Roy Ayers Plays as West Harlem Group Assistance Honors Community Heroes

West Harlem Group Assistance (WHGA), an innovative not-for-profit organization dedicated to community-building through the development and preservation of affordable home ownership and rental housing with programs to sustain neighborhood families and businesses, announced today that their Continuing the Journey Gala Reception will be held on September 23, 2010. The evening celebration highlights the year’s many accomplishments, programs and services and showcases the longstanding and productive partnership with the Phipps Houses Group.  Details and registration for the event can be found at: www.WHGAinc.org.

Continuing the Journey, held at Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall begins at 6:00pm with a Reception and Silent Auction among a gathering of more than 300 business, civic and political leaders.  The program, highlighting WHGA’s current efforts and celebrating the accomplishments of its Honorees begins at 7:00.  The featured performance for the evening is Roy Ayers and his band.

Honorees include:

• Leadership Award – Adam Weinstein, President/CEO The Phipps Houses Group
• Community Service Award – Sherry B. Bronfman, Philanthropist/Social Activist
• Community Service Bankers Award – Patricia A. Sampson, Managing Director, The Bank of New York Mellon

Co-Chairing the 2010 Continuing the Journey Gala Reception will be:

• Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, Pastor, Abyssinian Baptist Church ; President, SUNY Old Westbury
• Deborah C. Wright, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Carver Bank

“Donald Notice, Executive Director of WHGA says “In a challenged economy, we have to increase our efforts even more to preserve our neighborhoods, and the families that live here.  We can only do that working together.  The quality partnership of Phipps, the service commitment of Ms. Bronfman to the Harlem Community, and the supportive leadership demonstrated by Pat Sampson and Bank of New York Mellon are what will help West Harlem Group Assistance to continue our tradition of building community.”

Proceeds from the WHGA Gala Reception will go towards the continued preservation of affordable housing options in West Harlem . By leveraging partnerships with the community-at-large, elected officials, as well as private and public supporters, WHGA has become a leading affordable housing community development corporation (CDC). Through these efforts we have developed 1,200 units of affordable housing, created approximately 325 units of home ownership opportunities and moved over 3,000 families from transitional to permanent housing. WHGA is bringing much needed resources to a changing community. Comprehensive in its approach, the work of West Harlem Group Assistance remains relevant and crucial toward the long-term viability of community-based development in Harlem