2021 Gala

NEW BRONX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2021 Gala

DATE: Thursday, September 30

We want to thank everyone who attended the Bronx Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Fundraising Gala. While the past year has been filled with challenges and hardships for many businesses and individuals, it has exposed the strength and heart of the Bronx. At this year’s Annual Gala, we took a look back at the last year and prepared to Get the Bronx Back to Business.


Our awards and sponsorships highlighted individuals and organizations that made an outstanding impact on our community through the challenges of Covid-19; with their support and guidance, the Bronx is on a steady path to recovery.

heartfelt Thanks to Our event Sponsors


Amazon

Amazon

Arnold & Porter

Arnold & Porter

ConEd

ConEd

DJ

DJ

Great Performances

Great Performances

MetroOptics

MetroOptics

MBD

MBD

Monroe College

Monroe College

Montefiore

Montefiore

Ponce

Ponce

RiteCheck

RiteCheck

RXR

RXR

Simone

Simone

Woodlawn

Woodlawn

Thank you to Our Honorees


Distinguished Service Award

Ruben Diaz Jr.

Bronx Borough President

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    Ruben Diaz Jr. first entered public office as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1997, and is currently serving his third full term as Bronx Borough President, having been reelected in November 2017 with more than 88 percent of the vote. As borough president, RubenDiaz Jr. has led the implementation of a robust agenda—on economic development, housing, health and wellness, education, and public safety—in every corner of the borough. The Bronx has seen over $18.9 billion in new development of all kinds since Borough President Diaz took office in 2009. This includes more than 45,000 new units of housing, most of it built for lower-income families. As borough president he lead the citywide charge for an emergency declaration to allow the agency to speed the procurement process and make necessary repairs faster and convened a public housing task force to examine safety issues in NYCHA. Since taking office in 2009 Borough President Diaz has provided tens of millions in funding to projects of all types in every Bronx neighborhood, including new technology upgrades to borough schools, green roofs and boiler upgrades, park improvements and more. Prior to his current role Borough President Diaz served seven terms in the State Legislature. During that time, he earned a reputation as a champion for working families inThe Bronx and across New York State. He demonstrated a passion for constituent service, social advocacy, criminal justice re form and community empowerment balanced with support for sensible, green economic development and job creation programs. He also sponsored and secured passage of important and innovative laws to address the consequences of the intolerable levels of asthma in the South Bronx, healthcare insurance fraud, and quality of life concerns. A lifelong resident of the Bronx, BoroughPresident Diaz lives in the Southeast Bronx with his wife Hilda Gerena Diaz.They have two sons, Ruben Diaz III and Ryan IsaiahDiaz. He graduated fromLehman College, City University of New York, with a Bachelor’s degree in political theory.

Lifetime Trailblazer Award (Posthumously)

DEPUTY Aurelia Greene

Past Deputy Bronx Borough President

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    Aurelia Greene was born and reared in the Bronx and grew up on Third Avenue. She was raised by her maternal grandmother Maud Russell (Momma), who she credited as the inspiration for her life of service. She graduated from the former Central Commercial High School (Norman Thomas High School for Business and Commercial Education) in Manhattan. She later graduated from Livingston College at Rutgers University, where she majored in Community Development.


    Prior to entering politics, Aurelia served as a public agency administrator. She also taught at Antioch College and lectured at numerous universities and colleges in the New York City area. Aurelia was first elected to the New York State Assembly in April 1982, after serving several years as the Female Democratic District Leader for the 76th Assembly District. Her district (later changed to the 77th) represented the communities of Highbridge, Claremont, East/West Concourse and Morris Heights. During her 27-year Assembly tenure, she used her urban planning skills to negotiate for affordable housing and effective tenant groups, quality education, employment opportunities, affordable healthcare and housing, senior services, youth services, economic development and worked diligently for a fortified business community. She regularly sponsored educational and informational seminars to aid her constituents on issues of current concern.


    As Assemblywoman, she introduced numerous bills, which later became state law to improve the quality of life for the residents of New York State.


    The Honorable Aurelia Greene was a trailblazer while in the Legislature. She was the first woman to chair the Banking Committee and the first African American to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore. In the prestigious capacity, she presided over the Assembly sessions in the absence of the Speaker. She also chaired the Assembly’s Bronx delegation having become the longest serving member of the body from Bronx County. Upon joining the Assembly, Aurelia Greene was a founding member of the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, Inc., and The Women’s Caucus. At the close of her tenure in the New York State Assembly, Greene served as a member of the Rules, Ways & Means, Social Services and Cities Committees and was Ranking Member of the Education Committee.


