2009-J3287
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Paul Halpern upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Silver Award by Jewish Family Services
of Orange County, Inc.
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality of life in the communities across this great State of New
York is enriched by the diligence and compassionate commitment of those
individuals whose singular purpose is the care and welfare of others;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Paul Halpern upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
Silver Award by Jewish Family Services of Orange County, Inc., to be
celebrated at its 25th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, November 4, 2009,
at Anthony's Pier 9, New Windsor, New York; and
WHEREAS, The mission of Jewish Family Services of Orange County is to
strengthen families and community by providing a wide range of profes-
sional and accessible social services; these services are provided to
the entire community of Orange County within the guidelines of and in
accordance with Jewish ethics and traditions; and
WHEREAS, A man with strong convictions and a warm heart, Paul Halpern
gives his time and good sense to many causes, near and far; and
WHEREAS, As President Elect of the Middletown Rotary Club, Paul
Halpern, along with fellow club members, joined community efforts this
past winter to open the first warming shelter in Middletown, New York,
for those escaping bitter cold nights; he helped with cooking and bring-
ing in hot meals and stayed overnight as a volunteer; and
WHEREAS, Paul Halpern is also very dedicated to supporting the expan-
sion of Orange Regional Medical Center; a trustee for over six years and
now the Vice Chair of the Orange Regional Medical Center Foundation, he
envisions a modern facility located on one campus; this will be the
first new single site hospital in New York State in almost 25 years; and
WHEREAS, Chairing the community phase of the project, Paul Halpern
will coordinate outreach and education about the new medical center as
well as oversee community wide fundraising for the capital campaign;
furthermore, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Orange Regional
Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, Preparing young people to succeed in the workplace is a goal
close to Paul Halpern's heart; as Chair of the Advisory Board of the
Academies of Finance and Information Technology at Middletown High
School, he, as well as fellow business leaders from the community, over-
see student development and enrichment through a partnership with the
National Academy Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Securing paid internships for the students enrolled in the
academies is one of the most important functions of the Advisory Board;
it is a critical link melding the skills learned in the classroom and
their application to the real world; students will find tools they will
carry with them for the rest of their lives; and
WHEREAS, Looking beyond his own community, Paul Halpern has been
instrumental in raising the needed funds to help feed malnourished chil-
dren in Haiti; poverty is endemic there, and young children are espe-
cially vulnerable; and
WHEREAS, Paul Halpern has a large extended family which includes the
Jewish community and his fellow congregants at Temple Sinai; his wife,
Carmella, is the Director of Nursing for Rehabilitation and Dialysis at
Orange Regional Medical Center; in addition, he is the father of four
children, Robert, Domenica, Nicholas and David, and his wife, Nancy, and
the grandfather of three grandchildren, Kelly, Anthony and Leonard, all
of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his
achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Paul Halpern upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the Silver Award by Jewish Family Services of Orange County, Inc.;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Paul Halpern.