Harlem Week Celebrates Basil A. Paterson, Longtime 1199 Friend and Advisor

August 14, 2014

Each year, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce holds its NYC Economic Development Day Business Awards Luncheon as part of Harlem Week, the annual celebration of the spirit, history and cultural life of Harlem. Leaders from industry and public service are recognized for their contributions to the development of Harlem and well as New York City’s communities of color.

This year’s luncheon, part of the 40th anniversary of Harlem Week, also celebrated 1199SEIU’s longtime friend and advisor, the late Basil A. Paterson. The event was formally renamed in his honor. The first annual Basil A. Paterson Award was given to Kenneth Knuckles, CEO of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone. The prize was presented by former New York Governor David Paterson, who was introduced by 1199SEIU President George Gresham.

“It’s a pleasure to be here today, but it’s a difficult subject to talk about. Basil Paterson is my adopted godfather,” said Gresham. “We just negotiated a big contract at 1199 and it was the first time in my history with the Union that we did it without Basil. We started the journey with him, but he wasn’t with us at the end.”

All of the proceeds from the luncheon - some $80,000 - were donated to the Basil Paterson Scholarship Fund of 1199SEIU’s Bill Michelson Homecare Education Fund. Paterson was dedicated to public service and improving the lives of workers. Supporting homecare workers, overwhelmingly immigrants and women of color who do the important work of caring for the elderly and others in need, was his particular passion.

The Scholarship Fund was inaugurated last year to provide tuition and other support to home care workers who are pursuing technical or professional health care careers. Through the program, eight home care workers from eight different countries received financial assistance for college programs for nursing, radiology and social work.

Each has a customized package that includes tuition at a CUNY school for up to 12 credits per term, college fees, books, maintenance of 1199 health insurance benefits, and a cash award for lost work time, child care or transportation cost each term. The scholarships renew each year and new groups will be chosen in 2015.

Among the 2014 recipients was Adebola Olasoju, a home attendant with Staten Island’s Stella Orton Agency. Olasoju was beaming throughout the luncheon.

“I plan to go to school to become a nurse anesthesiologist or a nurse practitioner. It’s really wonderful to know that I can make my dreams come true now,’ he says. “This shows that for people in home care there are people looking out for us. This shows that in homecare, if you work hard, you can have a great future.”