LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 14th Anniversary of the Batey
Relief Alliance, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of both
the local and the global community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 14th Anniversary of the Batey Relief Alliance, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, The Batey Relief Alliance, Inc. (BRA) was founded on October
23, 1997, by Ulrick Gaillard in Brooklyn, New York, as a non-for-profit,
non-political, humanitarian aid organization; and
WHEREAS, The mission of this vital organization is to address the
socio-economic and health needs of children and their families severely
affected by extreme poverty, disease and hunger; and
WHEREAS, BRA serves all individuals regardless of race, sex, creed,
religion, economic status, national origin or political affiliation;
moreover, it provides relief services in the areas of health and
HIV/AIDS, agricultural/cooperative, child health, women's
economic/microcredit empowerment, water/sanitation, food security and
disaster relief; and
WHEREAS, BRA manages a virtual operation in Brooklyn and has field
offices in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti; its name was inspired
by the bateyes, which are rural towns, found in the Dominican Republic
where sugar workers live; and
WHEREAS, From 1998-2003, BRA organized mission trips traveling around
the Dominican Republic with hundreds of North York medical volunteers to
help better understand the culture of the Dominican population, meet
with elected officials and local leaders, and bring free dental, eye
care, prescription eyeglasses and medicines to far-reached vulnerable
communities with limited access to basic health services; and
WHEREAS, During this time, BRA signed its first agreement with
Dominican's Ministry of Health (SESPAS) to develop collaboratively a
comprehensive healthcare system involving services, research and educa-
tion for economically-disadvantaged Dominicans; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Board of Directors of the BRA voted unan-
imously to create BRA Dominicana, Inc. as the organization's regional
branch; the legally incorporated Dominican-based non-governmental organ-
ization (NGO), worked collaboratively with the Dominican government,
international agencies, faith-based groups and grassroots organizations
to improve the living conditions for vulnerable Dominican families in
vulnerable communities such as the bateyes, rural and urban slums and
frontier localities; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, BRA installed the first ever modern medical clinic
inside Batey Cojobal, municipal Sabana Grande de Boya, province of Monte
Plata providing to residents free medical consults and medicines and
critical health services; and
WHEREAS, BRA joined a strategic partnership with the Dominican Minis-
try of Health two years later to bring, for the first time inside the
bateyes, free HIV testing, counseling, medical care and antiretroviral
treatment, nutrition, and economic assistance to people living with
HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, The following year, BRA became the first organization to
build the first modern medical center complex inside any batey of the
Dominican Republic; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, BRA signed another agreement with SESPAS to help the
country combat childhood malnutrition and other diseases among 60,000
children; and
WHEREAS, BRA, in 2008, joined the Major League Baseball-Dominican
Development Alliance, a group of six prestigious international aid
organizations supported by USAID and Major League Baseball (MLB), to
provide Dominican baseball players with the opportunity, through educa-
tion, health, and youth and economic development programs, to give back
to their communities and for baseball teams and their fans to support
poor Dominican communities around the country; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, BRA secured funds to develop the first agricultural
cooperative inside seven batey communities in the province of Monte
Plata, putting 7,700 cooperative members and 168 community health promo-
ters to work in 150 acres of fertile land and build their community
infrastructures to create food security and economic self-sufficiency
for 35,000 people; and
WHEREAS, In addition, BRA secured funding to provide financial and
micro-finance training for 600 women, as well as loans to start new
businesses and to rebuild their communities at the border following the
2010 earthquake in Haiti; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, BRA has worked closely with more than
300 local and international strategic partners and volunteers to develop
sustainable life-improving programs that benefited one million people
living in 300 communities throughout the country, in healthcare,
HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, agriculture and nutrition, micro-finance,
water/sanitations, community health promotion and organizing, interna-
tional education and awareness, domestic violence against women, blind-
ness, and child's healthcare; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing its strength and commitment, and the quality and
extent of its programs and services, it is the custom of this Legisla-
tive Body to extend its highest commendation to the Batey Relief Alli-
ance, Inc., applauding its preeminent endeavors and accomplishments;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 14th Anniversary of the Batey Relief Alliance, Inc.,
with the greatest appreciation for its significant and humanitarian
efforts; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Batey Relief Affiance Inc.