LSSNY 2016 President's Awards Dinner

3. LSSNY’s Service
7,000 people assisted daily
11,300 clients served last year
15,000 additional clients served by
our Long Island food pantry
1,150 toddlers and pre-school
children educated
820 individuals and families
received immigration legal services
450 formerly homeless adults
served in our five residences

6. Housing that
Feels Like Home
• 5 residences
• Safe, supportive
housing
with medical/mental
health services
• Special programs to
foster
independent living skills
• Serving 450 formerly
homeless adults

7. 2016 President’s Awards Honorees

8. We proudly announce the establishment of the Honorable Daniel W. Joy Dedicated Service Award, in loving memory of
Justice Daniel
W. Joy, who gave of himself and his professional talents so generously.
Justice Joy received his LL.B. degree from Brooklyn Law School, and spent the first 25 years of his career specializing in
housing law for the State and City of New York. He was elected to the Civil Court of the State of New York in 1983, and then
to the Supreme Court of the State of New York. In 1993, Gov. Mario Cuomo appointed him to the Appellate Division, Second
Department; in 1998, Gov. George Pataki appointed him to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. After 42 years of
government service, Justice Joy retired from the “bench” at the age of 69, in August 2000.
Justice Joy was an active civic, religious, and community leader who served on numerous boards, including the board of
Lutheran Social Services of New York for more than eight years. He was a member of New Hope Lutheran Church (Jamaica,
NY), where he served as Chairman of the Stewardship Committee and sang in the choir. He also served as Chairman of the
Urban Empowerment Fund Board at the ELCA-Metro New York Synod.
The Honorable Daniel W. Joy
Dedicated Service Award

9. When Ron Drews came to LSSNY in 2003, he came with nearly 30 years of experience in Lutheran social service leadership
and ministry. His early career was remarkable for steady progress towards higher levels of leadership, including his service as
Regional Director and Vice President for Operations of Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Porterville, California. He also
served as the Vice President for Operations/CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. In each of these leadership roles,
Ron brought accountability and stability to the organizations, all the time keeping sight of his deep commitment to serve the
most vulnerable people in society by advocating for dignity and respect for all. He also demonstrated effectiveness in securing
private and government resources to create solutions to solve the unmet needs of constituents and led through effective
planning and organizational management.
Ron, the son of a pastor, comes from a strong Lutheran heritage and upbringing. He is on the roster of the LCMS in word and
service ministry, and has worked to revitalize the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, as a member of
the church council. Ron’s comprehensive list of board service includes Lutheran Services New York Alliance (inaugural Chair),
Lutheran Ministry of Higher Education (Treasurer), and Church Women United (Assistant Treasurer). In addition to his
professional human service record, Ron has found new ways to help others through his personal hobbies. For instance, when
he challenges himself by running in a marathon, he often runs for a cause like hunger prevention. He has also strengthened
LSSNY’s educational programs by bringing art and music activities to our children, always keeping an eye toward program
enhancements that will open the door to new opportunities for clients who would otherwise not have them.
As we give the inaugural Honorable Daniel W. Joy Dedicated Service Award to Ron, we do so with a sense of deep gratitude
for the talent and dedication that he has shared with us as LSSNY’s former President/CEO. With his playful, dry wit he steadily
advanced LSSNY’s programs in new directions, helping us make positive inroads into communities in need.
Ronald S. Drews,
President/CEO,
Lutheran Social Services of Southern California
Recipient of The Honorable Daniel W. Joy Dedicated Service Award

