The 15th anniversary of Roberto
Clemente’s Flight for Humanity
BY JASON COHEN
Nearly 50 years ago baseball
Hall of Famer Roberto
Clemente died while attempting
to deliver supplies
to the earthquake victims of
Nicaragua.
Thirty three years later
a Bronx nonprofit, Project
Club Clemente, reenacted
that failed flight and delivered
the promised aid to Nicaragua
in a project called
“The Flight for Humanity.”
Dec. 31, 2020, marked
the 15th anniversary and
last week, Eliezer Rodriguez,
founder of the nonprofit,
hosted a ceremony
to remember the flight and
introduced a screenplay,
“The Light in the Shadow–
In Darkness there is Hope,”
about a dream he had and
how that led to “The Flight
for Humanity.”
“My goal throughout the
project was to complete the
promise Mr. Clemente made
to Nicaragua,” Rodriguez
said to the Bronx Times. “It
was never about getting publicity
for myself. Ffiteen
years later, it’s time to tell my
story and to remind people
that we must love thy neighbor.
That is why I wrote the
screenplay. And just like everything
that happened coincidentally
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 14 AN. 15-21, 2021
since I started
this project many years ago,
they continue to happen and
it serves to remind me of my
goal.”
In attendance at the event
were Senator Luis Sepulveda,
Councilmen Fernando
Cabrera and Mark
Gjonaj, Ray Negron, bestselling
author, NY Yankees
executive, Assemblyman
Jose Rivera, Judge Fiordaliza
Rodriguez, retired Judge
Eugene Oliver and Sharlene
Brown, executive director
for the Castle Hill YMCA.
The Bronx based nonprofit
was created in 2000,
to educate, promote and celebrate
the memory of Clemente.
Despite mechanical failures,
hours before the scheduled
departure, the aircraft
took off from Puerto Rico,
and landed in Nicaragua at
10:57 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2005 and
a 33-year-old promise was
fulfilled. Assemblyman Jose
Rivera greeted The Project
in Nicaragua and President
Enrique Bolaños honored
the organization with an unforgettable
celebration.
“I was glad that Roberto
Clemente, Jr., accepted the
invitation to join us in The
Flight,” Rodriguez said.
“Completing Mr. Clemente’s
last promise was not easy.
We faced many challenges
including the tsunami of
2004 and Katrina in 2005.
But my faith in God and my
commitment to The Project,
made our success possible.”
The distribution of the aid in
Nicaragua began on “Three
Kings Day” through ODAS,
a social service program run
by, at that time, Nicaragua’s
First Lady Lila T. Bolaños.”
(right) A ceremony was held last
week to honor Roberto Clemente
and “The Flight for Humanity.”
Photos courtesy of Eliezer Rodriguez
FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF THE BRONX
_____________________________________
In the Matter of Docket No. NN-09630-1/20
ALAYJHA RIVERS-GRANT
MARIAH RIVERS-HOWELL
SUMMONS
Children Under Eighteen Years
Alleged to be Neglected by
PEARL RIVERS
Respondent(s)
_____________________________________
BRONX FAMILY COURT – VIRTUAL INTAKE
Microsoft Teams link: https://notify.nycourts.gov/meet/agqm7n
For Dial-in Phone Access, Call 1-347-378-4143 Conference ID: 786 626 481#
PLEASE CONTACT ANGELA DE LA CRUZ (917-863-2120; adelacruz.esq@gmail.com)
ABOUT THIS COURT DATE.
NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR
RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST RECENT
22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION TO TERMINATE YOUR
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO THE
AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION. IN SOME CASES, THE AGENCY MAY FILE BEFORE
THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD. IF SEVERE OR REPEATED CHILD ABUSE IS PROVEN BY CLEAN
AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE, THIS FINDING MAY CONSTITUTE THE BASIS TO TERMINATE YOUR
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO THE
AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION.
TO: PEARL RIVERS
A petition under ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT having been filed with this court alleging that the
above-named child(ren) is a neglected child(ren), a copy of said petition being annexed hereto:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this court at 900 Sheridan Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451,
VIRTUAL COURTROOM – CALL THE NUMBER PROVIDED AND DO NOT GO TO THE COURTHOUSE
on January 21, 2021 at 9:00 AM, to answer the petition and to show cause why said children should not
be adjudicated to be a neglected children and why you should not be dealt with in accordance with the
provisions of ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT and why an order of support under Section 235 of
the FAMILY COURT ACT should not be made if the final disposition is an order of placement.
On your failure to appear as herein directed, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
FURTHER NOTICE: Family Court Act §154(c) provides that petitions brought pursuant to Articles 4,5,6,8
and 10 of the Family Court Act, in which an order of protection is sought or in which a violation of an order
of protection is alleged, may be served outside the State of New York upon a Respondent who is not a
resident or domiciliary of the State of New York. If no other grounds for obtaining personal jurisdiction over
the Respondent exist aside from the application of this provision, the exercise of personal jurisdiction over
the respondent is limited to the issue of the request for, or alleged violation of, the order of protection. Where
the Respondent has been served with this summons and petition and does not appear, the Family Court
may proceed to a hearing with respect to issuance or enforcement of the order of protection, as well as to
inquest on the underlying neglect allegations, and issue a finding in their absence.
Dated: December 21, 2020
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