Gerhard Spies Is Human Rights Honoree for 2005

from the Human Rights Commission

(December 16, 2004) Gerhard Spies, the long-term volunteer with numerous

Gerhard Spies, helping with the Mamaroneck Library vote.

community causes, will be this year’s recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. award to be presented by the Mamaroneck-Larchmont Human Rights Commission on Wednesday, January 12, 2005. The commission met this Monday night and Chairman Robert Degen made the announcement the next day. This will be the eighteenth annual award program in honor of the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and it will be begin at 8:00 pm in the Emelin Theater in Mamaroneck.

According to a release from the commission, “This year’s honoree, Gerhard Spies exemplifies the principles and dedication of Martin Luther King, Jr. through his decades of volunteering with many community organizations and causes. Mr. Spies demonstrated considerable commitment to human rights causes through years of work with the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force, distributing food and referrals to needy local families, and with ELM (Employment - Larchmont/Mamaroneck) trying to secure jobs for area residents. Active in the Westchester Jewish Center, where he serves as Cemetery President and volunteer through the synagogue, Mr. Spies’ tireless involvement and dedication to improving the lives of many in need, with compassion, has increased awareness and involvement of others in the community, has inspired many and will have lasting benefit. “

“His volunteer works, to the benefit of others, are too numerous to count up. He definitely deserves this honor,” said Cindy Goldstein, of Mamaroneck, member of the Hunger Task Force and past recipient of the Martin Luther King Award.

The theme for this year’s program is “The Dream Revisited” and will focus on examining Dr. King’s message, reiterating its relevance today.

Editor’s Note: There is a rumor, which Mr. Degen emphatically declined to confirm, that Harry Belafonte will be the guest speaker at the January 12 ceremony. Stay tuned.

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