a living wage

✓ Empowering youth to reach their full potential

Bronx Executive Pearls FUND, InC.

HONORING

Ms. Ayris B. Granby C.F.S.P.

Ayris B. Granby, the daughter of Ayris and Samuel Granby and the sister of Reverend Lamont S. Granby, was born in New York, New York. Ms. Granby is a graduate of Iona College, New Rochelle, New York with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Applications and Information Systems.

In 1984, Ms. Granby proudly joined her father in business as the Business Manager of Granby’s Funeral Service, Inc. In order to further assist her family, she attended and graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute for Funeral Service (the Alma Mater of both her father and brother). Today, she is a New York State Licensed Funeral Director, and President and Licensed Manager of Granby’s Funeral Service, Inc., located in the Northeast Bronx. Both Ms. Granby and her brother, Reverend Lamont S. Granby, are Second Generation Funeral Directors.

Ms. Granby is a Past President of the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association, Inc. (MetFDA), where she served as the First Woman President, and a Past NYS Regional Governor and former member of the Funeral Director Support Service (F.D.S.S.) Board of Directors of the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA). She is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Continuing Education Committee of NYSFDA. Her Professional memberships include the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association, Inc., the New York State Funeral Directors Association, Inc., and the National Funeral Directors Association, Inc. In order to further her commitment to Funeral Service Excellence, Ms. Granby is a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (C.F.S.P.) of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service

Ms. Granby is a Diamond Life Member and a Past New York State Director of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., a member of the Parliamentarians of Westechester County, New York (National Association of Parliamentarians), and a member of the of St. Catherine A.M.E. Zion Church, New Rochelle, New York.

Ms. Granby proudly continues her family’s tradition of Service to the Community.

Bronx Executive Pearls FUND, InC. HONORING

Mrs. Randi N. Gray MA

Randi N. Gray Randi’s interest in Information Technology originated because of new phenomena such as email, “AOL Online” and the Internet. She began her professional career in Information Technology amidst the famous “Y2K” scare, quickly taking an interest in new opportunities to learn programming/coding. Randi graduated from SUNY Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Management/Marketing, and later earned an advanced certificate in Network Engineering from Columbia University, followed by an advanced certificate in C/C++/& Java programming languages from Pace University, and finally a Master of Arts degree (MA) in K-12 Educational Technology from Teachers College Columbia University. Working in the financial technology industry, her sense of responsibility and accountability served her well in many roles. Randi was responsible for IPO software implementation, technical training, and technical writing for some of Wall Street’s largest banks during that time including Morgan Stanley, Bear Stearns, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan as well as the NY Mercantile Exchange, and the NASD.

Randi later took her talents into retail technology and then into healthcare technology, providing technical training and systems analysis and support to several well-known companies including Macy’s, Modell’s Sporting Goods, and Ann Taylor Corporation. As a Security Engineer she tested systems to ensure compliance and adherence to governmental, organizational, and contractual specifications and wrote and developed IT security procedures for HIPAA - HITECH regulations.

Over the last four years, Randi made a lasting impact in the Educational Technology industry as the Head of IT at Teachers Pay Teachers, the world’s largest online educational resources marketplace where she created and built an IT department from the ground up. Prior to this, she was a Software Implementation Manager at BrainPOP, LLC., where she worked with large school districts across the country to successfully design and implement technical solutions for schools and support educator use of the popular and widely used BrainPOP and BrainPOP, Jr. websites. She also worked as an Adjunct Professor, teaching Technology Integration in Literary Content Settings for the NYC Department of Education Teaching Fellows Program at St. John’s University, Queens, and Manhattan Campuses. Most recently, she has embarked on a new opportunity in the billion-dollar beauty and cosmetics industry, serving as the Global Head of IT for Merit Beauty and Versed Skincare. Her role includes overseeing the global technology operations for both organizations.

