New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. with honorees and co-sponsors at his Women's History Month celebration at City Hall on Thursday, March 9, 2006. Pictured (back, l to r) are: Rev. Carolyn Holloway, Senior Pastor, DeWitt Reformed Church, Manhattan; Blanche Lawton, President, Women's City Club of New York; Elizabeth Rohatyn, Chairman and Founder, Teaching Matters, and Chairman Emeritus, New York Public Library; Thompson; Diana Godfrey, Program Director, Breast Exam Center of Harlem (BECH); Mary Lou Urban, Co-President, League of Women Voters of the City of New York; (front, l to r) Leslie Friedlander, Cantor, Musical Director and Teacher, Riverdale Temple, The Bronx; and Angela Cabrera, President, Angela Cabrera & Associates, and Commissioner, New York City Equal Employment Practices Commission; Anna Schermerhorn-Collins, Lieutenant, Fire Department of New York City; and, Celeste, Entertainer, Vocalist and Pianist.

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New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored five New Yorkers at his 2006 Women's History Month celebration on Thursday, March 9 th .

The event, which was co-hosted by the Women's City Club of New York and the New York City League of Women Voters, celebrated the strength of women and honored those courageous women who demanded a better world, and those who stood up for justice and equal opportunity.

"As we celebrate Women's History Month, at a time when our nation has said goodbye to two of its most extraordinary daughters -- Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King -- it is only fitting that we pay tribute to the great, long tradition of American women who have spoken their minds and stood up for what is right," Thompson said. "These women asked questions that needed to be asked, and fought for the answers they deserved. They did not shy away from conflict, and they did not back down in the face of resistance.

"Let us pay tribute to the leaders of today who are working to make dreams come true for themselves and others. In every professional field, in every community, in every one of the five boroughs of our city, women are achieving great heights and paving the way for the next generation to reach even higher."

Thompson noted that the honorees are leaders in the public and private sectors and community activists who have excelled in their fields, and serve as role models.

The first honoree was civic leader Angela Cabrera, an advocate for education, women's issues, community development and issues of concern to the Puerto Rican community. In her professional life, she heads Angela Cabrera Associates, a consulting firm that provides business development and public relations services, and also is involved in a number of community organizations.

"Angela Cabrera has provided outstanding leadership on behalf of the people of New York , helping the efforts of countless organizations that benefit New Yorkers," Thompson said.

The second honoree, Diana Godfrey, is Program Director for the Breast Examination Center of Harlem, a program at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center . For more than 20 years she has been involved in a multitude of cancer screening programs in the Harlem community, providing access to diagnosis services and treatment for women and low-income and culturally diverse patient populations.

"Ms. Godfrey has provided dedicated service and leadership as a healthcare provider and made immeasurable contributions to the fight against cancer in the Harlem community," Thompson said.

The next honoree, Cantor Leslie Friedlander, serves Cantor of the Riverdale Temple in the Bronx . She serves as music director and as director of its religious school. 

"Cantor Friedlander has provided vital service and dedicated leadership on behalf of the people of New York ," Thompson said.

Elizabeth Rohatyn, a cultural, educational and philanthropic leader, was the next honoree. She is founder and Chairperson of Teaching Matters, Inc., a non-profit education organization with the mission of helping teachers use technology in the classroom. She founded Technology Empowerment Collaborative, a consortium of New York City academic institutions dedicated to advancing the role of technology in education, and the French Regional and American Museum Exchange, the first bilateral coalition of regional art museums dedicated to promoting French/American cooperation.

"Elizabeth Rohatyn has made tremendous contributions to the life of our city, state, and nation, bringing vision and innovation to countless initiatives in the fields of education and the arts, and to our city's grand library system," Thompson said.

The final honoree was Lieutenant Anna Schermerhorn-Collins. Lt. Schermerhorn-Collins, a nine-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York, became the fifth woman in the history of the FDNY to be promoted to Lieutenant and is currently assigned as a covering officer in the North Bronx . She currently serves as President of the United Women Firefighters, a support group for the women firefighters. 

"Anna Schermerhorn-Collins has risen to great heights in her field, served as a role model, and given generously of her time to providing leadership on behalf of other female firefighters," Thompson said.

Pianist and singer Celeste performed at the event. Reverend Carolyn Holloway , Senior Pastor of the DeWitt Reformed Church on the Lower East Side , offered the Benediction.

To receive photographs, please contact Marla Maritzer at (212) 669-2597 or at mmaritz@comptroller.nyc.gov .

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