Surprise Gift of $100K Energizes Hispanic Resource Fiesta

Salsa & Sangria Festival, Nov. 9, WIll Honor 5 "Amigos"

by Harold Wolfson

(October 12, 2006) A surprise gift of $100,000 to the Hispanic Resource Center has provided a substantial boost to the local organization as it prepares for its major fundraiser, a November 9th Salsa and Sangria Festival at the Hampshire Country Club in Mamaroneck.

Mariana Boneo, Hispanic Resource Center Director, announced receipt of an anonymous gift of $100K.

“The gift,” said Mariana Boneo, Executive Director of HRC, “is from a couple in Mamaroneck Village who have asked to remain anonymous. It was given with no strings attached to help HRC in its work with immigrants from all countries.”

The donation, which was made quietly at the end of the summer and has just been announced this week, has the potential to double the HRC budget. Last year, by the end of its public fund raising event, the organization had raised $100,000 from more than 200 donors.

The unexpected source of support has energized this year’s festival organizers. “With the new funds already in the bank, we look to the 2006 festival to be the most successful ever,” said Melina Vourlekis, who with Naomi Lowenthal is co-chairing the current event.

John Gitlitz, HRC president, said that the surprise contribution comes at a good time. “Until now our finances have been low. The number of area immigrants needing help of various kinds has been growing. And with this there has been a growing demand for us to hire staff to meet their needs.”

Ms. Boneo said that the new benefactors had become aware of HRC and asked her to fill them in on the services it provides. When she finished her response, they announced their gift. She said she was almost speechless. “The couple’s only request was that we ‘spend the money wisely and make something happen.’”

She said HRC has already begun employing some of the funds to extend and enhance the social agency’s literacy program. She looks forward to beefing up other activities and starting one or two new ones.

Five "Amigo" Awards + Latin Food, Music & Spirits on Nov 9

The Salsa & Sangria event at the Hampshire Country Club, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Thursday, November 9, is both a celebration and a tribute. The festivities will feature Latin food (such as anticuhos de pollo, empanadas, platanos, arroz con pollo and roast pig) and music ( Mamaroneck’s own Joe Tribuzio and his Blackout 77 band) plus wines and sangria provided by the Liquor Pantry.

During a brief ceremony at the festival, the HRC will make five Amigo awards to two community activists, Mary Lee Berridge and Doreen Kushel; an immigrant artist, Aurelio Castaño and two local faith-based institutions, St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Mamaroneck and the Westchester Jewish Center.

Ms. Berridge and Ms. Kushel are being honored for their ongoing efforts to bring resolution to the controversy between day laborers and the Village of Mamaroneck. In this they acted as principles of the Local Summit organization’s Human Rights Task Force. Ms. Berridge is coordinator of the Local Summit organization and Chairman of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Interfaith Council. Ms. Kushel helped start the English as a second language program for immigrants at the Don Bosco Center in Port Chester.

Artist Aurelio Castaño was selected as a symbol of the American Dream. He came to the United States as a penniless immigrant from Colombia. After an English teacher recognized his intellectual promise, he completed a high school equivalency program, took classes in art and jewelry making at Westchester Community College, and then went on to get a Bachelor of Science Degree from Empire State College. He is now a technical assistant at The Westchester Art Workshop of Westchester Community College where he has helped found Artistico, a group for immigrant artists and jewelry makers that works with the Mamaroneck Artists’ Guild and HRC. Through Artistico, Mr. Castaño has helped give visibility and income to other artists.

St. Thomas Church is being honored for its long years of promoting human rights and combating deprivation at the grass roots level. Most recently it has provided a headquarters for HRC within its facilities and has assisted the organization in various programs. Rev. Deborah Tammearu serves on the HRC board.

The Westchester Jewish Center, as in the case of St. Thomas, has stepped up to the plate and supported many worthwhile causes. It is dedicated to bringing disparate segments of the Mamaroneck/Larchmont community closer together. For several years it has sponsored and staffed a Christmas party for Hispanic children at St. Thomas’ recreation center, replete with presents, games, food and traditional Christmas hymns.

Last Spring it held an extensive Help Fair for immigrants at which it brought in experts in the fields of health, law, education, housing, immigration rules, work and other topics appropriate for immigrants. A number of the Jewish Center’s congregants currently are volunteer teachers at the HRC’s English as a second language classes.

Tickets to the Festival cost $100 and are available by phoning 835-1512.

Harold Wolfson serves on the Hispanic Resource Center Board of Directors

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