A Recap of the 2021
VIP COMMUNITY SERVICES GALA CELEBRATION
Partnerships in Service to the People of the Bronx and Beyond
Check out the Video of the Event
October 6, 2021, 6-10pm
Dear Friends and Community Partners:
Please join us on October 6 for our Annual Gala. The event will be held from 6pm-10pm at Marina Del Rey on 1 Marina Drive in the Bronx. Our theme, Celebrating the Community in Healthy Ways, speaks to our commitment to providing integrated and comprehensive medical, behavioral health, and social services to vulnerable and at-risk Bronx residents for the past 47 years, and highlights our response to the multiple challenges of 2020-2021. We are proud to honor Dr. Susan Beane, Vice President and Executive Medical Director of Healthfirst, a Bronx native; and, Hispanic Federation, a National membership organization of, by and for the Latino community. We will award Ruben Diaz, Jr., Bronx Borough President with VIP Community Builder Award and Darcel Clark, Bronx District Attorney with the VIP Political Impact Award.
While news with respect to COVID-19 has become more hopeful, the burden of the pandemic in New York City fell disproportionately on Bronx residents. VIP has stepped up and stepped in by, among other things, providing vaccines at our facilities, in the community and directly to home-bound seniors, as well as by pivoting to telehealth services to provide safe alternatives to care. Our plans for the near future include expanding our services to address increased medical, behavioral, and oral health needs exacerbated by COVID-19, expansion of shelter services, and a much-needed dental clinic.
In conformance with City and State COVID-19 safety rules, our gala venue, Marina del Rey, requires persons attending in person to be vaccinated.
Your support of our Annual Gala helps to ensure VIP’s continued ability to offer critical services so under-resourced communities receive the care they deserve, regardless of ability to pay. Please consider serving as a sponsor, purchasing an ad, buying tickets, or making a financial contribution in support of our programs. To participate, you can click on Register Now below.
Sincerely,
Debbian Fletcher-Blake
President and CEO
2021 GALA HONOREES
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Susan Beane, M.D.Vice President and Executive Medical Director
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Hispanic Federation
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Ruben Diaz, Jr.Bronx Borough President
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Darcel D. ClarkBronx County District Attorney
Honoring the Legacy of Donald L. Ashkenase
VIP Community Services lost a dear friend earlier this year. Don Ashkenase was a staunch advocate for improving health care for disenfranchised and under-resourced communities. He was a greatly respected leader and hospital administrator for many decades and a tireless champion of primary care. VIP is proud to honor this legacy.
We’re grateful for the support of our Event and Development Committee members!
Thank you for making this celebration possible:
Event Committee
- Virginia Alter
- Thomas Brown, Trinity Financial
- Dr. Henry Chung
- Norris Clark, Princeton Strategic Communications
- Jared Derector, Columbia Omni
- Salvatore Gogliormella, Paul Weiss (Chair, VIP Development Committee, Ex-Officio Committee Member)
- Sharelle Hicks, Interior Resources
- Priyank Patel, Felicity Pharmacy
- Errol Pierre, Healthfirst
- Silvia Ronda, Advanced Medical Billing Systems
- Sher Sparano, OneGroup
Development Committee
- Salvatore Gogliormella – Chair
- Yves Filius – Member
- Dennis Murphy – Member
- Amanda Parsons
- Lilliam Perez – Member
- Sara Schacter-Erenburg – Member
