28 THE QUEENS COURIER • NOVEMBER 29, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Acts of Kindness Send your Acts of Kindness to editorial@qns.com
Casino chips in $10K to Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens
Photo courtesy of the Boys and Girls Club Of Metro Queens
(from l. to r.) Ashley Reyes, Brian Reynolds, Resorts World Casino New York City Vice President, Scott
Molina, Resorts World Casino New York President, David Kupecky, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens
Executive Director, Korrine Cuascut
Corrado steps down after expanding Aging Dept. mission & reach
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@cnglocal.com
@QNS
Few New York City agencies are as
prepared to meet the challenges of the
future than the Department for the
Aging thanks to the steady leadership of
Commissioner Donna M. Corrado, who
was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio
in 2014.
During her fi ve-year tenure the city
increased its budget for senior citizen
services by nearly 50 percent, expanding
senior centers and elder abuse, caregiver,
home care and mental health service at a
time when the city’s population of older
New Yorkers is growing steadily.
“It was the city making the investment
of more than $90 million that
went to personel, like pay increases that
staff hadn’t seen in years,” Corrado said.
“No one does it alone, we had the City
Council and great advocates helping us
and a good economy. We were able to
leverage that and of course I have to give
the Mayor and the First Lady credit as
well. Th ey made a commitment to destigmatize
mental health and expand mental
health services.”
Th e growth of DFTA comes at a time
where the city’s senior citizen population
is expected to grow from the current 1.64
million to 1.8 million by 2030.
“Th e number of seniors will outnumber
school aged children by then and
1 in 5 New Yorkers will be 60 years or
older,” Corrado said. “Every day 10,000
people turn 65 and we needed to make
investment in senior services and I think
we’re well poised to take the agency and
its services into the future. We have built
the capacity to expand all services that
will be commensurate with the changing
demographics and he have a roadmap for
future service delivery.”
City Hall announced on Nov. 19 that
Corrado would step down as commissioner
at the end of the month. Under
her leadership, DFTA relentlessly pursued
its mission to combat ageism and
provide resources to help meaningfully
improve the quality of life of the city’s
older population.
“New York’s seniors have been well
served with Donna at the helm,” de
Blasio said. “Donna’s strength of character
and dedication to public service
is admired across the city. I am deeply
grateful for her years of service.”
Corrado refl ected on her half-decade
at the post.
“Th is has been such a wonderful opportunity
and a great learning experience for
me,” she said. “I will remain committed
to serving older adults.”
Corrado was not sure if that would be
in the public or private sector.
“Let’s just say I am preparing for my
encore career,” she said.
While Corrado is a Brooklyn resident
she is well known in Queens aft er her 23
years at Catholic Charities of Brooklyn
and Queens where she served as chief
executive offi cer before she was named
DFTA commissioner.
“As a member of the NYS Senate Aging
Committee, I truly appreciate not only
Commissioner Corrado’s work towards
assisting our senior population, but also
her willingness to visit senior centers
and related community meetings to hear
directly from our seniors about their concerns,”
state Senator Joseph Addabbo
said.
City Councilman Paul Vallone worked
closely with Corrado when he served
as Chairman of the Subcommittee on
Senior Centers.
“I wish her the very best in her future
endeavors and look forward to continuing
to work for our seniors with her successor,
“ Vallone said.
Citymeals executive director Beth
Shapiro called Corrado a staunch supporter
of New York City’s seniors since
the earliest days of her career.
“She showed great leadership as
Commissioner for the City’s Department
for the Aging and a strong commitment
to Citymeals on Wheels as a partner
in nourishing the homebound elderly,”
Shapiro said. “She will be missed. We
are confi dent that the Mayor will name
a replacement who cares deeply and
respects the value of older New Yorkers.”
Th e Mayor said Deputy Commissioner
of External Aff airs Caryn Resnick will
assume the role of acting DFTA commissioner
eff ective December 1.
“I am pleased that Caryn resnick will
bring decades of experience and leadership
to the role as she takes the reins
while we search for a permanent commissioner,”
de Blasio said.
Resnick was appointed to her role as
Deputy Commissioner at DFTA in 2002.
“It has been an honor to work with
Commissioner Corrado,” Resnick said.
“She is an inspirational leader whose
eff orts to enhance the aging services network
will be felt for years to come.
Photo courtesy of the New York City Mayoral Photography Offi ce
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@cnglocal.com
@QNS
Th e Boys and Girls Club of Metro
Queens (BGCMQ) received a generous
$10,000 donation from Resorts World
Casino New York City to help kick-off
their Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign
on Nov. 27.
Th e contribution pushes the club —
located at 110-04 Atlantic Ave. in South
Richmond Hill — closer towards reaching
their goal of raising $28,000 in 28 days
to help fund the youth programs they
off er to the Queens community.
“Yet again Resorts World Casino New
York City shows their commitment to
the enrichment of the Queens community.
We are extremely grateful for their
dedication to ensuring all our children are
given the tools they need to lead successful
lives,” said David Kupecky, executive
director of BGCMQ. “We hope their generosity
inspires others to support our mission
of providing quality youth programs
this Giving Tuesday and throughout the
holiday season.”
Giving Tuesday, oft en stylized as
#GivingTuesday for social media activism,
was created in 2012 as a counter to
Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It has
since grown into a global movement to
help facilitate the spirit of giving and
philanthropy at the beginning of the
Christmas and holiday season.
“I am honored to partner with
the real-life heroes of the Boys &
Girls Club of Metro Queens who
work tirelessly to inspire and enable
young men and women in our community,”
said Scott Molina, president
of Resorts World Casino New
York City. “Giving Tuesday is the
perfect opportunity to support their
impactful programs that are helping
to change the lives of 4,000 at-risk
youth each year.”
For over 60 years, Boys and Girls
Club of Metro Queens has inspired
and enabled all young people to
reach their full potential as productive,
caring and responsible citizens.
Th e club provides quality
aft erschool programs that enhance
the educational, emotional, social,
and physical development of youth.
Members seek refuge in the club
and benefi t from its safe, stable and
positive environment, supportive
staff , and engaging in constructive
activities.
Th e club serves youth between the ages
of 5 and 18 annually, averaging over
850 children per day, from Richmond
Hill, South Richmond Hill, Ozone
Park, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven,
Jamaica, Howard Beach, Kew Gardens,
and parts of Brooklyn.
Donations towards their Giving
Tuesday campaign can be made at
https://www.givinggrid.com/bgcmq, by
calling Vanessa Carter at 718-441-6050,
ext. 207, or by mail at BGCMQ, 110-
04 Atlantic Ave., South Richmond Hill,
NY 11419.
link
link
link
/bgcmq
