Ninth Annual Gala Dinner and Auction
Food, Friends and Serious Bidding
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Peggy Rafferty and Tim O'Connor, Mercy Center's 2013 Gala honorees.
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MERCY CENTER held its Ninth Annual Gala Dinner and Auction honoring Peggy Rafferty and Tim O'Connor at the New York Botanical Garden on April 10th. Courtesy of the Vezza family, guests enjoyed a complimentary visit to the Garden's Orchid Show before checking in for a night of abundance. Electronic bidding devices facilitated the action once again.
We want to thank all who supported the Gala for making it a lively and memorable event. Even a surprise downpour couldn't drown out the fun!
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Joseph S. Dirr Technology Center Takes Shape
Closing the Digital Divide in the South Bronx
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Mockup of the Joseph S. Dirr Technology Center created by Daria Pizzetta, architect and member of the Board of Advisors.
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THE FUND-A-NEED segment of the auction raised over $53,000 for the Joseph S. Dirr Technology Center, named in tribute to Mercy Center's recently retired Co-Executive Director.
Architect and longtime Mercy Center supporter Daria Pizzetta generously provided professional renderings of the proposed space. Mercy Center has partnered with InfoTech to build and maintain the Center. Read more about the partnership here.
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Shop Healthy . . . in Your Local Bodega!
Major NYC Health Advocates Team Up for Workshop at Mercy Center
WHAT WOULD YOU like to see changed about your local supermarket or bodega? Our partner, Ironwill Foundation president Mark Scherzer, asked community members this question during the "Shop Healthy" initiative launched at Mercy Center.
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Emma Rodgers (left) from Bronx Health Reach waits while Mercy Center Family and Youth Program Manager Debra Panek translates her presentation into Spanish.
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Guest speakers included:
- Emma Rodgers, Bronx Health Reach
- Chantelle Brathewaite, NYC Department of Health
- Alane Celeste Villalvir, City Harvest
The "Shop Healthy" program promotes healthy foods like no-sugar-added, low-salt canned goods; fresh fruits and vegetables; low-fat  milk and dairy products; and whole grain bakery items.
Guided by the Ironwill Foundation, attendees compiled a list of favorite supermarkets and bodegas and the healthier products they would like to be available. The petitions will be sent to vendors along with a pledge to purchase the new choices when they appear on the shelves.
News 12 Bronx featured a segment about the event here.
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Mercy Center Opens Opportunity Center
for New Americans
Making America Home; Avoiding Scams
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Project Coordinator Bridget Splain poses in the Office for New Americans Opportunity Center.
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Since the project's ESOL and citizenship programs connected to the Opportunity Center rely heavily on the integration of technology, they have been catalysts in expediting plans for the Joseph S. Dirr Technology Center -- another avenue bringing the latest technology to the South Bronx.
 | ESOL Program Coordinator Judith Criado Fiuza assists participants with newly acquired computer skills as they learn English.
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When Univision, a television station with the largest Spanish-language viewership in the country, broadcast a hotline number that connected participants to Mercy Center, inquiries to explore a path to citizenship soared. "The program is allowing us to reach a new population. It's a great opportunity to open new doors for the community and Mercy Center," Bridget said. All applicants are encouraged to take advantage of other resources at Mercy Center to help them pursue a productive life in the United States. Parenting, ESOL, Employment Readiness, Personal Development, social workers, legal consultations and referrals provide support and practical assistance.
The Opportunity Center gives immigrants a familiar, trustworthy alternative to unscrupulous advertisers overcharging for their services. Many applicants are eligible for a financial hardship waiver for the $680 fee plus additional legal fees -- a significant savings for those who earn on average $15,000 or less per year.
The South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBro) may soon bring entrepreneurial seminars to participants. Mercy Center is proud to partner with New York State in advancing the dream of a brighter future in the South Bronx.
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Snapshots
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Participants concentrate on keeping a calm and focused inner state during a Meditation Walk through Mercy Center.
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After School kids participate in Capacitar, a set of wellness and meditative practices.
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 | | Programa de Padres families bond while building robots and battery-powered cars from recycled material. |
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