Weissglass Gala honors Frank A. Oswald & Staten Island Advance, honors legacy of Allan Weissglass

On Sunday, June 23rd, the JCC of Staten Island presented the Allan Weissglass Distinguished Leadership Award to Frank A. Oswald and the Staten Island Advance & Staff. The gala, which celebrated its 20th anniversary, honors individuals who have supported the mission of the JCC and served as leaders in the Staten Island community.

Proceeds from the gala supported the JCC’s KIDS IN NEED programs. For thousands of Staten Island children and young adults, these programs provide a lifeline—whether it is helping them deal with disabilities, cancer, or severe economic hardship. Programs include early intervention for preschool children with developmental disabilities, afterschool activities for children and teens with development disabilities, day habilitation for young adults with developmental, cognitive and physical disabilities, a food pantry for children and families with food insecurities, and camps for children with cancer or special needs.
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The evening included a special video tribute to Allan Weissglass, the namesake of the award, who passed away earlier this year.

“Our recipients this year far exceed the criteria for receiving this award for their dedication, leadership, and generosity to the JCC and the community-at-large,” said David Sorkin, CEO of the JCC. “This year’s event is especially meaningful, as we will commemorate the extraordinary life of Allan Weissglass. We are proud to see Frank Oswald and the Staten Island Advance & Staff carrying on his legacy of service and leadership. The JCC is also incredibly grateful to our Diamond Sponsors, Joan & Alan Bernikow, Lucille & Jay Chazanoff, and Dina & Frank Oswald, for their support of this event.”

“It’s about the community -- it’s a Jewish Community Center -- but it’s really about the community,” Oswald said as he accepted the award, before reading a letter he received from a young counselor at the JCC’s Sunrise Day Camp. “It’s about getting involved. I got that letter and I said, big 'C' on the community, that’s what’s important."
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Caroline Harrison, publisher of the Staten Island Advance, noted the significance of the award due to her personal connection to Weissglass, “I learned so much from Allan, especially the way he treated people. He connected. Whether it was the museum director or the security guard at the door, Allan treated them with the same respect. He knew them by name, and they knew Allan. It was a basic sense of human decency. How much we can all learn from that.”

To see more photos from the gala, click here.