Program News 2004
A Fundraising Success
On October 28th Good Shepherd Services held its seventeenth Annual Benefit at the Puck Building in lower Manhattan. This was our biggest and most successful fundraiser, by far, as we grossed approximately $680,000. The theme of the Benefit was "Celebrating Leadership" as we honored Alan H. Fishman, CEO and President of Independence Community Bank. Mr. Fishman and Independence (both the Bank and Foundation) have been strong and longstanding supporters of Good Shepherd, and particularly of South Brooklyn Community High School (SBCHS) in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
They have recognized the need to educate, nurture, and give hope to youth who have been excessively truant or have dropped out of school by providing them with an innovative learning environment. Good Shepherd, with the Bank's support, built a new state-of-the-art facility in 2001, where this year 57 young people received a Regents diploma and moved on to a brighter future.
The support of our event by the Bank and its foundation was extraordinary, as evidenced by the more than 400 people in attendance and the dollars raised. The evening, particularly speeches by Alan Fishman, as well as special guest chancellor Joel Klein from the NYC Department of Education, underscored the many ways that Good Shepherd's educational support programs are helping disconnected youth succeed.
Noel Delgado, a former program participant at SBCHS, spoke of how he has become a "tangible outcome." With the help of Good Shepherd he has overcome obstacles in his personal life and has found success. Noel was recently hired as Program Director of our school-based community center in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
November 2, 2004
