On Tuesday, January 19, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham welcomed Rev. Dr. A.R. Bernard, pastor & CEO of the Christian Cultural Center (CCC), the Council of Churches of the City of New York (CCCNY), New York City Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis Walcott and Brooklyn native and Haitian American actor Jamie Hector (The Wire) for the presentation of $37,000 in collected donations for Haiti earthquake relief. The $25,000 donation from CCC and $12,000 collected by CCCNY will be administered through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.

Other attendees of the check presentation at Brooklyn Borough Hall included Rev. Jimmy Lim, executive director, CCCNY; Morris Gurley, vice president, CCCNY; Charles Henze, chairperson of the nominating committee, CCCNY; Marjorie Burnes, CCCNY; Rev. Dr. Nat Grady, CCCNY; Rev. Charles Straut, CCCNY; Deacon David Yi, CCCNY; and Kenneth Thompson of Thompson,Wigdor & Gilly, LLP.

“The extraordinary generosity of the Christian Cultural Center, the Council of Churches of the City of New York and their members shows once again that people of faith are quick to open their hearts and wallets when anyone anywhere is suffering,” said BP Markowitz. “Brooklyn and Haiti share the motto—“In unity there is strength”—and just as we have come together during times of crisis in the past, Brooklynites and New Yorkers are united in the wake of this terrible tragedy—to help provide relief on the ground in Haiti as well as comfort and assistance to our Haitian American communities back home.”

“New Yorkers have always been very generous, particularly in times of need, and the overwhelming response to aid the victims in Haiti has been incredibly moving,” said Mayor’s Fund President Megan Sheekey. “With critical infrastructure still severely damaged and a bottleneck of goods in the country, relief organizations are stressing not to send food and supplies. Since the immediate need is for financial help, the City established the Haiti Relief Fund at the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. We are ensuring that 100 percent of contributions received will be directed to reputable organizations providing relief in Haiti, such as the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. We are grateful to members of the Christian Cultural Center and the Council of Churches who came together to support the victims of this devastating tragedy.”

“As people of faith, we are agents of hope,” said Rev. Dr. A.R. Bernard, pastor & CEO of the Christian Cultural Center and president of the Council of Churches of the City of New York. “We are pleased to present a check in the amount of $25,000 toward relief efforts in Haiti. We continue to work through other organizations and through our own efforts on the ground in Haiti to bring hope to a devastated people. Not only do we offer our prayers but something tangible to demonstrate we are our brother’s keeper.”

Statement from the Council of Churches of the City of New York: “The Council of Churches, through its various denominations and churches, has been doing mission work in Haiti for several decades. Our check for $12,000 toward the Haiti Relief Fund continues our commitment to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.”

The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City was created in 1994, and serves as an umbrella not-for-profit organization for the City of New York. The Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, aids NYC public programs with private support. The Haiti Relief Fund was established to provide a secure vehicle for donations to aid the victims of the January 12, 2010, earthquake. All donations to the Mayor’s Fund are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.