Tom Grech, President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce will receive the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award.
By Jean Brannum | jbrannum@queensledger.com
Queens Chamber of Commerce President Tom Grech will receive Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens awards during the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner at Cipriani on Wall St.
Grech, who serves on the Progress of People’s Development Corporation board, will receive the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award for his work. The board manages affordable housing for senior citizens.
Grech got involved with Catholic Charities after visiting one of the houses for senior citizens. He was impressed with the cleanliness and overall happiness of tenants and staff members. Grech said that he supports Catholic Charities’ mission of helping everyone regardless of faith.
“Catholic Charities help people of all sizes, varieties, ethnicities, religions. It bears no challenge when it comes to serving and helping people in our housing and our food programs, no matter what, nobody is asking.”
Grech is also the Chairman of a new Laudato Si Corporation, which aims to make Catholic Charities buildings sustainable. The movement is also called Our Common Home. The corporation has installed rooftop solar panels and LED lights in many buildings. Pope Francis launched Laudato Si to encourage the Roman Catholic Church to take measures to address environmental and climate change issues.
Outside of charitable work, Grech’s work at the Chamber of Commerce includes lifting Queens businesses and making Queens a technology business hub. Since 2015, Grech has helped local businesses connect and grow.
His work at the chamber translates to his work at Catholic Charities, Grech said. He believes that putting the right people together for the common good yields good results.
Vincent LeVien, director of external affairs at DeSales Media Group, will receive the Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Service Award. LeVien has helped with fundraising for Catholic Charities and was director of the COVID-19 Emergency Management Task Force with the Catholic Church. He was also part of the disaster relief effort in Far Rockaway after Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012.
LeVien credited Catholic Charities for its work in providing a wide range of services for people in Brooklyn and Queens
“I think a lot of people are not aware of the magnitude that Catholic Charities and the diocese do every day to help people in a wide range of areas.”
There are two other award recipients for this event. Robert Pape Jr. from the Paul L. Martin Charitable Trust will receive the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award. Francesca Yellico, executive director of Bridge to Life, will receive the Ubi Caritas Award.
Catholic Charities for Brooklyn and Queens is not tied to the Archdiocese of New York. The Bishop’s Humanitarian Award dinner raises money for Catholic Charities and honors individuals who show personal commitment to the organization and its mission. The dinner also celebrates the 125th anniversary of the organization.
According to the 2023 990 form, the organization received over $92 million from contributions. The charity offers a variety of services including food and nutrition assistance, affordable housing, immigration services, and behavioral health services.
