The Book Bank Foundation honored neurologist Dr.
Carlisle L.
St. Martin and 21 year-old child welfare reform
advocate Jamel Robinson at the 5th Annual
BBF Hero Awards on Sunday, December 7th. Glenn
Toby, Founder and CEO of The Book Bank Foundation
presented Dr. Carlisle L. St. Martin with the
Vanguard award for his
exemplary leadership and achievements within
the medical community. Robinson received the Hero
award for his courageous efforts to improve the
outcomes for all children in the New York City
foster care system.
The evening festivities were sponsored by ECC Life &
Style, with Glenn Toby serving as the key note
speaker. Many special guests stopped by to
celebrate the occasion including: Hip-Hop
Association's Founder and President, Martha Diaz,
MANNAGOD Enterprises' CEO, John Gray and Wachovia's
FVP of Investments, Joseph Vaccaro. Over $5000
dollars was raised for the "Shelter from the
Streets" campaign on December 18th.
Originally from Trinidad, Dr. Carlisle L. St. Martin
immigrated to Brooklyn at the age of 5. The oldest
of eight children, he was raised in a poor single
parent home by his mother, a public health nurse.
As a young child, his eyes were badly crossed and at
9 years old, he went through a series of three
rigorous eye surgeries leading him to his vocation
of "helping people like the doctors that helped
him." In 1972, he was awarded a scholarship to
attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and
completed medical school at Downstate. Following
his residency at Long Island Jewish Hospital in
1984, Dr. St. Martin opened his own medical practice
in Forest Hills, Queens. He credits his childhood
mentors, the nuns at St. Barbara's Elementary
School, for giving him the foundation to excel in
his studies. "Once you can read you can achieve
anything," says St. Martin. As an attributed
neurologist who has helped hundreds people
nationwide, he is also an active member of The Book
Bank Foundation.
Jamel Robinson was born to a drug-addicted mother on
September 2, 1987. Two months later, he was placed
in foster care, where he remains to this day. With
both drugs and alcohol is his system at birth, Jamel
was diagnosed with a series of physical and
psychological ailments including: Failure to Thrive,
Mild Cerebral Palsy, Quadriplegia, A.D.H.D and other
additional learning disabilities. Within the foster
care system, he was subject to neglect and sexual
abuse. In 2001, he dropped out of high school and
by 2005 he was incarcerated. Despite these
unfortunate circumstances, Jamel has become a voice
for the youth in the foster care system. He has
served as a keynote speaker at colleges,
foundations, community organizations, youth forums
and community meetings, holding NYC's child welfare
system accountable to the success and failures of
all the children in its care. "It is my undying,
unwavering overall commitment to improve the outcome
and quality of life for NYC's most disenfranchised
youth and my peers in our city's foster care
system," says Jamel. He is currently completing his
studies at the City College of New York, in hopes to
become an attorney.
Dr. Carlisle L. St. Martin and Jamel Robinson both
exemplify the mission of the Book Bank Foundation
and what it works towards every day. Both have
overcome obstacles that could have made them victims
to poverty, drugs, and crime. Instead, they have
become symbols of hope and inspiration to those in
the community. "I am proud that The Book Bank
Foundation has awarded leaders in our community from
two different generations," said Glenn Toby, CEO and
Founder of The Book Bank Foundation. "Jamel is
evidence that our youth plays a significant role in
the enrichment of our community. For a young man
raised in the foster care system to become such a
great voice for the abused and underprivileged
within the same system, not only is heroic but an
ultimate act of selfless service to the community."
Mr. Toby continued, "Dr. St. Martin is one of the
most prominent neurologists in our community who has
given so freely and quietly that it often appears as
if it does not happen at all. I can't count how many
times he has given free medical care to New Yorkers
in need."
About The Book Bank Foundation
In 1997, The Book Bank Foundation was founded by
celebrity sports agent and philanthropist
Glenn Toby in an effort to boost literacy among the
nation's youth with an emphasis on inner city
children. With its corporate office in New York
City, the foundation provides tutoring, alternative
education, career development and special projects
to thousands of children in New York City improving
the quality of education and life of many families
city wide. The Book Bank Foundation has donated
over 450,000 hours of community service over the
last 10 years and has distributed an average of
$40,133 worth of donations to the less fortunate per
year. For more information, please visit: