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Annette Casper De Jesus
May 9, 2017
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ISSUE:
- 2017 Women of Distinction
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Annette Casper De Jesus was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, and has dedicated her life to her community, whether it be by empowering youth or fighting against debilitating diseases.
Ms. De Jesus began her role as a community activist at a young age. During her college years, she rode a bike from Union City, New Jersey to the Bronx in an effort to raise funds for the fight against cerebral palsy. Her motivation was to honor her sister, Milagros, who lives with the condition.
In the 1980s, Ms. De Jesus began teaching children dance and arts in her spare time. In 2004, she founded Twin Park Kids, an organization dedicated to providing youth in the Bronx with a healthy environment in which they could develop socially, learn how to handle peer pressure, and become positive role models.
Ms. De Jesus has been a supporter of the American Cancer Society for more than 14 years. During that time, she has successfully established the organization “Captain A: Fighting the War on Cancer,” which has not only become one of the most recognized organizations devoted to the fight against cancer in the Bronx, but has also assisted countless cancer patients and their families in acquiring the necessary services to face this challenging disease.
Ms. De Jesus has also been very active in a number of community organizations, including Grandparents Around the World, N.Y.A.G.V., National Night Out, Community Board 6, the Bronx Puerto Rican Parade, Latinos Unidos, New York Blood, the Davidson Community Center, and the Good Shepherd Beacon Program, to name a few.
A resident of Little Italy in the Bronx for approximately 40 years, Ms. De Jesus graduated from Taft High School and earned a degree in Liberal Arts at Borough of Manhattan Community College. She has raised three sons – Freddy and Alex, both of whom serve in the U.S. Navy, and Steven. All of her boys were adopted.
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