Editor’s Note: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly roundup of stories about Staten Islanders of all ages who are making waves, being seen, supporting our community and just making our borough a special place to live. Have a story for Inside Out? Email Carol Ann Benanti at benanti@siadvance.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As a way to show their appreciation for Richmond University Medical Center’s efforts to improve community health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR) and the Staten Island Running Association (SIRA) have made separate donations to support the West Brighton health care facility.
The donation of $3,335 from SIBOR was made in honor of Richard H. Dun, whose son is an officer of SIBOR. Dun passed earlier this year from complications of the coronavirus. SIBOR held an on-line raffle to raise the proceeds since their annual casino night was postponed due to the current pandemic.
And the SIRA held a virtual run for its members which also raised $1,750 for RUMC.
Richmond University Medical Center receives a donation from the Staten Island Running Association. From left, Jeff Benjamin, SIRA, Brian Rowan, SIRA; RUMC president and CEO, Daniel J. Messina, Laura Gajda, RUMC vice president for development and Michael Schnall, SIRA. (Courtesy/Alexander Lutz/RUMC)Staten Island Advance
Accepting the donation on behalf of RUMC was Daniel J. Messina, president and CEO, and Laura Gajda, vice president of development.
“The Staten Island community has always held our hospital close to its heart and that love has never been more evident than over this past few months,” Messina said. “The outpouring of generosity, from food donations to providing us with PPE to showing financial support, has continuously boosted everyone’s spirits. We can’t say thank you enough and how touched we truly are that we continue to be in everyone’s thoughts. Our tremendous thanks to both the Board of Realtors and Runners Association for their generous support of our hospital.”
THE JCC INSTALLS THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island installed three new board members during a virtual meeting: Bryn Biren, R. Randy Lee and Ana Oliveira.
“This past year has shown us that we are only as strong as our Board of Directors,” said CEO David Sorkin. “Through the COVID-19 crisis, we were incredibly lucky to have the support of our board, who guided us through these turbulent times. We are incredibly grateful to our current board members for stepping up to the plate and are excited to welcome our newest members.”
Incoming CEO Orit Lender noted, “I am so happy to welcome back our old friends Bryn and Randy. We are also looking forward to working more closely with Ana, who has been a fantastic volunteer with our Sunrise Day Camp program. I want to thank our newest members and our entire board for volunteering their time and talents. We appreciate everything you do to help the JCC continue to serve the Staten Island community.”
BYRN BIREN
Bryn Biren (Courtesy/JCC)Staten Island Advance
Born and raised on Staten Island where her parents were among the founding families of Temple Israel, received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from George Washington University and a master’s in education from the former Richmond College.
During her 34-year career in education as an early childhood teacher in PS 54, she served as the school’s Project Arts coordinator.
She married her husband Richard in 1974 and together with their children, Brooke and Ada, and their five grandchildren, are active in the local Jewish community.
In 1982, the Birens were part of the first New Leadership Group at the JCC.
For 25 years, she served on the JCC’s Board of Directors. In 2015, the JCC honored her with a First Generation Award at the annual Nancy Avis L’Dor V’Dor Award Lunch.
She has volunteered with Project Hospitality and was honored by the UJA for co-chairing the annual UJA Community Breakfasts, served as a member of the Council of Jewish Presidents and the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) and currently serves on the CSI Hillel Society Board of Trustees.
At Temple Israel, she served as Sisterhood President and as outreach facilitator. She was Temple Israel President from 2014-2018 and is currently a trustee of the Dr. Ronald Avis Foundation.
R. RANDY LEE
R. Randy Lee (Courtesy/JCC)Staten Island Advance
Lee has been involved in every phase of real estate development and the building business for over 50 years. He attended New York University and Brooklyn Law School, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in real estate/finance in 1965 and a juris doctorate in 1969.
He has been a principal in the site development and/or construction of more than 5,000 market rate and affordable residential units, as well as several low-income tax credit rentals and commercial projects.
He is past chairman of the Building Industry Association of New York City and current Senior Life Director of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Lee has been the recipient of local, state and national awards and was elected to the New York City and New York State Builder’s Association Homebuilders Hall of Fame in 2002 and 2004, respectively. He received the JCC’s Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award in 2008.
As a then long-standing Vice President of the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, he helped manage the development and construction of its flagship building — a $40 million dollar effort.
He’s contributed articles to the Wall Street Journal, New York and National Law Journals, New York State Bar Journal, New York Post, Real Estate Weekly, Real Estate NY and The Empire State Report.
Lee and his wife Eileen have two daughters, Jennifer and Michelle, and four grandchildren, Rachel, Jared, Nathaniel, and Elliot.
ANA OLIVEIRA
Ana Oliveira (Courtesy/JCC)Staten Island Advance
Oliveira is a senior vice president market executive for Investors Bank and oversees 40 branches in the New York market.
She joined Investors Bank in 2010 when the bank acquired Millennium bcp Bank and served as regional manager in the retail division. Before joining Millennium, she spent 10 years with Penn Federal Savings Bank which was acquired by Garden State Community Bank (a division of NYCB) in 2007, as first vice president and regional manager in Northern New Jersey.
She is board chair of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and was honored at the JCC’s Sweet Sunrise Gala for her volunteer work with the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island.
She received a “Pace e Bene” Award from St. Francis College, and recognized as one of the Top Women on Wall Street receiving a “W.O.W.” award and the “Neighbor of the Year” Award from the North Brooklyn Angels.
She was honored with the Community-Corporate Responsibility Award by City and State, was named Business Woman of the Year by the Federation of Italian-American Organizations and received the Brooklyn Business Cornerstones Award by the Brooklyn Borough President. She is a past recipient of the Women’s History Celebration Award from the Greater Chamber of New York and was recognized as a Brooklyn Woman of Distinction.
Oliveira earned a bachelor of arts degree in English and journalism from New Jersey City University.