The good work of The Salvation
Army was celebrated in music and testimony Tuesday night at its
70th Annual Gala held at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times
Square.
Philanthropist, businessman and
radio talk-show host John Catsimatidis was presented with The Pinnacle of
Achievement Award, The Salvation Army Greater New York Division’s highest
honor, for his years of generosity to the organization and to many others.
“John Catsimatidis is younger
than The Salvation Army, but he’s incredible because of his spirit and
incredible heart,” said Rita Cosby, the Emmy-winning TV host, radio star and
bestselling author who hosted the event. She likened his generosity to that of
The Salvation Army, citing The Army’s 2,707,097 meals served to the hungry last
year in the Greater New York area, as well as the 500,409 nights of shelter and
605,695 days of childcare provided.
“Think about that,” she
said. “These are incredible statistics.
Helping people in need – that’s what The Salvation Army is about. Period.”
Throughout the evening, The
Salvation Army’s Greater New York Youth Band and Chorus performed, featuring a
euphonium solo by Devonte Thompson on “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and Danielle
Beckvermit singing a powerful “O Holy Night.” Devonte and Danielle are two
young adults from Salvation Army music programs who overcame personal
challenges to excel in music.
“You put Carnegie Hall to shame,”
Cosby said of all the young musicians.
The Old and
the New
In his Invocation, Rabbi Ari Lamm
said the work of The Salvation Army followed in the tradition of one of our
great Biblical forebears.
“Those gathered here tonight are
true children of Abraham,” he said.
“Like Abraham before them, may they be a blessing to all people.”
While tradition was a highlight
of the evening, change was also celebrated. Lt. Colonel Ricardo Fernandez stepped into the role of Greater New
York Divisional Commander this past summer. Lt. Colonel Ricardo thanked those
in attendance for taking time from their busy holiday schedules to be there.
“New York is a busy place during
the holidays,” he said. “The Salvation
Army is busy right along with it.”
He spoke of the holiday relief
programs that just the week before had served Thanksgiving dinners to thousands
of homeless and hungry people throughout the Greater New York area.
“And we are just getting
started,” he said.
“The holidays are not the only
season that we are hard at work,” he continued, noting The Salvation Army’s efforts
during one of the worst hurricane seasons on record. “In every place the
hurricanes struck, from Texas to the U.S. Virgin Islands, The Salvation Army
was there, providing an extensive service to hundreds of thousands of victims
and first responders. Joining these
operations were members of our own Greater New York Emergency Services
team.”
He praised the Division’s efforts
in Puerto Rico, where roughly 10 percent of New Yorkers have roots.
“But what about the day-to-day
disasters in our own communities, the
kind that don’t make the
headlines? The Salvation Army is there,
too, working just as hard. We serve almost a million people a year throughout
New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley.”
How to Be
“HIP”
In his Christmas
Message, Pastor A.R. Bernard, founder of the Christian Cultural Center,
explained the work of The Salvation Army as being “HIP.” The “H” in that word
stands for history, he said. The “I”
represents issues that cause strife, the unresolved history, and the “P” is
whether we get involved with these issues or turn away. What makes the
difference is when the issues become personal.
The only way we are
going to change what is happening in our world, Pastor Bernard said, “is when
we understand we have to take it personally and not feel we’re removed from it.
We are our brother’s keeper.”
He said God showed
us an example of this by giving us His son.
“God looked at the
world and He took it personally.”
Here to
Help
When it came time to receive his
award, John Catsimatidis showed his humility – and his humor. Looking out over his standing ovation, he
joked, “Nobody move.”
He then talked about what was
important to him.
“I’m not here to be honored, I’m
here to help The Salvation Army,” he said. He also wanted to call attention to
the continuing hardship in Puerto Rico, from which his daughter, Andrea, had
just returned and shared with him her stories. He called on the government to
get involved.
“These are American citizens,” he
said. “For them to be suffering without
power, that’s not right.”
He said he was going to double
the amount he had planned to give to The Salvation Army.
The evening culminated in a
spirited performance by Mike Yung, who had been singing in the New York subways
for 37 years until last year when his interpretation of the Righteous Brothers
classic hit “Unchained Melody” was recorded and went viral. Within a week he
was in L.A. to appear on The Late, Late
Show with James Corden. Then it was on to America’s Got Talent where he earned a semifinalist spot on Season
12. He is now recording a CD.
“Nothing happens to you before
God says it’s time,” he said in a video presentation before he sang. “Never
give up on your dreams.”
After a knockout performance of
“the song that made me famous,” he was joined by the Greater New York Youth
Band and Chorus for “The Christmas Song” and a rousing “New York, New York.”
The evening’s closer, the Rev.
John C. Lin, had a hard task.
“How do you offer a benediction
after this?” he asked, before calling upon God’s grace for all those present
and their work.
