Left to Right: NDD VP Maxine Montano, Robert F Kennedy Jr., and NDD VP Midge Longely

Citizen's Achievement Award

New Democratic Dimensions has presented this award to individuals who have shown an outstanding commitment to their community for over fourteen years.  Past honorees include Governor Hugh Carey, Patricia Duff, Ambassador Angier Biddle Duke, Eleanor Clark French, Elinor and Randolph Guggenheimer, Nadine Hack, Ambassador Pamela Harriman, Victor and Sarah Kovner, Mayor John Lindsay, and Loulette Samuels.  This award is part of NDD's continuing effort to bring cutting edge issues to the voting public.

We are proud to present the 2001 Award to John and Margo Catsimatidis and Robert F Kennedy Jr.  There is a philosophy which says that the purpose of this life is to leave the world a better place than when you arrived.  This year's honorees are living examples of that philosophy in their commitment to making New York a better place for all it's citizens.

"Our communities are the benefactors of their dreams, our nation of their devotion"  

John Catsimatidis is known for his extraordinary support of the democratic party and principles but is also very involved in many other causes. With all his responsibilities at Red Apple Group, Inc. John has still found time to devote to his community serving on the boards of New York Hospital, St. Vincent’s Home for Children, the New York Police Athletic League, the United Way of Greater New York, and the National Ethnic Coalition. He has received the Ellis Island Award Medal of Honor, the Police Athletic League Outstanding Citizen Award, from Mayor Koch the Ethnic New Yorker Award, from the Cyprus Federation the Life Time Achievement Award, and many others.

Margo Catsimatidis is co-publisher of the Hellenic Times and very active in the New York Community. She has served as Coordinator of the annual Columbus Avenue Festival which raises funds for for various schools and community projects on Manhattan’s Westside. She was one of the founders and the coordinator of the Amsterdam Ave Festival and is a member of the Westside Chamber of Commerce. She is on the Executive Committee of New York Hospital and the Police Athletic League and has also served as Chairman of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation Dinner. Margo is also a member of the Leadership 100 for the Greek Orthodox Church and has served as Chairman of the Cathedral Philoptochos Chrysanthemum Ball and the Children’s Luncheon which raises funds for cancer stricken children. She is Vice-Chairman and one of the founders of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, which awards over $100,000 in scholarships to students across the nation.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper. He is also a Clinical Professor and Supervising Attorney at the Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law in New York. His reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from a litany of successful legal actions; prosecuting governments and companies for polluting the Hudson River and Long Island Sound; winning settlements for the Hudson Riverkeeper; arguing cases to expand citizen access to the shoreline, and suing sewage treatment plants to force compliance with the Clean Water Act. He has worked on environmental issues across the Americas and has assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands. Here in New York he lead the fight to protect New York City’s water supply. The New York City watershed agreement is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development.      

John Catsimatidis (left) and NDD VP Midge Longley.

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That's Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (2nd from left) and John Catsimatidis (right) listening to a speaker with some of the crowd at the event.

Board Member Gerard Bushell (right).

The chefs responsible for the great food!

Board Members Greg Verini (left) and Ray Frier (right).

That's Judith Hope State Democratic Committee Chair in the blue and NDD Founder Howard Teich (left).

Two attendees enjoy the evening.

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Board Members Thomas Mackell Jr.(center left) and Omar Domenech (center right).

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Robert F Kennedy Jr. chats with a friend.

Left to right: NDD VP Maxine Montano, John Catsimatidis, NDD VP Midge Longley, and NDD Chair Thomas Acosta

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