Press Release Archives - #611-96 Pre-Thanksgiving Celebration as NYCHA Residents Receive Free Turkeys

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 25, 1996

Release #611-96

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Nydia Negron (212) 788-9364

MAYOR GIULIANI JOINS IN PRE-THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION AS NYCHA RESIDENTS RECEIVE FREE TURKEYS

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today joined New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chair Ruben Franco in a pre-Thanksgiving ceremony to distribute more than 400 turkeys donated to public housing residents and tenant leaders. The Mayor acknowledged the generosity of those who contributed to this year's turkey give-away during the ceremony at Drew Hamilton Houses in Manhattan. Certificates of appreciation were presented to the Korean-American Association of New York and New Jersey and the Italian-American Coalition for their continued support of families in public housing during the holidays. Joining the Mayor and Chair Franco were Kalman Finkel and Myrtle Whitmore, vice chair and member of NYCHA respectively.

"Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday during which we give thanks for the blessings and good fortune we've received throughout the year," said Mayor Giuliani. "But this holiday is also about giving and sharing our good fortune with others, and that is why this turkey give away is such a great annual tradition. Because of the generosity of groups like the Korean-American Association of New York and New Jersey, and the Italian-American Coalition, families who might not have been able to serve a Thanksgiving turkey are able to do so."

"The original Thanksgiving in 1621, was a celebration of hope and, above all, a celebration of community. And this is precisely why we are here today: to give thanks for our caring and sharing public housing community; for the generosity of the Korean-American Association of New York and New Jersey and the Italian-American Coalition and for the blessings bestowed upon each of us here today. " said NYCHA Chair Ruben Franco.

The program, attended by members of NYCHA's tenants association, featured musical entertainment provided by the NYCHA Symphony Orchestra quartet.