HANAC’s 51st Anniversary Gala

HANAC, the NYC non-profit organization that has been providing affordable housing, social programming, and independent living for older adults for 51 years will hold their annual Gala on Friday, October 27th, at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City.

This year, HANAC is presenting the inaugural Public Service Award to Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging, for her incredible work serving the older adult community across the city. The award will be presented by Adolfo Carrión Jr., Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner. HANAC will be honoring two Persons of the Year, Richard Browne of Sterling Project Development and Theodora Diamantis, Vice President, Account Manager at Skanska USA, for their invaluable contributions to New York City and the local community, including their respective roles in the development and completion of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center. Additionally, this year’s Volunteer of the Year award will be presented to Lilian Dellis, for a lifetime of service to her local community and her fantastic contributions to HANAC’s work as President of the Advisory Board at the HANAC Harmony JVL Older Adult Center.

One program in particular that hopes to benefit from this year’s Gala is HANAC’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program. It is the organization’s oldest running program; over 30,000 students have benefitted from ESL classes at HANAC. For most immigrants, learning the language is the key to unlocking the American Dream. Finding gainful employment, securing long-term stability, and setting up a future for one’s family all become much more attainable after learning English. This ESL program is one of the centerpieces of HANAC’s over 51 years of service, and a necessary resource for the vulnerable communities who rely on it to give them the leg-up they need to build their lives here in the United States.