Bridges to Community Announces 2014 Recipient of the Outstanding Vision and Commitment to Action Award
Ossining, NY (PRWEB) March 26, 2014 -- Bridges to Community Executive Director John Hannan announced today that Anthony D’Urso, former North Hempstead Councilman will receive their 2014 Outstanding Vision and Commitment to Action Award. The award is given to individuals who have a made a significant impact in helping people in the developing world.
On April 26, local philanthropists, community leaders and luminaries will join Bridges to Community as the organization honors the achievements of Anthony (Tony) D'Urso at its 2014 Vision and Commitment Awards Dinner. This very special event will be held at the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club in Mamaroneck NY to celebrate the accomplishments of this great man with proceeds funding Bridge’s vital community development programs in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
Bridges to Community is a twenty year-old nonprofit community development organization that takes volunteers to developing countries to work, learn, and reflect on how to build a better world. The organization is made up of people from different cultures, countries, ages, professions and socio-economic backgrounds that work together to build relationships of empathy, respect and support.
“Our 2014 honoree reminds us of what has always been an American tradition—that problems are solved by each of us doing our part so that together we build a better community and a better world,” said Bridges to Community Board Chair, Frank Pepe.
A native of Italy, Tony came to the U.S in 1960 seeking the American Dream after experiencing the horrors of WWII. While working all day to pay bills, he attended night school to turn his dreams into a reality, and built his own successful construction company. In the 1970s, Tony turned his attention to his community, and became an integral part of the New York Housing Authority, where he was responsible for restoring burned out buildings, and building new units for public housing.
In 1991 Tony decided to run for public office, where he was elected Councilman for the Town of North Hempstead, Long Island, where he served for the next 14 year, retiring in 2005. Since retiring Tony has devoted himself to three different charities, traveling thousands of miles at his own expense to do one simple thing, build houses, schools and a better life for people simply because it is the right thing to do.
As Tony explains, “I can't understand why children have to live this way. What did they do to deserve to live in structural poverty so that no matter what they do, they won't get out?"
Tony decided to work with Bridges after seeing the organization featured on a local cable news channel where he saw a friend volunteering. Bridges offers him a vehicle to help break the bonds of poverty and despair.
Since that day Tony has traveled twice a year for the last 7 years for a total of 15 trips and has helped build more than 16 houses. He has reached out to his personal, faith-based, and political connections to connect them to Bridges work and raise the funds needed to complete these projects.
Past Awardees have included local and national institutional and individual leaders such as Charles Ramsey, The Bedford Presbyterian Church, Temple Shaaray Tefila, Jillian Martin and Rick Bauman; each of whom has made highly significant contributions to furthering service learning, community development and cross cultural understanding in the US and beyond.
The award dinner is on Saturday, April 26th from 7 to 11PM. Please contact John Hannan at 914.923.2200 for more information. The Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club is located at 555 South Barry Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY 10543.
About Bridges to Community
Now in its third decade, Bridges to Community promotes community development by taking volunteers to developing countries to work, learn, and reflect. Bridges to Community is made up of people from different cultures, countries, ages, professions and socio-economic backgrounds that work together to build relationships of empathy, respect and support. To learn more visit Bridges online at http://www.bridgestocommunity.org.
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