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Dear Flushing House Friends:
As many of you already know, Hurricane Sandy caused us to postpone our November 8, 2012 Gala. On top of Sandy’s power outages and gas shortages, an unseasonably early Nor‘easter, forecast to hit one day before, convinced us to hold our fundraiser at a later date. We immediately told our guests of this momentous decision.
We hope and pray that all our friends and supporters came through this crisis unscathed and undaunted. To all who sent in their RSVPs, know that we deeply appreciated your support, patience, and trust. And now, we’re happy to report that our Gala has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 25, 2013, 6:00 to 11:00 p.m., at Flushing Town Hall! We hope this news gets you all “fired up and ready to go!”
No additional payments are required to attend our April 25th Gala, if you already sent yours in! Also, if you, your organization or friends placed an ad in our Journal, copies will be distributed to all guests that evening. In addition, our Rose Kryzak and Older Adult Ministry honorees will receive their awards during the festivities. Finally, we’re very pleased to report that world-famous tenor Daniel Rodriguez will perform for us, and his powerful voice will surely strengthen the Flushing House mission!
Please be advised that your check or credit card gift was deposited in our endowment fund, before the cancellation decision. Your support helps a small number of Flushing House residents who are having difficulty with their rents. In our 38 year history, we never had a resident evicted due to an inability to pay. As a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, tax exempt and registered charity, your gifts are fully tax-deductible.
Please call me at (347) 532-3025 to let me know that you’ll be joining us on April 25, 2013. And, if you’re one of our honorees, business partners or contractors who invited several guests to attend November 8, 2012, please tell me if your same group will join us April 25th. I’m counting on you to put the word out, and then to call or send an email to me (rsalant@uam.org) with your list of names. A formal invitation will be mailed shortly to all who RSVP’d to the November 8, 2012 Gala.
And, we welcome additional members of the public who’d like to attend our April 25, 2013 Gala! Your support will help strengthen the Flushing House mission, plus you’ll get to hear the powerful voice of Daniel Rodriguez, all for just $75! So, if you’d like to attend April 25, 2013, please RSVP by sending a check for $75 payable to: United Adult Ministries, and mail it in to me, Robert F. Salant, Director of Community Relations, Flushing House, 38-20 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354. All RSVPs must be received by April 15, 2013, the cut off date. Call me at (347) 532-3025 or email rsalant@uam.org with any questions.
Sincerely,
Robert F. Salant
DON’T MISS TENOR DANIEL RODRIGUEZ AT FLUSHING TOWN HALL THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8TH!
October 26, 2012 MEDIA ADVISORY Contact: Robert Salant (347) 532-3025
Request for coverage:
Tenor Daniel Rodriguez Performs At Flushing House Gala
Flushing, New York, October 26, 2012 – “America’s beloved tenor” Daniel Rodriguez, will entertain guests at a gala fundraiser on Thursday, November 8, 2012, at Flushing Town Hall, Flushing, NY.
The annual gala fundraiser benefits United Adult Ministries, D/B/A Flushing House, the not-for-profit retirement residence based in Flushing, NY. All proceeds support a special endowment fund, allowing Flushing House to remain affordable for many of the older adults who live there. The guests who will attend this benefit are supporting the Flushing House mission while being entertained by their special guest, tenor Daniel Rodriguez, who thrills audiences the world over with his booming, operatic voice!
SPECIAL EDITOR ALERT: Please don’t miss this live performance by New York’s Daniel Rodriguez, whose emotional a cappella renditions of “God Bless America,” did a lot to lift the nation’s spirit in the wake of 9/11. Shortly after 7 pm Daniel performs God Bless America, The Star Spangled Banner and Ave Maria. The media is cordially invited to attend and cover this performance. Flushing Town Hall is located at — 137-35 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11354, (718) 463-7700.
Daniel was the unheralded “Singing Policeman” in his sideline as one of the NYPD’s “National Anthem” singers. He was called upon to sing September 23, 2001, at the “Prayer for America” concert at Yankee Stadium, honoring victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. Tenor Placido Domingo Placido, who was also on the bill, heard him and invited Daniel to attend his Domingo/Vilar Young Artists Institute in Washington, D.C.
The rest is like a dream come true. Daniel left the NYPD in 2004, and today enjoys his second career as the world-famous tenor, recording numerous albums and appearing as a lead tenor with several major operas. Nowadays, he maintains a very busy schedule, performing year-round at many domestic and international concert halls.
Despite his world fame, Daniel still performs around New York, supporting favorite charities, giving his time, talent and notoriety to assist retirement communities like Flushing House, churches and various not-for-profit organizations. For all his good works, United Adult Ministries is proud to honor Daniel with our 2012 Humanitarian Award. (See attachment for background on Daniel.)
