Brooklyn Children’s Museum Annual Gala
May 17, 2004
Brooklyn Marriott, Brooklyn, NY
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum Gala on Monday, May 17, 2004 was an outstanding moment of togetherness.
The evening started off with Paul Gangsei, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, talking about the growth and evolution of a new transformation that is part of a new expansion program. He still gave praise to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s beginning, in 1899. Mr. Gangsei also said the one night affair raised $475,000, which is being applied to a $16,000,000 fundraising drive. Because of community cooperation, half of the needed funds have already been raised. Mr. Gangsei again stated that this is all part of a major expansion program for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
The next speaker to address the audience was Ms. Carol Enseki, the President Children’s Museum. Ms. Enseki spoke about a theme--“The moment a child grows.”—the impact and need for youth to be exposed to the Children’s Museum. She also spoke about the alumni weekend in early June.
Next came the award presentation—with the Community Builder Youth Awards given to Charles Inniss and Bhojnarine Ryan Heraiall, and the Ricardo Sime Academic Award given to two students. Both award recipients gave praise to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and its influence upon their lives.
Just before dinner, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz praised the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and at the end of his speech, said “The quality is often duplicated but never emulated.” After that, it was time to have dinner, and a fine dinner it was. The appetizer was marinated in layers of grilled vegetables and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. The entrée was grilled filet mignon with risotto, and the dessert was a chocolate mousse filled Brooklyn Bridge, with fresh brewed coffee. The dinner was really great.
The awards presentation then continued, with State Assemblyman and community activists Clarence B. Norman, State Assemblyman, and William Thompson, New York City Comptroller, and many more. The next award presentation was made by Mr. Frank Macchiarola, the President of St. Francis College to Brendan J. Dugan, President of Business Technology at Independence Community Bank. When Mr. Dugan went up to receive his award, he told the audience that the expansion program was a tribute to the visionaries of tomorrow. He also stressed the need for everyone to unite, in support of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Following Mr. Dugan’s presentation, the next honoree was John W. Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Pfizer Global Manufacturers, and was presented by Natali Ricciardi, Vice President of Pfizer Global Manufacturing. Mr. Mitchell spoke about the Brooklyn-born Pfizer Company (1849),which has expanded in 155 years of growth, to include the Pfizer dollar-to-dollar match program, the 4.6 million dollar free medicals program to the poor, and Pfizer life long community relationships with Brooklyn.
The next honree was Martha B. Braham, Trustee and Retired Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for J.P. Morgan Chase. Ms. Graham’s award was presented by Michelle Cahill, Senior Counselor of Education Policy for the New York City Board of Education. Ms. Graham’s speech focused on the topic of on the rich cultural diversity in Brooklyn and its impact on our youth.
After Ms. Graham’s speech, the audience heard closing remarks given by Paul Gangsei, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who thanked everyone for attending and looked forward to seeing everyone again next year.
There was then plenty of dancing to the music of the Flying Neutrinos, Inc.
Other dignitaries on hand were the Honorable Carl Andrews, NYS Senate, The Honorable, The Honorable David Burney, Commissioner, NYC, The Honorable William C. Thompson, NYC Comptroller, Dr. Edison O. Jackson, President, Medgar Evers College, Kenneth Adams, President, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and many, many more.
We at Liberty News Online would like to thank Ms.Carol Enseki, President of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, for inviting us to attend and cover this wonderful event. We would also like to thank Samantha Terri the publicist for this event for helping us to set up interviews with different people at the event. Anyone interested in more information about the Brooklyn Children's Museum may visit their website at http://www.brooklynkids.org.
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The African American and Caribbean Section is headed by assistant editor Annette Johnson, and Liberty News Online Staff Writers contributing articles. It will cover articles about the African American and Caribbean communities throughout the U.S.A. For more information, feel free to email us at lncarib@hadofnyc.org. If you are interested in having us cover one of your events, feel free to notify us one week in advance, so we can add you to our master calendar, and have our Liberty News Staff come and write an article about your event. Feel free to email us at lnevents@hadofnyc.org, or telephone us at (718) 507-7616 between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm, and ask to speak to Annette or Steve