As a public servant, Randi is committed and dedicated to improving her community. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 28 years, she was initiated in the Spring of 1996 through the Pi Eta Chapter at Binghamton University. Randi currently serves as the New York Metropolitan State Coordinator, providing leadership and administrative support for the 24 alumnae and collegiate chapters in the five boroughs of NYC, Long Island, and Westchester, Rockland, and Duchess counties. She is the immediate past Eastern Regional Secretary (2016-2020), served as the “Centennial” President of the North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter from 2012-2016, and has had several committee appointments as both Chair and Member both in her local chapter and on the Regional level. Randi served on the founding board for The Parris Foundation, an organization dedicated to attracting at-risk youth to STEM careers, on the Junior Board for Family Services of Westchester, an organization dedicated to providing social and mental health services to Westchester families, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Harrison and West Harrison public libraries in Westchester County.

Lastly, as a member of New York Covenant Church in New Rochelle, NY, she led the Multimedia & Technology ministry for eleven years, stepping down in 2020. Randi wholeheartedly believes that attracting young people to STEM is the key to closing the achievement gap and is committed to positive leadership and involvement in her community. Raised in the Baychester section of the Bronx, she currently resides in Westchester County with her husband, Calvin, and 17-year-old son, Chase.

Bronx

HONORING

Dr. Crystal Johnson-Waterman Ed.M., EdD, ThD

Executive Pearls FUND, InC.

Dr. Crystal Waterman is a committed educator, minister and leader who has dedicated her life to serving God and uplifting others. She is presently the principal of Edward Williams School in Mount Vernon, New York, where she influences the lives of hundreds of children in poverty by offering them quality education, academic support, and emotional guidance. She is also the president of the Mount Vernon Administrative Group, a professional organization for school administrators in the district that seeks to enhance the educational outcomes and working conditions for its members.

Dr. Waterman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from The State University of New York at New Paltz, where she was an involved member of the Voices of Unity Gospel Choir and a founding member of the campus ministry Faith Unity Tabernacle. She also holds three Master’s Degrees in Education from Long Island University, specializing in literacy, early childhood education and educational leadership. She obtained her Doctorate in Education from Fordham University in 2017, with a focus on urban education and social justice. She also obtained an Associate and Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from the Empowering Leaders Institute and Seminary in Brooklyn, New York before obtaining a Master of Theology and Doctorate in Theology from Mount Olive Bible Institute and Seminary in 2022. Dr. Waterman now serves at her Alma Mater, Empowering Leaders Institute and Seminary as the Academic Dean. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of education, having worked as a teacher in various elementary schools, an adjunct professor for the Voices of Unity Gospel Choir, and a principal of Poughkeepsie Middle School.

Dr. Waterman is also a minister at Triumphant Full Gospel Assembly in Brooklyn, NY, where she leads the congregation in praise and worship under the guidance of Bishop Melvin E. Bayne and Bishop Dr. Lilia A. Bayne. She has a deep and passionate love for music that glorifies God and has an intimate relationship with Christ. Along with her husband, Ryan, who is a deacon at the same church, and two children Sara and Caleb, she has led many individuals to a dedicated walk with Christ through her powerful testimony, inspiring preaching, and anointed singing.

Dr. Waterman is a proud member and the sitting President of the Theta Sigma Sigma chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, one of the nine Historically Black Greek Letter organizations in the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated is a national service organization for women that was established in 1922 by seven educators. She is committed to the sorority's motto of "Greater Service, Greater Progress" and has participated in various community service projects and women’s health initiatives such as Project Cradle Care, Operation Big Book Bag, and annual Youth Symposium. As a retired lifeguard and swim instructor, Dr. Waterman finds particular joy in teaching children and adults how to swim, aligned with Sigma Gamma Rho’s signature program and partnership with USA Swimming

Dr. Waterman is an exemplary role model and a source of inspiration for many people who know her. She strives to excel in everything she does and to honor God with her gifts and talents. She is always willing to learn new things and to share her knowledge and experience with others. She is a woman of faith, integrity and excellence and lives in the full confidence of the Bible scripture found in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.”

