Senator Marcellino And The Long Island Senate Delegation Awards $150k To Hispanic Organizations

Long Beach, NY, Friday, March 3, 2006 – At a meeting with the Hispanic Federation and members of the Long Island Hispanic Coalition ("LIHC"), Long Island’s New York State Senate Delegation discussed issues of importance to the region’s Hispanic community and highlighted a $150,000 state grant they secured for English as a Second Language ("ESL"), Adult Basic Education classes and other services offered by LIHC member agencies.

The Long Island Senate Delegation is composed of Senators Dean Skelos, Michael Balboni, Charles Fuschillo, Kemp Hannon, Kenneth LaValle, John Flanagan, Caesar Trunzo, Owen H. Johnson and Carl Marcellino.

"We are very grateful to the Long Island Senate Delegation for their support. It allows us to continue our critical work to improve the lives of the Hispanic community through enhanced services," said Lillian Rodríguez-López, President of the Hispanic Federation. "This award recognizes the Delegation’s commitment to the Hispanic community in Long Island."

Senator Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) said, "As a former teacher, I know the critical impact these educational programs can have by empowering thousands of our friends and neighbors. This funding will provide the information they need to compete for jobs, while strengthening the basic fabric of our cities, towns, and villages."

In addition to the funding announcement, the Senators discussed issues of importance to the region’s Hispanic community with the Coalition leaders.

"On behalf of the Long Island Hispanic Task Force, I would like to thank and commend the Senators for their support of our organizations and of the many professional services that we deliver to the rapidly growing Hispanic community on Long Island," said Maria Elisa Cuadra, Executive Director of COPAY, Inc and Chair of the Long Island Hispanic Coalition. "The fast growth of our community has created a challenge. We appreciate your positive and proactive response to this challenge and admire the vision represented by your support."

Under the umbrella of the Hispanic Federation, the LIHC is a network of 7 Hispanic health and human service providers serving the Latino community on Long Island. The LIHC seeks to further the social, economic and political advancement of Hispanics on Long Island through education, policy advocacy and community mobilization. The membership of the LICH is composed by Adelante of Suffolk County, Circulo de la Hispanidad, COPAY Inc., Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, Hispanic Counseling Center, La Fuerza Unida and Workplace Project.

The Hispanic Federation is a service-oriented membership organization of 90 Latino health and human service agencies dedicated to promote the social, political and economic well-being of the Latino community. The Federation provides essential services geared towards strengthening and supporting Latino institutions serving over one million Hispanics living in the Northeast region. For more information, please visit www.hispanicfederation.org.