STATEN ISLAND, NY — Close to 200 Staten Islanders had reason to celebrate at the Historic Old Bermuda Inn.
It was the 40th Anniversary of Project Hospitality and the first fall gathering hosted by the agency in two years.
It’s been four decades since Project Hospitality started as an all-volunteer interfaith effort that was the first to recognize the profound needs of homeless people camped out at the Staten Island ferry terminal. Since then, homelessness in the nation, city and borough has, tragically, only grown. Project Hospitality continues to be a beacon for all Staten Islanders who need help finding shelter, food, mental health and healthcare services, substance-use recovery, benefits, legal assistance, tax help, employment connections and more.
That ruby red anniversary of the borough’s largest social safety net was recognized during its Harvest Home Celebration at the Historic Old Bermuda Inn in Rossville where six honorees who support the mission of Project Hospitality through volunteerism, social action and compassion for the most vulnerable among us were feted .
Recognized at the Harvest Home Celebration were: longtime Project Hospitality and board member Joseph Torres, senior vice president of Merrill Lynch Investments Wealth Management, who shares his devotion to volunteer community with dozens of organizations across the borough, Deacon John and Rev. Dr. Agnes McBeth, of St. Philips Baptist Church, borough organizers, peace-makers, advocates for social justice, spiritual leaders and steadfast volunteers, who serve those in need, Bishop John J. O’Hara, the Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus, New York, who, for decades, has been an inspired voice for the voiceless and an inspiration for tens of thousands of people.
Joseph Torres
Deacon John McBeth Sr. and his wife, Rev. Dr. Agnes McBeth, with their children, Alexandria and Malcolm.
Bishop John O’Hara
Also, Jazmin Rivera of Brick Educational Network, who during her tenure as head of the innovative Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA), helped innovate a model that brings the community together to tackle complex social issue, and Assemblyman Michael Cusick, whose support of those in need and the mission of Project Hospitality has been one of the hallmarks of a long career in public service,.
Jazmin Rivera
In accepting their awards, Torres, Deacon John and Rev. Dr. Agnes McBeth, Jazmin Rivera, Cusick and Monsignor William Belford, on behalf of Bishop John J. O’Hara, showed clearly what it means to be open-minded, hard-working, empathetic and generous.
Assemblyman Michael CusickStaten Island Advance
Monsignor William Belford
“While the journey is far from over, we have come a long way providing comprehensive services of permanently supportive apartments – the answer to homelessness – and now our first from-the-ground-up newly built housing units of 49 affordable apartments. With it, we have achieved, in very small part, the solution to homelessness and poverty, affordable housing for very low wage working people and people with disabilities,” said Project Hospitality President and CEO Rev. Terry Troia, who has spent 38 years in the trenches doing the life-saving work of the agency. “We are grateful for every hand that helped along the way, volunteers and staff, clinical experts, people young and old, and our honorees.”
Rev. Terry Troia, president of Project Hospitality, and Rev. Janet Jones, first vice chair of the board. (Courtesy/Project Hospitality)Staten Island Advance
“We are grateful to be able to say, ‘thank you’ publicly at this 40th anniversary celebration to so many people who have made the work of feeding and sheltering our neighbors in need possible for these past four decades,” said Rev. Troia, acknowledging the vision of the nonprofit’s founder, Rev. Dr. Roland Ratmeyer in the audience. “Our profound gratitude to every board and staff member, every volunteer and donor for sheltering thousands of Staten Island and serving millions of meals to impoverished families in our community. With thanks to God who has sustained us and brought us to this day.”