10. During her 15-year tenure at LSSNY, Christine Connell worked tirelessly to develop, lead, and promote
programs, foster community involvement, and enrich our partnerships with congregations. During the last
six years at LSSNY, Christine served as the agency’s Vice President for Agency Advancement,
coordinating marketing and communications for all agency programs, providing leadership for new
development projects and the diversification of funding opportunities, and working closely with key
leadership and the Board of Directors in the initiation of the organization’s Faces of LIFE funding
campaign. In all these roles, she displayed a multitude of talents as a committed leader, strategic thinker,
and development professional.
Christine took the helm as CEO of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, a human
services agency in the Greater Washington D.C. Region, in February 2016. Before working at LSSNY, she
was the Executive Director of an emergency relief organization in York, PA, that served low-income
families and individuals.
Christine received her Master of Arts in Ministerial Studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Gettysburg, and is a Diaconal Minister with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). She
serves on the Church Council of Zion Lutheran Church, Staten Island, NY, and on the National Board of
Directors of the ELCA. Her passion for social justice ministry drives the work she accomplishes, and she is
grateful for the gift of serving the church each and every day.
We congratulate Christine on her transition to CEO at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital
Area, and thank her for her many years of dedicated professionalism and service.
Christine Connell, DM
CEO, Lutheran Social Services
of the National Capital Area

11. The Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a dynamic, regional force that
helps nearly 200 congregations across New York City, Long Island, and seven upstate counties answer the call to do God’s
work to help friends and neighbors, celebrate diversity, work for justice, and advocate for peace. Through a variety of
ministries, lay leaders and clergy work together to put their faith into action to help reduce hunger, provide disaster relief, and
foster youth leadership.
Because of the work of the Metropolitan New York Synod, members receive the needed resources (leadership development,
youth ministry support, financial guidance) and congregational support they need to live out their missions and help bolster
service in God’s name. The Metropolitan New York Synod also partners with lay leaders on relevant initiatives: Domestic
Violence Awareness Task Force, Global Mission, Youth Ministry, and Women of the ELCA. Across many sectors of human
service, the Metropolitan New York Synod works to organize ministries and support community-based action.
Lutheran Social Services of New York (LSSNY), recognized by the ELCA as a “social ministry organization,” has been
fortunate to be able to partner with the ELCA’s diverse member congregations. An example of the ministry our ELCA partner
churches provide is the back-to-school backpack drive sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church in Scarsdale, NY, each year, for
students at LSSNY’s New LIFE School in the Bronx. By putting a backpack in every student’s hands, the congregation helps
make the road a little easier for elementary, middle and high school students with special needs. ELCA member churches
have also been a driving force in supporting our food pantry on Long Island, by donating food, volunteering their time, and
organizing food drives and special holiday programs. The food pantry’s success in providing nutritious, delicious food to
families in need has been an amazing achievement that reflects the collaborative, positive outcome of the partnership
between LSSNY and ELCA member churches, including ongoing support from our partners at Grace Lutheran Church,
Uniondale, NY, as well as Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Seaford, NY; St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Farmingdale, NY; and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Rockville Centre, NY; to name a few.
The bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod, Rev. Dr. Robert Rimbo, is a spiritual guide, pastor, member of the ELCA
Conference of Bishops, ecumenical liaison and speaker, and published author. A graduate of Concordia Senior College, Fort
Wayne, IN, and Christ Seminary – Seminex, St. Louis, MO, Bishop Rimbo holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the
General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He was formerly the pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New
York City, and bishop of the Southeast Michigan Synod, ELCA. He is a board member of the Lutheran Services New York
Alliance, Lutheran Health Care (Brooklyn, NY), and the national Lutheran Music Program.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
–Metropolitan New York Synod

