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Samaritan Foundation Spring Benefit Awards Dinner

New York Hilton, NY, NY

Samaritan Foundation, Inc. is one of the largest and most respected substance abuse treatment centers in the nation. Their Spring Benefit Awards Gala presented only a glimpse of the powerful work this wonderful humanitarian organization has been doing for decades. According to a recent write-up in the New York Nonprofit Press, Samaritan Foundation was founded by Father Damian Pitcaithly, an Episcopalian Priest who, throughout the course of his ministry, began seeing a proliferation of drug and substance abuse victims, and wanted to do something to help them. Back in the 60’s, in the course of helping these drug addicts, Father Pitcaithly was thrown out of his church. Father Pitcaithly then moved to a donated apartment. Being then threatened by picketers who tried to again force him out, Father Pitcaithly then took to the airwaves, in WINS radio, and got a small group of volunteers who kept this tiny program, which had no funding whatsoever, afloat. Ruchard Pruss, who told this story, was then one of the volunteers. He is today the President and CEO of Samaritan Village, Inc.

It is awesome to imagine how an organization can grow from such a tiny group of people to a sizeable enterprise that spans the nation, particularly because the growth was fueled by a simple belief, that “once an addict” does not mean “always an addict.” The rest is history.

This dynamic event, reverberated with the utmost in positive vibes, signifyed that, in a largely indifferent society, there can still be a select few, relatively, who care about making this society a better place to live in. As Bill Ritter, Co-anchor for Eyewitness News, WABC-TV, pointed out, “drug addiction is not just a problem for the addict—what about the addict’s family, the business they are running, the job they have and the company they work for—all of this productivity is lost when drug addiction occurs.”

The event started off with Bill Ritter, WABC-TV’s Eyewitness New’s co-anchor, and master of ceremonies for the evening welcoming all of the guests to the event. We then heard a wonderful performance of “God Bless America”, sung by vocalist Victor Taylor in accompaniment with Theresa Marroncelli, Pianist, and case manager of the Samaritan Village’s Ellenville facility. We were then given the invocation, by Reverend Dr. Esteen Tapp, of Angels of Mercy Prison Services, Inc.

The Chairman of The Samaritan Foundation Board of Directors, Joseph Guarino, Esq, then welcomed everyone to the event, and introduced the Honorary Benefit Co-Chairs, Carl Goldstein, Senior Vice President of S. Lichtenberg & Co, Gary LaBarbera, President of Local 282, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Morris Lee, Executive Director of the Council for Airport Opportunity. Each of the co-chair took to the podium and talked about how great an organization this is because of its achievements in not only putting an end to addictions in the lives of people, but also converting these former addicts back into valuable, productive members of society. Mr. Guarino also contrasted the cost of incarcerating a drug addict—about $80,000 per year and that doesn’t include providing the addict with a job after he/she leaves prison. The Samaritan Village Foundation, however, can put an addict through one of the programs for less than half of that cost, and furnish them with a job, thereby giving them the encouragement to press on as they make their way back to becoming a productive member of the community.

The audience was also delighted to hear what Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión, Jr. said as he thanked the Samaritan Foundation for believing in the potential of every individual, and how they are helping to build better lives, and ultimately a better country.

There were several awards presented. The first award recipient, who received the Dedicated Civic Leader Award, was Lou Calemine, President of Teamsters Local 295. Mr. Calemine thanked everyone for their support for the Samitan Foundation, and reminded everyone how necessary it is for the organization to receive continued support from devoted members of the community, so that it can continue to change lives. The first of two Philanthropic Leadership Awards went to Waren D. Kroepell, General Manager of Laguardia Airport, Port Authority of NY & NJ, who also commented on the great work that the Samaritan Foundation is doing. The Woman of Substance award was presented to Maura Markus, President of Citibank Retail Distribution Group, and the Carl Goldstain Distinguished Ambassador Award went to Gregory Murphy, Manager of Community Relations & Marketing for Slattery Shanska, Inc.

Two of the most notable presentations were to Caridad Jenoure and Keno Thiele, recipients of the 2004 Al Roker, Sr. Scholastic Advancement Award. These two young folks’ lives were plagued with drug addiction, until they had crossed paths with the Samaritan Foundation, which did a tremendous job in helping the two of them clean their lives up.

This event was very memorable because it reminded everyone of what can come out of a few people with a simple belief in the potential of a human being, when given the opportunity to straighten their path in life. Other dignitaries on hand were Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Hon. David I. Weprin (who presented Proclamation to Richard Pruss, the Samaritan Foundation’s President), Council member for the 23rd Council District,

Public relations for this event was professionally handled by Barfield Public Relations, Inc. We would like to thank Ms. Pauline Barfield for inviting us to cover this wonderful event, and without which we would not have been able to cover it. Anyone who would like more information about this wonderful organization may visit their website, at http://www.samaritanvillage.org.

Abbey H. Muneer is the Executive Director of H.A.D. Organization of New York City, Inc., a world-famous athlete, author and, above all, a humanitarian. Abbey will write articles about charity events, benefits, fundraisers and galas which are raising money for humantiarian causes. If you are interested in having Abbey and one his staff members cover one of your charity events, benefits, fundraisers or galas, feel free to notify us one week in advance, at LNEvents@hadofnyc.org, or telephone us at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. and ask to speak to Abbey or Maria. If you would like more information, or would like to have Liberty News Online Magazine consult your next charitable event, please feel free to visit our website, at http://www.hadofnyc.org/store/success.html, email us at humanitarians@hadofnyc.org, or telephone our hotline, at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. (U.S.A.)