    Aurelia left the Assembly in May 2009, to join her colleague, Ruben Diaz, Jr. at Borough Hall as the Bronx Deputy Borough President, where she continued to be a stabilizing force in the betterment of the Bronx as a whole. In December 2017, Honorable Greene retired from Bronx Borough Hall, with over 50 years of public service.


    While her legislative accomplishments were impressive, she was both a dedicated mother, to Rhonda and Russell, and grandmother, as well as a mighty woman of faith, who touched numerous lives in her church community. Aurelia and husband, Reverend Jerome Greene founded the Bronx Christian Charismatic Prayer Fellowship in their home in 1983. She served faithfully in ministry, by his side until his passing in August 2004.


    Aurelia’s legacy is far reaching. She has personally and professionally touched the lives of thousands. Her fierce determination to help others changed history across the state. The work of her life will continue to impact, empower, and inspire the residents of New York State and the Borough of the Bronx for many years to come.

Chamber Partnership Award

Lucy McMillan

Pro Bono Counsel, Arnold and Porter

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    Lucy McMillan is a full-time pro bono professionalin charge of managing the Firm's impact litigation work, as well as the New York Office's pro bono litigation matters. Ms. McMillan is responsible for furthering the Firm's relationships with legal services organizations and not-for-profits, organizing and developing pro bono training programs, and assisting attorneys in obtaining pro bono matters. Ms. McMillan also handles and supervises individual pro bono matters. Ms. McMillan has significant experience in immigration, education, gun violence prevention and civil rights matters. Ms. McMillan has handled impact litigation cases, as well as matters for individuals in federal and state court, and in administrative proceedings. Ms. McMillan also works on policy and regulatory matters relating to immigration, gun violence prevention and education.

Chamber Partnership Award

Bill Tipacti

Director of Community Empowerment, Univision

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    Bill Tipacti joined the office Community Empowerment in October of 2018 after a long career in the newsroom. In this role, Tipacti continues to deepen Univision NY’s ties to the communities it serves by developing and fostering partnerships with local community organizations, institutions, and service providers, while also coordinating and executing the Company’s award-winning community empowerment platform Univision NY Contigo in the Tri-state area


    In the current role, Bill has successfully led in health, education, civic engagement, and financial empowerment community efforts. He is also in charge of the weekly community show Amigos de Univision which air Saturdays at 12:30 pm.


    Tipacti has been a part of Univision New York’s legacy for 25 years, building his career around informing and empowering the community as a long-time, Emmy-winning journalist and producer.


    Bill is an alumnus of Seton Hall University with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications.

Excellence in Healthcare Award

Marcos Crespo

Senior Vice President

Community Affairs / Montefiore Health Systems

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    Marcos Crespo joined Montefiore in 2020 after serving for 11 years as a member of the New York State Assembly representing the 85th District, which encompasses 130,000 residents of the South Bronx. When first elected in 2009, at age 28, he was one of the youngest members ever elected to the State Legislature. During his tenure he served as chair of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force and the Assembly Committee on Labor; he was co-chair of the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. In 2015, he was unanimously elected chairman of the Bronx County Democratic Committee.Mr. Crespo retired from politics to join Montefiore and is responsible for all community affairs functions at Montefiore. He is a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Organizational Leadership Award

Phillip Grant

General Manager

Hunts Point Produce Market 

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    Phillip Grant is the Chief Executive Officer of the Hunts Point Produce Market. Phillip leads a team of approximately 110 staff that support the day-to-day operations of the largest wholesale produce market in the nation. The Market is composed of 30 different merchants with a deep history in supporting New York City’s essential food infrastructure and spanning multiple generations of expertise. Phillip, in collaboration with these merchants, was pivotal to keeping New York City fed throughout the pandemic.


    Previously, Phillip held the role of Senior Vice President and Director of Construction for the Asset Management Operations division of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). Phillip led the divisions over $1 billion capital project portfolio. Key projects included NYC Ferry, Brooklyn Army Terminal Phase V, the Made in New York Campus (MiNY), and various capital projects in the Hunts Point area of the Bronx. Phillip is a Licensed Professional Engineer in New York and a certified construction manager. Phillip is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University and holds an MBA from Mercy College.

Innovation in Student Athletics Award

Cardinal Hayes High School Track Team

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SPECIAL GUESTS


Master of Ceremonies

Robert Walsh

1010 WINS Radio

ERIC ADAMS

Brooklyn Borough President & Democratic Mayoral Candidate

PERFORMANCES BY:


Goumba Johnny

Steven Maglio

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