Support Network New York Eve Gala

Dec. 31, 2005

Puck Building, NY

The Support Network is an organization that has been around for over twenty years, its purpose being to help kids from the Harlem area, many of who are afflicted with illnesses, and who’s families have financial difficulty in affording proper medical care for them. The organization raises funds for this cause through its welll-known New Year’s Eve Gala as well as other causes.

The Support Network’s Annual New Year’s Eve Gala, each year, continues to honor those who show dedication, generosity, and perseverance. The four honorees who were honored at the 2004 New Year’s Eve gala, Larry Dais, Assistant Vice President and Director of Community Affairs, Office of the Government, Columbia University; Helen C. Shelton, Executive Vice President, Arts and Communications Counselors, Rudor Finn, Inc; George A. Hulse, Vice President of External Affairs, Health First, Inc.; and Valerie Oliver Durrah, President and CEO, The Neighborhood Technical Assistance Clinic, all had their dedication and generosity to the minority community highlighting their careers, and all had their names added to the Support Network’s list of past honorees, including boxing promoter Don King; NAACP President Hazel Duke, NY Chapter; Former NYC First Lady Joyce Dinkins; Rev. Al Sharpton, and Supermodel Iman—to name a few—who, as well, were noted for their commitment to public service.

Mr. George Hulse won the Public Service Award, while Ms. Helen C. Shelton won the Woman of the Year Award. Mr. Larry Dais won the Man of the Year Award, and Ms. Valerie Oliver Durrah won the President’s Award.

The event began with a warm welcome by Ms. Cynthia J. Moore and Ella J. Chavers, both gala chairs for the evening, acknowledging all the work the organization has done throughout the years, and then introducing the Support Network’s President, Ms. Ruth Clark,

Ms. Clark began by talking about the work the organization has done, and how the honorees had participated in furthering its wonderful cause. Ms. Clark had also introduced two doctors who have helped her throughout the years with her cause, and then spoke briefly about how the doctors appreciated working with Ms. Clark’s organization throughout the years and supporting all of its kids.

Other dignitaries who were on hand for the evening included Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields; the Honorable Councilman Bill Perkins; Jim Harding, from Governor Pataki’s office and the MTA Board; Walter J. Edwards and Carlton J. Brown, of Full Spectrum, LLC, Inc.; Ms. Thelma Russell, Executive Director of the Harlem Business Alliance, Ms Hazel Duke, President of the NAACP, NY Chapter; representatives from the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce; Joel Garner, Former Mayor of Hempstead, L.I.; Bill Tatum, Former Publisher of the New York Amsterdam News, the largest and oldest African-American newspaper in the nation; Randreta N. Ward-Evans, Associate Executive Director of Friends of Harlem Hospital, Honorary Mayor of Harlem Leslie Wyche, Shirley Scott, Editor of the New York Beacon newspaper, and many more people, some coming from as far away as Minnesota, to show their support for this wonderful cause.

The buffet and hors d’oeuvres (that were brought around the place) were scrumptious. The entrees were as gourmet as one could possibly imagine, and the desserts were absolutely heavenly. To compliment one’s dessert was freshly brewed, rich, French Roast Coffee (or water processed decaffeinated coffee.). There was even a choice of black and herbal teas available for those who did not drink coffee.

We would like to thank Ms. Diana Thompson, publicist for the Support Network, for her kind invitation to this event, as well as the Support Network’s President, Ms. Ruth Clark, and Ella J. Chavers, co-chair and Board of Directors member of the Support Network. This was a wonderfully festive event. We at Liberty News Online Magazine look forward to coming and supporting future fundraiser’s for this wonderful organization and the work it is doing.

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