LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Bella Gubenko upon the occasion of her
designation as the recipient of the Service Award at the Shorefront
Club's Annual Awards Dinner Dance on March 26, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals who distinguish themselves in their profession and
in service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commend Bella Gubenko, Regional Project Coordinator for the Hebrew Immi-
grant Aid Society (HAIS), upon the occasion of her designation as the
recipient of the Service Award at the Shorefront Club's Annual Awards
Dinner Dance, to be held at Gargiulo's Restaurant in Brooklyn on March
26, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Bella Gubenko was born in Vinnitsa, Ukraine; her father,
Aaron Greenberg, a WWII veteran, returned to Vinnitsa after the war to
find his entire family gone and their property divested; her mother,
Etty, was a holocaust survivor; as a child of that war, Bella did every-
thing she could to enhance the lives of those around her; and
WHEREAS, She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and worked as
a teaching instructor for the Department of Health; her interest in
Jewish Studies prompted her to take courses such as Teachers of Jewish
Language and Tradition at Moldova University and Teachers of Jewish
Culture and Tradition at Odessa University; she was also President of
the Vinnitsa Jewish Society of Language and Culture, the first organiza-
tion of its kind in the Ukraine, and worked for a Jewish agency,
Sochnut, in the Ukraine; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, Bella Gubenko immigrated to the United States, and
her commitment to helping others traveled with her; she earned an Asso-
ciate in Arts degree from Touro College and worked as a teacher of
Jewish Culture and Tradition for the Metropolitan Russian-American
Parents Association; and
WHEREAS, She is a member of the Board of the United Association of
East European Jewry, which provides assistance to Eastern European immi-
grants so they may thrive in their new country; she has, in addition,
worked for many years as a volunteer for the Immigration Coalition of
New York; and
WHEREAS, Bella Gubenko is currently the Regional Project Coordinator
in New York City for the Civic and Voter Educational Initiative (CVEI)
for Russian-Americans Nationwide, a project of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid
Society designed to unite the Russian speaking population in New York to
integrate into the social, cultural and political aspects of their new
home and, working in this capacity, she has helped to register many new
voters; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her volunteer work, Bella Gubenko has authored
books of poetry and produced an album; she is married with two children
and a granddaughter, all of whom are proud to be part of her life and
rejoice in her many accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Bella Gubenko has distinguished herself in her profession and
in her community and truly merits the recognition of this Legislative
Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Bella Gubenko upon the occasion of her designation as the recip-
ient of the Service Award at the Shorefront Club's Annual Awards Dinner
Dance on March 26, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Bella Gubenko.