[PHOTO LINK BELOW] Many of New York’s most influential policy makers, community advocates and leaders gathered this past Sunday, June 7, to support Met Council’s mission of fighting poverty and renew their personal commitments to helping the needy..

Fourteen outstanding individuals and organizations were honored for their work throughout New York City, and attendees from federal, state and local government commended the honorees for their dedication as well as Met Council for its valuable presence.

The organizations honored included the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany, UJA-Federation of New York and Robin Hood Foundation.

The federal, state and local honorees included: Governor Paterson, Congressman Engel, Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, State Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, State Assemblyman Darryl C. Towns, Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, Speaker Christine Quinn, Councilmember Inez Dickens, Councilmember James Vacca, Stuart Applebaum and Stacy Scheinberg.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who was honored with the City Leadership Award, remarked, “Thank you Met Council – you are our partners in our work, in helping New Yorkers who are hungry get fed, helping seniors who need housing get housed, and helping people who need a little extra get that help in a culturally competent way.”

Many of the honorees stressed the importance of building community partnerships with agencies like Met Council.  State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver commented, “It is government’s obligation to direct resources to support human services agencies.  These agencies are able to meet the needs in our community more efficiently and effectively.”

The severities of Jewish poverty, particularly in this economic downturn, were touched on as well. Congressman Jerry Nadler, a long-time friend of Met Council, noted, “There was a time when the idea of Jewish poverty was an oxymoron – people didn’t believe it existed.  Unfortunately, that was never true and it isn’t true now.  We have to worry about Jewish poor just as we have to worry about low-income people from all groups.”

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(YWN Desk – NYC)