Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service
Thanks Supporters at Its 135th Anniversary Party

NEW YORK (June 13, 2002) - The Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service (BBCS) marked 135 years of service to the New York community last night with an anniversary celebration at ASTRA on the Upper East Side. The event also recognized BBCS's very significant involvement in the September 11 disaster relief efforts, and thanked friends and supporters for their vital contributions to these endeavors as well as the Bureau's ongoing work.

"We are grateful to our staff and volunteers for their strong commitment and tireless efforts to help those in need," said Donna A. Santarsiero, Executive Director, Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service.

"Our work would not be possible without the generous support of individuals, foundations and corporations who contributed to support the Bureau's many wonderful programs and our disaster relief effort," said Wallace P. Parker, Jr., Chairman of the Board, BBCS, and President, KeySpan Energy Delivery.

Since September 11, BBCS has provided emergency cash assistance (largely to prevent eviction and foreclosure), trauma counseling, employment services, job placement and other critical services to those left unemployed in the wake of the terrorist attacks. To date, the Bureau has provided cash assistance and services to 3,500 individuals and their families — a total of more than 8,000 people, at a cost of nearly $6 million.

At the same time, the agency has continued its primary mission of providing core services to New York's most vulnerable residents: children, families living in poverty, and disabled men and women struggling to become more independent.

The Bureau has received generous contributions from The New York Times 9/11 Neediest Fund, McCormick Tribune Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, the Stroock Spirit of New York Fund, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Robin Hood Relief Fund, the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue and many other foundations, corporations and individuals to help its 9/11 relief effort.

The Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service (www.bbcs.org) is a not-for-profit (501C.3), non-sectarian community-based social services agency that provides a wide array of critical support services to vulnerable children and families and disabled adults. It is one of the seven New York Times Neediest Fund agencies. Founded in 1866, the Bureau has 620 staff; over 500 volunteers and 20 sites throughout Brooklyn. The Bureau is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of 41 corporate, professional, and civic leaders as well as community representatives. During the past year, BBCS has served more than 25,000 individuals.

BACK TO EVENT PHOTOS