Program Notes:
If the public wishes to attend they may RSVP by calling Robert Salant, director of community relations, (347) 532-3025 or by emailing rsalant@uam.org. Tickets are $75/person.
Three honorees will receive the UAM Rose Kryzak Senior Leadership Award-
Estela B. Divino (Mineola), social services director, Regal Heights Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
Carol O’Dette (Bellerose), social services director, Ozanam Hall of Queens Nursing Home.
Mary Sheehan-Lohne (West Hempstead), social services director, Cliffside Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
Two honorees will receive the UAM Older Adult Ministry Award-
Thelma Gerold (Bellmore), Deacon, Bellmore Presbyterian Church.
Lisa Sisenwein (Flushing), Clerk of Session and Secretary, First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone.
We are pleased to advise you that Daniel Rodriguez will be available to give media interviews after his performance, and the media is cordially invited to attend, starting at 7 pm. Please call Robert Salant, (347) 532-3025 or email rsalant@uam.org if you plan to attend and cover this event.
United Adult Ministries, the parent company of Flushing House, will honor three outstanding persons with The Rose Kryzak Senior Leadership Award, during their annual gala fundraising dinner on Thursday, November 3, 2011.
The awards are named after the late Rose Kryzak, a prodigious public advocate who fought for the rights of older adults. A resident of the UAM-sponsored Flushing House for her last 13 years, she passed on June 24, 1999 at 99 years of age. To keep her legacy alive and further the many causes she cared for, UAM established the Kryzak Awards in 2000 and New York’s former First Lady Matilda Cuomo officiated at the program’s inauguration.
Rose Kryzak was best known for spearheading passage of New York State’s landmark 1987 Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage legislation (EPIC). But earlier in her life she fought for passage of Social Security, for the poor and elderly during the Federal budget cuts of the 1980′s, for increases in New York’s share of Supplemental Security Income, and for mandatory Medicare assignments and passage of universal health care.
At each annual Gala, Rose Kryzak’s grandchildren and family attend to help honor the award winners for their continuing good works on behalf of older adults. The award winners must have established, operated or expanded programs that benefit our older adult population, and have a track record of advocacy and securing funds for senior programs.
This year’s honorees are Lawrence Harfmann, Stavroula Joannidis, and Rose Lawrence. “They have all soldiered on in the great tradition of Rose Kryzak, making major contributions of service and caring for older adults,” said Robert F. Salant, Flushing House director of community relations. “The legacy of Rose Kryzak shall not be forgotten, and that’s why each year since her passing, we bestow these awards in her name,” Salant said.
Lawrence S. Harfmann, MSW, has served as program manager of the CCNS Catherine M. Sheridan Senior Center, Jackson Heights, from April 2001 to the present. He is responsible for daily operations of the center, serving over 160 older adults; for budgetary management, case management, dietary and transportation services, and supervises a staff of nine. He ensures all center functions are in compliance with DFTA guidelines and government regulations. Larry advocates effectively for center funding, working with federal, state and city officials and agencies.
From 1992 to 2000, Larry was a community relations assistant for New York City Council Services. On a voluntary basis, Larry served as chairman in 1982 of the ‘Save Our Social Security Office’ campaign in Glendale, Queens, which was successful in keeping the office open. He was also chairman of the Elmhurst Hospital Community Advisory Board. Earlier in his career, he served for 16 years as an assistant manager in ABC TV administration.
Stavroula Joannidis was appointed director of the HANAC Archbishop Iakovos Senior Center of Long Island City in 1993. Her center is housed in the first HANAC Senior Residence. Since the start, Stavroula ran a supportive center that ensures seniors access to services, a nutritious lunch and recreational/educational programs. She is also director of the HUD Service Coordinator program, a federally-subsidized program linking HANAC’s senior housing residents to services, enabling residents to age in place.
Between 1995 and 2002, she served as the site manager for the HANAC Senior Residence, the federally-subsidized building housing seniors and disabled adults. She has a Masters in Psychology and Post-Masters Certificate in Gerontology. She always works hard on issues affecting seniors, tirelessly advocating on their behalf. For several years she was HANAC’s representative to the Action Committee of the Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City.
Rose G. Lawrence, LMSW, was program manager of the CCNS Seaside Adult Community Center of Rockaway Beach since 2004, until she retired in July 2011. She ran the daily operations at her center, including staff supervision, budget management and service delivery; serving 240 seniors daily. Rose made sure the center adhered to program compliance with all governmental regulations. She coordinated cultural and educational activities, plus transportation for medical and recreational trips. And she worked closely with elected officials, advocating effectively for federal, state and city funds.
Rose was quoted in a full-length article with color photos in the New York Times (March 27, 2011) titled “Alone, Together.” The article included many stories from seniors living alone, who have found true friendships with others at her center. Rose was quoted as saying that with her center under recurrent threat of funding cuts, her people will not feel safe until next year’s budget cycle is completed. She previously served as program director of the St. Louis Senior Center, Brooklyn, NY, from 1990 to 2004.
