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New York City – [April 30, 2012] –
Union Settlement Association, East Harlem’s oldest and
largest social service provider, announced is honoring Dr.
Herbert Pardes, Executive Vice-Chair, Board of Trustees, New
York-Presbyterian Hospital and Maxine L. Rockoff, Ph.D.,
Chair, Board of Directors,
Union Settlement
Association, at its annual Solutions Benefit. The event is
being held in the Manhattan Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt (42nd
Street and Lexington Avenue), with a reception beginning at
6:30PM followed by dinner and program at 7:30PM.
Hosted
by Emmy-award winning reporter Andrew Siff of WNBC 4
and featuring a presentation by U.S. Representative Charles
Rangel (D-NY),
the evening
will bring together hundreds of
New Yorkers to support Union
Settlement’s mission to create opportunities that help East
Harlem residents change their lives for the better. The
Solutions Benefit
recognizes
the important roles that Dr.
Pardes and Dr. Rockoff play in advancing
community-based solutions in East Harlem. In addition
to Rep. Rangel, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
will also be in attendance.
“Community-based
solutions are at the core of our mission to create
opportunities in East Harlem, and we are delighted to
recognize the achievements of two individuals who have
worked tirelessly to advocate local-minded answers in one of
New York’s most underserved neighborhoods,” said David
Nocenti, Executive Director of Union Settlement. “Both Dr.
Pardes and Dr. Rockoff are distinguished by their commitment
to finding real solutions that draw from our communities’
strengths to make the City of New York a healthier place,
from our hospitals to our schools to our local economy.”
Creating
Solutions for the East Harlem Community for over 115 Years
With a rich history
as one of the great cultural bastions of New York City, East
Harlem is one of the most unique neighborhoods in Manhattan
– but it is also one of the very poorest communities in the
nation, where 42% of families struggle to survive on less
than $25,000 a year. With a 117-year tradition of service
to this neighborhood, every year Union Settlement helps more
than 13,000 people build better lives for themselves and
their families through programs in education, childcare,
nutrition, senior services, youth programs, counseling, the
arts, job training, and economic development. These
community-based programs create an extensive support system
that offers real solutions to generations of East Harlem
residents.
The gala will raise
awareness about the issues facing East Harlem and inspire
attendees to be part of the solution.
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Fact:
Unemployment in East Harlem is more than 13%, which is
40% higher than the rate in Manhattan.
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Our Solution:
Union Settlement assists over 1,000 job seekers each
year through workforce readiness, job training and job
placement programs.
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Fact: 58%
of East Harlem’s residents over the age of 25 never
attended college.
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Our Solution:
Each year Union Settlement helps 400 young people
get into college, most of them the first in their
families to do so.
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Fact:
East Harlem youth have the fourth highest rate of
juvenile justice involvement in New York State.
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Our Solution:
Our work with the youth of East Harlem prevents gang
involvement and criminal activity, and provides the
support these young people need to succeed in school and
make positive choices in their daily lives.
Honoring Leaders
Who Create Solutions
Union Settlement
honors Herbert Pardes, M.D. for his leadership in the fields
of public health, medical education and mental health. He
has made East Harlem and other underserved neighborhoods
healthier places to live and work.
In honoring
Maxine L. Rockoff, Ph.D.,
Union Settlement expresses its
appreciation of her long commitment to the settlement house
movement, to bringing digital resources to underserved
communities and to strengthening Union Settlement
Association.
It also thanks her for her 27 years of service and
leadership on our Board of Directors.
The support of Union
Settlement’s benefactors enables the organization to affect
real change. Union Settlement gratefully acknowledges the
support of its Gold Sponsors: Banco Popular, Empire
BlueCross BlueShield, Jennifer & Eli Gross, Ruth E. Pachman
& Donald T. Fallati, Maxine L. Rockoff & Wesley A. Clark and
the many others who have contributed to the 2012 Solutions
Benefit.
About Union
Settlement Association
Union Settlement
Association has worked with and for the residents of East
Harlem since 1895. A community mainstay, Union Settlement
fosters leadership and self-sufficiency by helping local
residents build better lives for themselves and their
families. As one of East Harlem’s largest social service
agencies, Union Settlement responds to issues that affect
the entire community, serving more than 13,000 low-income
residents annually through effective social service
programs. A large local employer with programs operating in
17 sites, Union Settlement is an important contributor to
the economic vitality of East Harlem.
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