So many Friends of Bridge came to Bradstreets restaurant for the celebration of the drug rehabilitation organization's 30th anniversary that they had to open up a fifth room to accommodate the crowd.
Bridge, a non-profit community-based drug prevention and counseling program located in Valley Stream that serves the entire county, held an anniversary brunch on Sunday, Feb. 4 to mark the occasion. Close to 100 people came to applaud the work Bridge does.
"Without the support of the community, our programs could never be as successful as they are," said Barbara DeGrace, Bridge director and one of the event's organizers. "The power of the response we get from the community is what gives the staff and the directors the strength to service the needs" of Bridge's clients.
Elected officials, leaders of other Valley Stream organizations, such as Franklin Hospital Medical Center, the Chamber of Commerce, the Auxiliary Police, Gateway Youth Outreach and the newly-formed Youth Collaboration, religious groups, the Italian-American Civic Assoc., former mayor John DeGrace, and many other people there as individuals all joined the staff and trustees of the Friends of Bridge in unity with its mission.
The Board of Directors of Bridge, almost all of whom were on hand for the occasion, are president Mary Ann Cahill, Barbara DeGrace, Nina Maurer, Grace Anastasio, Ida D'Angelo, Bruce Beaver, Casey Bond, Monica Caraffa and Harry Nicolino.
Village Trustee Joe Zabatta serves as the liaison to the Friends of Bridge.
State Sen. Dean Skelos and Valley Stream editor John C. O'Connell were named honorees at the 30th anniversary event.
Sen. Skelos praised the important work of Bridge and lauded the decades of services they have provided. He said that the entire community is grateful for the hard and dedicated work the people of Bridge do for the good of their clients, their families and loved ones. Sen. Skelos has been instrumental in obtaining more than $160,000 in state taxpayer funds for Bridge.
In accepting his honor, Herald editor O'Connell said that while he was very moved and proud to be given such an honor, it was really the staff and trustees that deserve the accolades.
"The Friends of Bridge toil in the troubled lives of those whom - but for the intercession of Bridge - would lead a suffering life of empty highs and sickening lows," O'Connell said. "For 30 years, Bridge has been there for those who have given up on themselves, who have lost faith with their own dignity, lost respect for their own selves. For those who have known only the sickening tremors of the constant night, Bridge has been there to speak comfort through the darkness of the soul. ... You, the Friends of Bridge, are the true heroes of the hopeless, and the once hopeless" and deserve so much thanks, he said.
Bridge executive director Richard Schmit, counselor Howard Kirshenbaum, and staff member Maxine Shurgin were on hand to join in the anniversary celebration.
