GFDD Collaborates on Activity Honoring Dominican High-Achievers in New York During “Duarte Honors”

On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, Hands On New York & Dominicanos Unidos de New York (DUNY), in collaboration with Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), hosted a community celebration of Dominican Heritage Month under the theme "The Duarte Honors", within the framework of celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Juan Pablo Duarte’s birth.

The special occasion, which took place at the Montecarlo Room in the
Bronx, honored several high-profile personalities and students who have excelled for their valuable contributions and achievements in the City of New York and beyond.

Prominent Community Leader and President of DUNY, Haile Rivera, who masterminded the event stated. "The personalities and students that we are honoring tonight have shown that, with determination, anything can be achieved. A perfect example is our Founding Father Juan Pablo Duarte, who never let the
circumstances and threats defeat him and who fought for his people to be free and independent”.

The high-profile personalities that were honored were; Sully Bonnelly, fashion designer; Rudy Fuertes, President of the Fine Fare supermarket franchise; Cid Wilson, Chairman of the committee for the creation of the National Museum of the American Latino and financial analyst at the New York Stock Exchange; Dr. Juan Tapia-Mendoza, Pediatrics 2000; Manny Ortiz of
MannyZoom.com; Miguel Cruz Tejeda, prominent New York-based journalist; Johnny Marines, artistic entrepreneur; Félix Jerez, community activist and District 7 council candidate for the Democratic Party; and Carlos Abreu, owner of the Montecarloroom.

Rubby Pérez, "La Voz Más Alta del Merengue (The Highest Voice in Merengue)" received a special recognition for his musical achievements and for highlighting Merengue and
the Dominican Republic in international settings. Unexpectedly, music legend Fernando Villalona, ’El Mayimbe’, also attended and was greeted with strong applause and appreciation from the audience.

Thehigh achieving students who were honored, apart from being recognized by the Municipal Council (City Hall), received a gift card from Target, individual assistance to enroll in college, and a copy of the highly coveted GFDD and FUNGLODE publications
“Dominican Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Environment’ and of the ”New Perspectives: Dominican Republic,’ courtesy of GFDD.

Links:
www.duny.org
www.handsonnewyork.net