Bronx Executive Pearls FUND, InC.

Dr. Claudia V. Schrader MA, Ed.M., EdD

Dr. Claudia V. Schrader currently serves as the President of the Eta Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she has been a member since 2012. Dr. Schrader was initiated into the Epsilon Pi Omega Chapter in 1992 and is a charter member of the Psi Lambda Omega Chapter. Over the past 31 years, she held a number of positions including Recording Secretary, Strategic Planning Chairperson, and Leadership Chairperson. She has also served on a variety of committees, including Technology, Awards and Fundraising.

In September 2018, she was appointed as 7th president of Kingsborough Community College of The City University of New York (CUNY) where earned the distinction to become the first African-American in the College’s history to hold that office. Under Dr. Schrader's leadership, KCC is the first CUNY institution to be recognized three times by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 10 community colleges in the nation. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic and recognizing that incoming students were missing out on the excitement of beginning their college experience on campus, Dr. Schrader traveled around Brooklyn and throughout NYC’s other boroughs to meet incoming students at their homes and jobs, to welcome them to KCC and assure them that they would find KCC and its President accessible, available, and ready to support their success. Her efforts have been featured on Spectrum News NY1 and in the NY Daily News, InsideHigherEd.com, Forbes, Positive Community Magazine, and in a number of local newspapers.

In January 2024, Dr. Schrader was appointed as the Interim President of York College, CUNY. Dr. Schrader has served as the as Provost and Senior Vice President at Bronx Community College, CUNY, Associate Provost at William Paterson University of New Jersey; and Associate Provost at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, where she also held faculty rank with tenure. Her professional service includes serving as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, membership on the American Association of Community College’s (AACC) National Council for Black American Affairs, and a 3-year term on the AACC Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.

Education has served as a vehicle for Dr. Schrader. She was born and raised on St. Croix, the largest of the United States Virgin Islands. She earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and her Master of Arts, Master of Education, and Doctorate of Education from Columbia University, Teachers College. Dr. Schrader also obtained a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.

Dr. Schrader believes strongly in giving back to her local and global community. In addition to being a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, since 2006 she has served her global community as a volunteer with the Habitat for Humanity Global Village program, building over 20 homes throughout countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and Southeast Asia. She currently serves on the NYC Board for Habitat for Humanity and over the past three years has participated in Covenant House’s Annual Sleep Out to raise awareness and funds to support homeless youth.

Tau Nu Omega Chapter thanks each of you for your continued support. Visit the chapter's website and social media for upcoming events.

Congratulations to the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Tau Nu Omega Chapter on the establishment of the Bronx Executive Pearls Fund,Inc.

All your hard work is greatly appreciated and has come to fruition!

Congratulations to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Tau Nu Omega Chapter

And Our Dear Friend President, Stephanie A. Simmons

On the establishment of the Bronx Executive Pearls Fund, Inc.

Your Tuskegee Family

Carlton, Greg, Ivan, & Jeff

AND BEST WISHES

TO MY LOVELY WIFE, FRIEND AND MOTHER OF OUR CHILDREN

VERONICA FRAZER HOWARD SILVER STAR MEMBER

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED

TAU NU OMEGA CHAPTER

AND FOR CREATING

THE BRONX EXECUTIVE PEARLS FUND INC.

CONGRATULATIONS AND SPECIAL BLESSINGS

TO MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER

VERONICA FRAZIER HOWARD

I AM SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE VERY SPECIAL TO ME.

-ANDCONGRATULATIONS

TO BRONX EXECUTIVE PEARLS FUND INC.

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA, SORORITY, INCORPORATED

TAU NU OMEGA CHAPTER

The

Would Like To Congratulate The Bronx Executive Pearls Fund Inc. for The Success Of The Inaugural Spring Luncheon. And To All The Honorees, The Bronx Alphas SAY THANK YOU For All Your Hardwork And Dedication.

Brothers of The Rho Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

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