It is Better to Give than to Receive

You should know that not only is my Christmas Party the biggest Christmas Party and the “one” to attend every year in the City of New York where elected officials and dignitaries join close to 1000 people to celebrate our Christmas tradition, but also, my Three Kings Day Celebration has become the biggest Three Kings Day Celebration in the City of New York, where close to 1000 children receive free toys and backpacks filled with school supplies.

I was very proud and honored this weekend during the Three Kings Day Celebration to have in attendance three of the candidates for Mayor of the City of New York who not only came to the South Bronx to say hello to the children and their parents, but also to bring some gifts for the children.  Of these three Mayoral Candidates who were in attendance, Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, Former Comptroller Billy Thompson, and Reverend Erick Salgado, it was Bill DeBlasio who stole the show by bringing the most expensive toys.

The contribution made by Mr. John Catsimatidis, who did not attend because he was with his family in California, was also well appreciated by the organizers.

This year, along with Mayoral Candidates, I had the special honor of being joined by Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, the first woman elected to Chair the New York’s Democratic Senate Conference; Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr.; Assemblymen Marcos Crespo and Luis Sepulveda; and Council Members Letitia James and Melissa Mark-Viverito.

You should know about how the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York continues to participate yearly at this Three Kings Day Celebration.  Even though there are very few Chinese people who live in the South Bronx, for the past five years not only has Taiwan’s Ambassador Andrew Kao (and former Taiwan Ambassador Kenneth Liao) and the Taiwanese delegation come to the South Bronx for our Three Kings Day event, but they have also been providing backpacks filled with school supplies to the poor and needy children of the South Bronx. Their generosity is greatly appreciated, especially during these times of economic stress in our community.

I want to make special mention of the generosity and participation of Mr. Pat Lynch, President of the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association and Mr. Joseph Alejandro, the PBA Treasurer, who has attended this event for the past few years.  I also want to publicly recognize and thank the Hispanic Federation, who for the past few years has contributed toys and has helped to coordinate this event, and to the Principal, Ms. Mary Padilla and administration of PS 5 who has welcome our cultural event there.

Finally, you should know that for the past 10 years, this tremendous humanitarian event – filled with good will and the joy of giving to the poor and the needy – has been sponsored by the Christian Community Benevolent Association, Affinity Health Plan, and the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization.

I am deeply honored and very proud to have the help and participation of all these leaders and organizations because they have a clear understanding of the Biblical mandate that it is better to give than to receive.

This is Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.