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The Momentum Project Pays Tribute to
Dedicated Supporters after 21 Years
New York, NY –
The Momentum Project, one of New York’s oldest and largest
AIDS Services organizations commemorated 21 years of
providing nutritious meals and supportive services for New
Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS on Monday, September 18th.
The event took place at Momentum’s administrative offices on
Eighth Avenue and 26th street, where the staff
members of the organization transformed their offices into
exhibition rooms to showcase the outstanding services they
provide six days a week at eight sites around New York
City. Guests enjoyed an extraordinary evening of
mouth-watering food prepared by the Momentum cooks and they
had the opportunity to talk to the Momentum staff, check
their blood pressure or glucose levels checked. Momentum
Nutrition staff was also on hand to provide BIA readings to
measure body tissue.
During the evening, Momentum’s President and
CEO, Dawn Bryan took a moment to honor those dedicated to
addressing the needs of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.
She reminded the guests that Momentum was the “..first to
provide nutritional services, years before nutrition was
declared a co-therapy for people living with AIDS.” New
York State Senator, Tom Duane and Speaker of the New York
City Council, Chris Quinn received Community Service Awards;
Peter Avitabile, Momentum’s first Executive Director and
Pastor John Damm, Pastor Emeritus of the St. Peter’s
Lutheran Church received Founder’s Awards; Shade` Ogunleye,
Miss Black New York 2006, received the Momentum’s Spirit
Award for her work to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS; the
Momentum Magic Award went to Stephen Frost, long-time
volunteer and board member of the Momentum Project; and
Momentum employee, Robert Bolton received the AIDS Service
Award. Robert Bolton, Momentum’s first employee, read the
Proclamation from New York Mayor Bloomberg’s office, which
proclaimed September 18th Momentum Project Day.
The menu for the event boasted delicious
Momentum hors d’oeuvres, including
Curried Shrimp on
Tortilla Chips, Mini Eggrolls with Teriakyi Dip, Mango
Wrapped with Proscuitto, “Momentum’s” Deviled Eggs, Fresh
Bocconcini of Mozarella with Cherry Tomato, and a Strawberry
Cake.
The Momentum Project was established in 1985,
and for twenty-one years, the organization has maintained a
highly adaptive service model to stay responsive to the
epidemic’s frequent changes, providing nutritious food six
days a week, and providing low-threshold services to New
York’s disenfranchised HIV/AIDS populations. Momentum
provides half a million meals each year, and conducts more
than 20,000 individual counseling sessions with New Yorkers
living with HIV/AIDS.
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Miss Black NY 2006, Shade` Ogunleye, flanked by Momentum’s Cooks
Seated is Executive Chef, Shawn Thorne |
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(L – R) Mchael Mazier, Momentum’s Board Chairman, Shade` Ogunleye, and Dawn Bryan, Momentum’s President & CEO |
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Michael Mazier (l) and Dawn Bryan present the Momentum Magic Award to Stephen Frost, long-time Momentum volunteer |
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