12. The Lutheran Church-
Missouri Synod—Atlantic District
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod–Atlantic District (LCMS Atlantic District) is a diverse community that includes over 100
congregations; some 35 preschools, elementary schools and high schools; and Concordia College in Bronxville, NY. Its reach spans
metropolitan New York, Long Island, the northern suburbs of New York City, the Hudson Valley, and the state capital region. Its mission
is to nurture Christians and reach out to others by “engaging the world with the Gospel of hope.” The Atlantic District shares the
Gospel with neighbors near and far, in multiple languages and among many different cultural groups. The Atlantic District identifies,
trains and supports clergy and lay leaders; offers programs and resources; provides “best practice” models for evangelism,
governance, and financial management; and trains local mission leaders for service.
The work of the Missouri Synod–Atlantic District reaches many avenues of health and human care, including disaster response,
immigration & naturalization, neighborhood revitalization and housing, Lutheran schools, and youth leadership. The Atlantic District
has eight action-oriented task forces, and a strong, vibrant Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). One example of the LWML’s
ministry in action is their recent donation of Spanish and English language Bible storybooks to LSSNY’s New LIFE Center – Long Island
food pantry, to be given as part of the layette sets distributed to new mothers. It’s one way that LCMS church congregations are
helping babies get a healthy start in life! Many LCMS church congregations, including those at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hicksville, NY;
the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Garden City, NY; St. John’s Lutheran Church in Williston Park, NY; and the Lutheran Church
of Our Savior, Valley Stream, NY; give their time and donations to support the day-to-day operation of the food pantry.
The Reverend Derek G. Lecakes was recently elected and presides as President and Bishop, succeeding long-time President and
Bishop, the Rev. Dr. David H. Benke. Over the years, Reverend Lecakes has served the Atlantic District in several leadership roles,
including Secretary, Regional Vice President, and founding member and leader of Lutherans Capital Area Relief efforts. Reverend
Lecakes received a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia College, Bronxville, and for 13 years served as pastor of Immanuel
Lutheran Church in Niskayuna, NY.

14. Feeding the
Hungry
• The New LIFE Center –
Long Island is reducing
hunger among Long
Islanders
• 109,970 pounds of food
distributed in 2015
• Holiday Meals at
Thanksgiving,
Christmas
and Easter
• Over 45 congregation
partners

16. With Gratitude to God for our co-worker
Ron Drews
and an abiding Godspeed to Ron and
Julie
From his friends at Lutheran Services New York
Alliance Board and CPE Program
"Serving Together to Further the Church's Servant

17. Urban Education
Ministry
The Center for Urban
Education Ministries’ work,
in shaping new models,
identifying key resources,
and networking many
Christian groups focused on
Christian urban education, is
invaluable.
-Dr. Shirley Roels,
NetVUE,
Calvin College
“
”

19. Safe Haven
for Children
For many unaccompanied
minors – coming from countries
like Guatemala, Honduras, and
El Salvador – our program is the
first time they are living in a
safe, stable environment, with
care from adults who nurture
and respect them.

21. Guiding Young
Mothers
They [the counselors]
support you. Lots of
teenagers say we don’t
want to go to school. They
push us to go for us and
our kids. It’s like having a
family.
-A teenage mother of three talking
about her experiences at
Our Sister’s Place
(a mother-child group residence)
“
”

22. MagnussonArchitecture and Planning isa proud
supporter of Lutheran Social Ser vicesof NewYork and
congratulatesChristine Connell and Ron Drews!
The New LIFESecondar y School Magnusson Architecture and Planning PC

23. Thriving
Kids/Thriving
Communities
We educate more than 1,000
toddler and preschool
children in our early child
care centers
• 10 Early LIFE sites
• 100 Family Child Care
Provider Partner homes
The New LIFE School
educates 200 elementary,
middle, and high school
students with special needs.

25. Grassi & Co. is proud to support
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES
OF NEW YORK
11th
Annual
President’s Awards Dinner
488 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (212) 661-6166
50 Jericho Quadrangle, Jericho, NY 11753 (516) 256-3500
10 Esquire Rd., Suite 4, New City, NY 10956 (845) 634-5300
www.grassicpas.com
Building a Stable
Foundation for
Growth

26. Our Awards Demonstrate Our Impact:
“Emerging Leader Award”
from the National Association
of Social Workers NYC
“Dads Take Your Child to School Day!”
recognized by NYC Administration
for Children’s Services
“Member of the Year: Superstorm Sandy”
from the New York Disaster
Interfaith Services

27. This year’s auction book was printed
entirely on 100% recycled paper.