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Services for the UnderServed Celebrates 35 Years of Service
in New York
Event Commemorates SUS’ Human Service
Programs and Services
In Support of Veterans and Individuals Living
on the Margins of Society
New York, NY (June 13, 2013)—On June 6, more than 300 people
attended Services for the UnderServed’s (SUS) 35th Anniversary
Gala to commemorate the organization’s history in partnering
with New Yorkers living on the margins of society to help
them live their best potential. The event was held at the
New York Public Library in Manhattan.
The event drew an audience of corporate sponsors, the
business community and philanthropic partners. It featured
notable speakers representing the major industries in which
SUS works, including Col.
Anthony Henderson, Special Assistant to the Chairman,
Joint Chiefs of Staff for Warrior and Family Support; Kristin
M. Woodlock, Acting Commissioner for the New York State
Office of Mental Health; Jill
Gentile, Associated Commissioner for the Office for
People with Developmental Disabilities; Tony
Lemma, Regional Vice President of The Home Depot, and Andrew
Hurwitz, SUS board chair and partner
at the Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
“In our short history, the community of SUS has been a
catalyst for social change and has helped make a difference
in the lives of hundreds of thousands of veterans and
individuals and their families facing
intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, and
HIV/AIDS,” said Donna
Colonna, CEO of Services for the UnderServed. “We have
partnered with them by offering housing, employment,
wellness and other life-saving opportunities. For SUS it’s
about quality of life for all New Yorkers, by New Yorkers
helping New Yorkers. It’s a community where everyone
matters.”
The gala, sponsored by Lamb Financial Group, recognized
corporate honoree The
Home Depot Foundation for
its shared commitment
to support veterans’ reintegration into civilian life. As
part of its “Serving Those Who Served Us All” campaign, the
Foundation has committed $80 million to nonprofit
organizations like SUS that are dedicated to improving the
homes of veterans in need.
“We are thrilled to be working alongside SUS in our mission
to support military veterans who
are facing growing financial and physical hardships at home
as they return to civilian life,” said Lemma.
“Making sure our veterans have a comfortable place to call
home is a privilege, and the least we can do to honor our
military.”
At the event, Colonna acknowledged SUS’ partnerships with
The Home Depot and other corporate, government, and
philanthropic partners as key in the organization’s growth
in the past 35 years, and in years to come. Through its
efforts in building
public and private partnerships, SUS has served more New
Yorkers in need of support and created platforms for
important dialogue among key stakeholders.
The event raised funds to support SUS’ veteran services, its
work in the creative arts and assistive technology for
individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities,
and SUS’ Urban Farms Program.
For more information on SUS’ programs and services, please
visit
www.sus.org and
follow SUS on Twitter @susincnyc. |