PSGDC Home Page > Newsletter Home > Winter 2006 Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3
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Honoring
the Past * Celebrating the Future We had so many things to celebrate at the November 3, 2005, 20th Anniversary Gala. Not only did 2005 mark the conclusion of our 20th year of programming, but we celebrated our new partnership with Leeza’s Place, which opened its doors to assist caregivers in October 2005 at our Prospect Park West center. The
Gala was also a chance to honor some wonderful co-workers and friends.
With four of the five founders in attendance, and the late Fannie
Vassello in our hearts, PSGDC created a new Founders Award, to be
given annually. Ann Akers, Ida O’Grady Clark, Emilie Roy Corey,
and Marianne Nicolosi were on hand to present former Executive Director
and tireless advocate
on aging issues, Bill Dionne, with the award. Rabbi
Gerald I. Weider, retiring religious leader of Congregation Beth
Elohim in Park OXO
Good Grips was honored for their products that help persons with
disabilities maintain their independence and dignity. Ida
O’Grady Clark presented
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Leeza introduced her friend, the actress Linda Dano, who spoke directly to caregivers from her own experience caring for family members. She honored PSGDC for all it does to help ease the difficulties and stress involved in caring for a loved one who has been diagnosed with a progressive disease.
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz gave a lively tribute
to PSGDC and thanked the organization for its twenty years of
providing excellent services for Brooklyn seniors. City Councilmember
David Yassky and State Assemblymember Jim Mary E. Brennan, President of PSGDC’s Board of Directors, thanked everyone who attended and supported the Gala and who has helped support PSGDC over the years. In November 2004 we held a reception to thank board members, staff, and volunteers from PSGDC’s 20 years; this was the kick-off event for our anniversary celebrations. During the early months of 2005 four house party events carried along the celebrations and introduced new people to PSGDC’s programs. We are very grateful to our hosts for each of these special evenings: Gene Feldman, Joan and Gerry Schieber, Lauree and Greg Hickok, and Meg Mazzeo. It
was a wonderful year of celebrations, and for many it didn’t end
until late in the evening at the Gala as people stayed on dancing
to the music of The Rockinghams! We
would like to thank everyone who attended the Gala, and these
donors for their most generous support:
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Bill
served as Executive Director from 1986-1991 and as a member of the
Board of Directors for the following 14 years. He is the Executive
Director of the Burden Center for the Aging in Manhattan and a constant
presence at government hearings and professional conferences promoting
better services for older people. In presenting the award, Emilie
Roy Corey offered her appreciation of Bill’s knowledge of all aspects
of elder care and his readiness to jump in wherever needed, adding
fun to any situation. 
Slope, received PSGDC’s Good Neighbor Award for his 25 years of
service to the Park Slope community. 
Katherine
Lubensky, National Sales Manager for OXO, accepted the award from
Judy Tomao, Vice President of PSGDC’s, Board of Directors and Chair
of the Development Committee. 
special honors to the Aricept Disease Management Team of Pfizer
Inc. for the development of Aricept, a drug that gives hope to persons
with Alzheimer’s Disease and their families.
We
were lucky to have with us Leeza Gibbons, journalist, TV and radio
personality, and founder of Leeza’s Place, a program of the Leeza
Gibbons Memory Foundation. There are three Leeza’s Place facilities
open around the country, with five planned, and one is right here
in Brooklyn: Leeza’s Place at Park Slope Geriatric Day Center.
Leeza spoke movingly of her family’s journey after her grandmother
and then her mother were diagnosed with Alz-heimer’s Disease.
She spoke with excitement about the new partnership with PSGDC,
which offers an intimate and safe setting where caregivers and
those recently diagnosed with any memory disorder can gather to
prepare themselves for the challenging journey ahead. 
Brennan
were also in attendance. 
The Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden provided a lovely
setting for the evening, none of which would have happened without
the enthusiastic leadership of our event chair, Lauree Hickok,
and our development committee chair, Judy Tomao. Both gave many
volunteer hours to making out 20th anniversary celebrations such
a success.