Press Releases

Gail Donovan
Donovan Communications
718-399-2122

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BROOKLYN PSYCHIATRIC CENTERS CELEBRATES
100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WITH CENTENNIAL GALA

BROOKLYN, NY—October 23, 2006—Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers (BPC), which was created 100 years ago to provide after care to juvenile offenders, began its centennial year celebration on October 19, 2006, with a gala event honoring four community leaders.

“For 100 years, our agency has been at the forefront of providing innovative mental health services to children and families, and we are proud of our legacy,” said Dr. Pamela Straker, president and CEO. “We continue to work hard to ensure that BPC’s programs address the whole life of every individual and will continue to improve the lives of Brooklyn’s residents for the next 100 years.”

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz commended Dr. Straker, the board, and supporters for carrying on BPC’s fine tradition in its anniversary year. “What Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers and Brooklyn have is a love affair, a 100 year affair that’s still going strong,” he said.

Within a few years of its founding by Judge Robert J. Wilkin, presiding judge for the Children’s Court, BPC began offering mental examinations to children, initiated group, individual, and family therapy in preventive care, advised organizations around the country on children’s probation and prevention issues, developed a relationship with the public schools, and adopted the slogan, “It is wise and less expensive to save children than to punish criminals.”

“Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers is a wonderful organization that has done such tremendous work, starting with its service to the poor when many people ignored them,” said Frank Macchiarola, Ph.D., president of St. Francis College, who was presented with BPC’s Judge Robert J. Wilkin Award. “I’m very proud to have an award in the name of Judge Wilkin, who did so many great things and helped start this organization.”

An Imagine Award was presented to Eugene B. Feigelson, M.D., former dean of the College of Medicine and senior vice president for Biomedical Education & Research at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, who is now conducting special projects for the medical center. Dr. Feigelson noted that 100 years ago, psychiatry was in its infancy and only doctors in Europe were even beginning to understand mental health. “The people involved in the creation of Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers like Judge Wilkin were really inspirational because it was a time when the stigma about mental illness was great. Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers has played a role in seeing that changed in Brooklyn.”

Monica Sweeney, M.D., M.P.H., vice president for Medical Affairs for the Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center, also received an Imagine Award. Dr. Sweeney said the award will propel her to imagine what can be possible including such dreams as peace in the world and a country where all its citizens have health insurance.

The Visionary Leadership Award was presented to New York City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone who noted that everyone present had a vision of what the city, state, and country should be about and urged all citizens to stay involved in the democratic process.

A film montage of BPC’s therapists and the clients they serve, produced by filmmaker Ben Hadley, also had its premiere at the gala. The montage can be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daHCJYDY4rQ.

BPC offers borough-wide mental health services to Brooklyn’s most vulnerable residents through its clinics in Bushwick, Canarsie, Flatbush-Sheepshead Bay, Williamsburg-Greenpoint, and downtown Brooklyn and the borough’s public schools. Its diverse staff of more than 100 professionals provides more than 60,000 visits annually to adults, seniors, children and their families.  More information is available at 718-875-5625 or www.bpcinc.org.

BPC Centennial Gala honorees enjoy the event at Bridgewaters at the South Street Seaport. L t R: Dr. Frank Macchiarola; Dr. Eugene Feigelson; Dr. Monica Sweeney; Dr. Pamela Straker, President and CEO of BPC; and Peter Vallone. Photo by Greg Mango.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz presents Dr. Pamela Straker, president and CEO of BPC, with a proclamation honoring the agency. Photo by Greg Mango.

New York State Assemblyman and BPC board member Joseph R. Lentol, left; Dr. Pamela Straker, president and CEO of BPC; and New York State Assemblyman James F. Brennan at the BPC Centennial event. Photo by Greg Mango.