LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow
Inc. upon the occasion of hosting its 4th Annual Summer Soiree on June
16, 2015, and paying tribute to its outstanding honorees

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 that are devoted to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Opportu-
nities for a Better Tomorrow Inc. upon the occasion of hosting its 4th
Annual Summer Soiree, and paying tribute to this year's honorees, on
Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at Battery Park, New York City; and
WHEREAS, The mission of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) is
to help disadvantaged youth and adults recognize their own self-worth,
and advance towards self-sufficiency and financial security through job
training, academic reinforcement, improved life skills, job placement,
and support services; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, OBT was founded in a run-down storefront by the late
Sister Mary Franciscus, RSM, to serve at-risk, out-of-school, and unem-
ployed youth of Sunset Park, Brooklyn; throughout the next decade, OBT
established innovative employment and training strategies for young
people and moved into a modern training facility at the former St.
Rocco's Youth Center located in Sunset Park; and
WHEREAS, OBT has instituted new programs which include support
services for the newly employed, adult job training, and both daytime
and evening literacy classes; due to the success of its programs, OBT
opened a second full-service site in Bushwick/Williamsburg in 2001, to
serve residents of Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Williamsburg in
response to a lack of needed services in these communities; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of the Corporate Leadership Award, Marvin
Schein has supported OBT for numerous years; in addition, he has served
as Managing Member of the Met Opera Board of Directors for the past 10
years; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Ohio State University School of Pharmacy,
Marvin Schein ran his family's business, Henry Schein Inc., a world
leader in health care supplies distribution to office-based doctors,
dentists and vets; under his luminous leadership, he successfully took
the company public in the late 1990s; and
WHEREAS, After leaving the health industry, Marvin Schein established
Salmar Properties, LLC with his partner Sal Rusi in 2009; soon after,
the business purchased Federal Building No. 2 in Liberty View Plaza and
undertook a huge restoration project, making it one of the sleekest
industrial buildings in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Today, Liberty View Plaza is home to companies in the
hi-tech, fashion, medical sciences and visual arts production sectors,
which provide jobs to local residents in the Sunset Park area; through
Marvin Schein's dedication to local employment initiatives, Opportu-
nities for a Better Tomorrow has been able to secure jobs for numerous
graduates; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of the Community Leadership Award, Allen Wright
was born and raised in Brooklyn in a union household; he remains commit-
ted to those ideals and his commitment to the community where he remains
socially and politically active; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Allen Wright earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychol-
ogy from Brooklyn College, as well as a New York City Teachers license
for trade instruction; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of the International Union of Operating Engineers
(IUOE) Local 14 Apprenticeship Program, Allen Wright has been a member
of Local 14 for nearly two decades; in the course of his training and
career he has worked in all phases of the industry including founda-
tions, road repair, bridge and tunnel rehabilitation, building erection
and high-rise crane operations; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Allen Wright has served as the Lead Instructor
of IUOE Local 14's Training Program, and most recently, he worked as a
Master Mechanic at the World Trade Center Hub Project, where he managed
heavy equipment operations; and
WHEREAS, In July of 2013, Allen Wright was re-elected to his post on
the union's examining board, and was unanimously selected Political
Director for IUOE Local 14 by the Business Manager and The Board of
Trustees in December of 2013; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those organiza-
tions and individuals who enhance the well-being and vitality of their
community, and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence
certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow Inc. upon the occasion of
hosting its 4th Annual Summer Soiree, and to pay tribute to its
outstanding honorees; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow Inc., Marvin Schein, and
Allen Wright.