cross-posted on Queens Village Times
By Ivan Pereira
Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:17 AM EDT
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State Sen. Malcolm Smith awarded the Cambria Heights-based Haitian Americans United for Progress $250,000 this week.
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A Cambria Heights nonprofit dedicated to helping the neighborhood’s Haitian community received a major boost to expand its operations Tuesday.
State Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) joined other southeast Queens elected officials outside the Haitian Americans United for Progress offices at 221-05 Linden Blvd. to award the group a $250,000 capital allocation.
Elsie St. Louis Accilien, executive director of HAUP, said the money will be used to help fund the organization’s new, larger headquarters.
“Through its dedicated staff and critical services offered, HAUP improves the quality of life for over 15,000 members of the southeast Queens community on a yearly basis,” Smith said in a statement. “The funds I have secured for HAUP will allow them to continue the extraordinary work they do for the Haitian and immigrant communities in southeast Queens.”
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Tags: Clark, community, Comrie, Elsie Accilien, haitian, haitian-american, HAUP, Immigrant, Malcolm Smith, services
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August 27, 2009 9:00 pm | 
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Senator Malcolm Smith, President Pro-Tempore of NY State’s Senate presented the Haitian-Americans United for Progress (HAUP) a grant of $250,000 to cover some of the soft costs of a new building that the community service organization plans to build in the near future. The grant nearly brings HAUP to the point where it will be able to break ground on the new facilities. So far through staff efforts, HAUP has raised about $3.5 million in capital funding as follows:
- $3 million from NY City through the good offices of Councilman Leroy Comrie;
- $250,000 from the Queensborough President’s Office, Ellen Marshall;
- $250,000 from NY State through the good offices of Senator Malcolm Smith; and
- $50,000 from Assemblyman William Scarborough
HAUP hopes that Haitians in New York and elsewhere will pitch generously to raise the remaining $150,000 before the end of the year. To that end it will launch a vibrant campaign to provide them with the opportunity to contribute financially.
The event featured a who’s who of key elected officials in Queens and the Greater Cambria Heights area. In addition to Senator Malcolm Smith, Queens borough President Ellen Marshall, NYC City Councilman Leroy Comrie, Nassau County Legislator John J. Ciotti, Town of Hempstead Councilman Ed Ambrosino came to show support and appreciation for HAUP which after 34 years of service continues to meet the needs and dreams of thousands. Several founding members came to celebrate this momentous event. Among them Marie Fouche, Monique Blanchard, Laurette Delaleu, Marcus Mordan, Rulx Rosefort, Pudens Devarieux. Architects Nicole Hollant-Denis and Rodney Leon, and Construction Manager Rudolf J. Gedeon were also recognized for their involvement in designing what is sure to be a landmark building on Linden Boulevard .
A $250,000 Grant from the State of NY Moves it closer to Turning the Dream of New Office Facilities into Reality.
Thanks to the due diligence of New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, Haitian-Americans United for Progress (HAUP) has been awarded a grant of $250,000 towards its capital program.
“We are extremely delighted to receive this award,” said Ms. Elsie Accilien, Executive Director of the 34 year-old multi-service agency, adding:
“We have long looked to the day when we can break ground on new facilities in order to better serve our constituents and the thousands of clients who seek our services. This grant puts us one step closer to that goal.”
In 2005, HAUP had secured a capital grant of $3 million dollars from the City of New York, thanks to the support of Councilman Leroy Comrie. This year’s grant will cover some, not all of the soft costs associated with the renovation of the facilities. Yet to be raised is an additional $150,000 toward soft costs.
“The NY State grant is a vote of confidence in HAUP’s ability to meet the needs of our community. We hope that our many supporters will go the extra mile and help us close the remaining gap with their financial contributions. We are committed to the revitalization of our neighborhood. Moving forward with facilities renovation will also give a tremendous financial and psychological comfort to our neighbors at a time of economic uncertainty.”
