The Central Family Life Center on Staten Island recently hosted a gala to celebrate the nonprofit organization’s 25th anniversary.
The event was held at The Vanderbilt at South Beach, where CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Jennifer Jones Austin served as the keynote speaker.
Honorees for the evening included Bishop Calvin Rice, founder of CFLC and senior pastor of the New Jerusalem Worship Center; Christopher Ruiz; Shaolin Ryders; SanQuin Caldwell; Nemiath Redd Tripp; John McBeth and Occupy the Block Staten Island; Lakema Daniels-Freeland; and Rob Junne.
CFLC was founded in 1993 as an outreach program for the First Central Baptist Church led by the Rev. Dr. Demetrius Carolina. The organization offers after-school programs, day care, youth programs, anti-violence advocacy and senior services.