April 23rd. saw the Turkish Cultural Center Queens host their 12th Annual Friendship Dinner and Award Ceremony and the event was a wonderful success with a full attendance of community leaders and guests from a variety of backgrounds and faiths, making it a truly inter-cultural, inter-faith and International affair. Guests enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner of traditional Turkish food… and just before the award ceremony began, were treated to a short concert of Sufi music, provided by Amir Vahab and his ensemble.
The theme for this year’s event was “Peace Building Through Education” and there were three Honorees: Mrs. Carole K. Nussbaum: Who was Honored For her dedication to educating the children of our diverse Borough and touching the lives of so many families for more than 50 years.
Adjoa Esiman Gziga: For her years of self sacrifice and devotion to building a school and educating the children of Mallam in Ghana.
Congress Woman Grace Meng: For her outstanding commitment and dedication through public service. For supporting the goals and ideals of International Mother Language Day and her ongoing work to improve the education of future generations.
Also in attendance, was the Consul General of Ghana, Mr. Bernard Quantson who presented Ms. Gzifa with her Award and who spoke briefly about “this wonderful event”
Guest speakers were Dr. John Pahl and Angelica Infante-Green, who both spoke eloquently and earnestly about how educating our future generations to be more tolerant and understanding of their peers of differing faiths and cultures, is the most important path toward peace in our Borough, our City, our Country and our World.
Representatives or Governor Cuomo, City Comptroller Scot Stringer, Congressman Joseph Crowley, Congressman Gregory Meeks and Congress Woman Carolyn Maloney were also in attendance along with Assembly Member David Weprin and members of NYPD.
We gratefully acknowledge and thank our sponsors – ( Mangal Restaurant, – FND tel. – Super Services – Metropolitan Education – Queens Center Mall – Taskin Bakery – Tripalla Travel – Galatasaray Soccer Academy – Turkiyem Market – Demiray MarblePsasli Inc. – Aba Restaurant – Butcher Block and Pronto Car Service ) …. and to everyone who attended and showed their support for this wonderful event, which has, at this point, become one of the more prestigious events taking place annually in the Borough of Queens.
.
.
Comments