The gala fundraising dinner will be held on November 3, 2011, at Westbury Manor, Westbury, Long Island, and begins at 6:00 p.m.
Those interested in attending should RSVP by October 24, 2011, by sending in their name and address, along with a $75 check payable to United Adult Ministries, to Robert F. Salant, director of community relations, Flushing House, 38-20 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354. For more information, please call 347-532-3025 or send an email to rsalant@uam.org.
All proceeds support a special endowment fund, which allows Flushing House to remain affordable for many of the older adults who live there.
Built in 1974, Flushing House is a not-for-profit retirement residence, and was one of the first to offer older adults independent living with supportive services on-premises. Please go to www.flushinghouse.com for more information.
Contact: Robert F. Salant, 347-532-3025, rsalant@uam.org
As in previous years, Flushing House has scheduled three “Elder Law Seminars” at Flushing House for Spring 2011. Once again, we open our doors to the community, and use our large dining room as a great hall to hear from the experts on the vital issues of our times.
This spring our seminars focus on Medicare changes arising from the recently passed “Obama Care” (it’s actually called the Affordable Care Act [ACA]), with a particular emphasis on changes that will occur in 2011. Participants will learn more about the ACA and the Medicare Part D prescription benefit, expansion of Medicare-covered services, long-term care services and supports, Medicare private health plans (Medicare Advantage), and more.
Our seminars will also examine House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R) 2012 budget plan, entitled “Path to Prosperity.” If passed, this plan would slash over $6 trillion in the next 10 years from U.S. spending, reform and cut entitlements, overhaul sections of the tax code, and more. Ryan’s plan includes: reduction of the corporate tax rate to 25 percent; spending cuts with enforceable caps; reforms to “save critical health and retirement programs”; and health reform that “repeals and defunds the president’s health care law.”
Republicans say the plan would save money by reform of the Medicaid system, privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and cutting discretionary spending below 2008 levels. Over the long term, the GOP plan would transform the nation’s Medicare program, changing it from a government-run system that pays seniors’ health bills, into a system where seniors buy insurance plans subsidized by the federal government. Democrats have dubbed it the “Road to Ruin.” House Republicans are now facing heat in their home districts, since they voted for Paul Ryan’s Medicare-slashing budget.
Ann M. Carrozza, Esq., former New York State Assembly Member and elder law attorney, will give our first seminar on Saturday, June 4, 2011. In addition to the above, she will also address the subject of protecting assets in the event of long-term illness. Ronald Fatoullah, Esq., elder law attorney, will give our second seminar on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Along with the above topics, he will also discuss changes in law which will expand the definition of “estate” for Medicaid recovery purposes. In addition, he will address changes to the EPIC program, which impacts seniors. Jessica Foster, Education Associate, Medicare Rights Center, will give our third seminar Saturday, June 18, 2011. She will lead a conversation on health care reform’s impact on Medicare. She will also touch on the current budget debate and how deficit-reduction proposals might change Medicare.
All three seminars will be from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. in the Flushing House dining room; there will be refreshments available. There will be free handouts from the speakers. The seminars are open to the public and admission is free. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to me at (347) 532-3025 or rsalant@uam.org. But please, RSVP ASAP, because our dining room seats about 150 people comfortably, so it’s first come, first serve!
We welcome your comments on the debate raging across the nation. Do you think “entitlements” are the real cause of our deficit problems? Do you believe the burden of eliminating our budget deficit should be placed on the shoulders of the elderly, the working class, and the poor? What alternative solutions would you suggest, in order to get the U.S. budget “back in the black?” Tell us what you think!
The newly-expanded Computer Learning/Multi-media Center at Flushing House is open for residents use, thanks to funds secured by Assembly member Ann Margaret Carrozza.
Carrozza who attended the centers ribbon cutting ceremony on December 14 secured $5,000 in local initiative funds through a grant from the New York State office for the Aging, allowing the new center to purchase a large screen wall-mounted HD-television, four flat-screen computer monitors, five computer desks and a Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board. Residents at the ribbon cutting ceremony were excited about using the new equipment. The grant application was completed and filed by Robert Salant, Flushing House.
For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:
http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2010/12/20/news/top_stories/doc4d0b9c1d2d7c8256175335.txt
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Here is an image of Rose Kryzak, the famous senior citizen advocate/activist who was a long-time resident of Flushing House. She lived here for her last 13 years. She died in July 1999 at the age of 99. From her apartment at Flushing House she spearheaded the passage in 1987 of New York State’s EPIC bill. After her passing, I approached her family and asked if we could honor other senior advocates, in her name, at our annual Gala every fall. They approved and each year for the last 10 years her family has joined with us and helped to give out the awards to worthy recipients.
By Robert Salant, Flushing House
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