Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today proclaimed June 8 as Greenwich House Day in New York City during a benefit dinner honoring journalist Jack Newfield and the Greenwich House in Manhattan. Joining the Mayor were former New York State Inspector General Joe Spinelli, Greenwich House President and Anita Kurman Gulkin, Greenwich House Board of Directors Chair Ronald Lamey and guest of honor Jack Newfield.
"Tonight's honoree, Jack Newfield, once wrote that 'the moral authority of exemplary action can change lives.' Greenwich House's legacy of community-based outreach epitomizes that spirit, and so it is fitting that this night brings them together."
"Greenwich House and Jack Newfield share a great deal in common," the Mayor continued. "Both are respected New York City institutions; both share a concern for the problems of our City and a determination to propose solutions to these problems.
"Since Greenwich House was founded in 1902, and consistently over its 96-year history, this organization has met the challenges of our century with a steadfast belief in providing community solutions to city wide problems," continued the Mayor. "Whether it's through counseling programs for substance abusers, victims of child abuse, or people with AIDS ... or whether its through cultural programs that enrich the lives of our children and senior citizens with art and education, Greenwich House's consistent concern has been to strengthen the most basic building block of society - the individual.
"For the last 35 years, Jack Newfield has been our City's advocate, our conscience and our critic. In a very real sense he has kept the spirit of Greenwich House's founder, Jacob Riis, alive on the written page. His columns and books have spurred investigations, reform, and in some cases, lasting policy changes. But no matter what the results, they have always stirred the civic conscience of the reader. And that is something we can never have too much of in our City," concluded the Mayor.
Greenwich House was founded in 1902 as the Cooperative Social Settlement Society by Jacob Riis, Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch, Carl Schurz, Felix Adler and other social reformers. Its mission was to improve the living conditions among the predominantly immigrant population occupying Greenwich Village at that time through a series of programs based on educational improvements and counseling.
During the last 10 years, under the leadership of Anita Kurman Gulkin, Greenwich House has implemented many new programs to meet contemporary issues. The AIDS Mental Health project, the Arts-in-Education program, the Alcoholism Treatment Program and the Parole Treatment Program are among the more successful programs initiated by Greenwich House.
Greenwich House is honoring Jack Newfield for his eloquent championing of New York City and all its citizens. Jack Newfield is an award-winning journalist, a community activist, and an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker.