Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Hundreds of people dressed in white gathered at Uniondale’s John J. Byrne Community Center June 28 to honor eight hometown heroes for their service and impact — a local fundraiser that brought in roughly $12,000.
In June, the spotlight turned to local heroes at community center annual Heroes in the Community Dress in White Gala — a tradition more than 15 years old. The fundraiser honors leaders of nonprofits, advocates and residents who champion public service through education, workforce development and local initiatives.
“I think that by holding the gala, it’s helping promote community, and community engagement and development.” David Greaves, the center’s president, said.
Greaves, who has a long-term commitment to civic engagement, said he sees the gathering as a way to showcase the evolving leadership and collaborative spirit of Uniondale, ultimately strengthening social connections and encouraging collective progress.
He noted that events like this one also highlight the importance of the newly furnished center, on Jerusalem Avenue, a project primarily sponsored by Las Vegas Sands last year, after the center acquired the building in 2023.
“The center promotes that kind of energy in the community — about building relationships,” Greaves said. “I think this is helping promote what we feel is part of our mission.”
This year’s event not only celebrated
change-makers, but also honored legacies that laid the foundation for Uniondale’s growth. “I’ve been around for a little while,” one of the honorees, Luis Vazquez, president of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said in his speech. “I represent the community. When I get up in the morning, it’s not about being Hispanic, being Black or being Polish, it’s about being a human being to do the right thing.”
Charmaine Robin
Before chairing the gala, Robin emigrated from Jamaica to the United States in 1982 and settled in Tampa. She worked with victims of violent crimes before joining State Farm insurance in 1991. After moving to New York 30 years ago, she became a State Farm agent in Uniondale in 2007. Each year she awards the Charmaine Robin Scholarship for Excellence to a graduating Uniondale High School female student who aspires to become an entrepreneur and serve her community.
Marvin Amazan
Amazan is a social entrepreneur, educator and community advocate committed to equity and empowerment across Long Island. Raised in Uniondale by Haitian immigrants, he founded Amazan Strategies, a public affairs firm that builds partnerships between organizations and communities. He also launched Wolfpack United, a media platform promoting diverse voices. Amazan speaks at local schools and events, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Reflection. In recognition of his leadership, he received Blank Slate Media’s “40 Under 40” award in 2024.
Adelina Blanco-Harvey
Blanco-Harvey has been an advocate and leader in Uniondale for more than four decades. A Uniondale High School alumna and a three-term Board of Education trustee, she made history as the district’s first Latina school board president in 2021. She has championed youth education through PTA service, student mentoring and the NYS Latina Mentoring Program. She also serves Long Island’s Salvadoran community. Blanco-Harvey is the director of operations at Premier Endodontics. A former dental assistant, she earned a degree in education and completed Yale leadership training.
Bishop Robert Harris
Harris is a lifelong advocate for justice, faith and community. A civil rights leader since age 17, he joined the 1963 March on Washington, and later helped lead a discrimination lawsuit against the New York City Housing Authority police. A John Jay College graduate and an FBI National Academy alum, he retired as a detective lieutenant and co-founded Grace Cathedral International with his late wife, the Rev. Novella Harris. He supports “next generation” housing, including redevelopment of the Holly Patterson site, to encourage young people to return home.
The Rev. Novella Harris
Pastor Harris was a minister, educator and community leader who co-founded Grace Cathedral International with her husband, Robert. Consecrated as a pastor in 1996, she led with faith, founded the Sure Foundation Child Care Center and taught at Davison Avenue Elementary. She earned degrees including a master’s from Hofstra University. Active in civic groups and international relief, she died at age 78.
Their children continue the legacy:
Richard Troy Harris
Fire Commissioner Richard Troy Harris has served the community for more than 40 years. A Uniondale High alumnus, he joined the Fire Department in 2003, and became a commissioner in 2007. A certified EMT, Harris has led efforts including mask distribution and youth football coaching. He is head of security at ShopRite, and works with the Town of Hempstead’s Highway Department. He’s also active in Grace Cathedral International and the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association.
David Paterson
David Paterson made history in 2008 as New York’s 55th governor, becoming the state’s first African American and legally blind leader. He led efforts to reduce a $40 billion deficit during the Great Recession and passed on-time budgets. Paterson now serves as senior vice president at Las Vegas Sands Corp. and a professor at Touro University. He hosts a WABC-AM talk show, and authored “Black, Blind, & in Charge.” In 2023, a building in Albany was named in his honor.
Luis Vazquez
Luis A. Vazquez is president and CEO of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, championing economic and health equity. Raised in Glen Cove, he holds a criminal justice degree from LIU Post. Vazquez led the Coordinating Agency for Spanish Americans and held roles with the Nassau County Heritage Festival and the Glen Cove Housing Authority. A health equity advocate, he sits on Northwell’s Health Equity Task Force and leads the National Hispanic Chamber on Health.
