Easter Seals New York's Annual Meeting Honors Board Member and Celebrates Program Expansion

BRONX, N.Y., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Easter Seals New York celebrated another exceptional year of program growth with its New York City, Long Island, and Hudson Valley Annual Meeting on December 6th.  The Annual Meeting serves as an introduction of this year's program Ambassadors, the faces of the organization, as well as an event and awards ceremony for supporters and leaders of the organization who have significantly impacted our programs and services for individuals with disabilities or special needs during the past year. Held at the beautiful New York Botanical Garden, this year's Annual Meeting was both memorable and moving.

"The Annual Meeting was a wonderful event to meet our new Ambassadors and to share the incredible progress we've made in our programs," says Joseph A. DiChiara, Chairman of the Board. "Easter Seals New York has expanded its services greatly over the last year to serve more individuals with disabilities and special needs."

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural James M. DiBenedetto Award. Previously the Board Leadership Award, this award is typically given to a board member who has gone above and beyond in his efforts to support Easter Seals New York and their mission. Due to the incredible nature of his dedication to Easter Seals New York over his thirty years with the organization, James M. DiBenedetto of Wilson Elser was the recipient of his namesake award.

"Jimmy DiBenedetto is a shining example of altruism and public service," says John W. McGrath, Executive Director of Advancement.  "Most of his adult life he has spent serving those who are less fortunate with Easter Seals New York, and it is a privilege to be able to annually honor him by presenting the James M. DiBenedetto Award to future recipients."   

Easter Seals New York offers a wide variety of programs in New York City, Long Island, and Hudson Valley for individuals with disabilities or special needs. Five child development centers in Hudson Valley and New York City offer preschool, Universal Prekindergarten, after school, special education, and therapy services, in addition to a monthly community outreach in Port Jervis, a senior employment services program in New York City, and a nationally ranked quadriplegic rugby team in Long Island. In addition to the aforementioned programs, Easter Seals New York provides programs across the state in Capital District, as well as Western Regions.  

For nearly 90 years, Easter Seals New York has been at the forefront of providing exceptional services throughout the state to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. Last year, Easter Seals New York directly touched the lives of more than 18,000 individuals and their families.

For more information about Easter Seals New York or the Annual Meeting, please call (503) 708-3742 or visit www.eastersealsny.org.

Contact:
Nora Liebman
(503) 708-3742
[email protected]

SOURCE Easter Seals New York