Outback Steak House Caters BBQ to Honor Memory of Rich Bloom & Raise Funds for Richmond Community Services               

Posted on Sep 12, 2016
 
The Rotary Club of Yonkers-East Yonkers paid tribute to the Club's former President and longest serving member, Rich Bloom at a barbeque on Saturday, 10 September.  Rich was also the long-time CEO of Richmond Community Services, on Broadway in Yonkers.  Proceeds from the event will go to benefit programs of the Richmond Center.  Richmond Community Services is a leader in meeting the lifelong needs of children and adults with significant physical and intellectual disabilities and complex medical needs.
 
The event began at noon and continued to 3 pm, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  The main attraction was the full spectrum pro bono catering by the Outback Steak House.  Greyston Bakery also provided their famous brownies, while Shoprite of Tuckahoe provided water and ice.
 
In attendance were Myra Bloom, their children Eric and Elizabeth, members of Bloom's extended family, their friends, Club members and Richmond staff.  Paying tribute to Rich Bloom, Club President Mahbub Ahmad, said the Club was "very happy to be able to organize this gathering, not only to remember Rich but also to provide a little bit of assistance to this Organization that he loved and served for so long."  Rich Bloom's daughter Elizabeth recalled her father's quarter century of dedication and contribution to Richmond Community Services.  Her visit to his long-time workplace brought back many memories.    
 
 
Recalling their long-time friendship, Club Sergeant-at-Arms Harvey Bernstein, spoke of Rich's love for the welfare of the residents of Richmond.  Current Richmond CEO and President Dr. Paca Lipovac, highlighted Rich's contribution to the Center, and thanked the Rotary Club for it's initiative to help the Center.  The funds raised would be used towards the purchase of a "Tracking System", which helps the wheel-chair bound residents to be able to move around on their own power, being harnessed to the system giving them the enormous satisfaction of being independently mobile.  
 
A large number of local businesses and community organizations stepped up to partially sponsor the event to help with the fund-raising.  The Club's Event Chair Jeffrey Landsman and Honorary Member Jim Letsen put in enormous amounts of time and effort in organizing the event.  Behind the scenes, Club members, Greg Arcaro, Peggy Murphy, Bina Ahmad, Boniface Tankeng and Shah Latif contributed their time and effort to make this a successful event.
 
The Rotary Club of Yonkers-East Yonkers was chartered in 1920 and has provided opportunities for education, built classrooms and playgrounds, helped almost eradicate Polio, sent a school bus to kids in Liberia and books to Costa Rican children, among other actions. Locally, the Club has given out scholarships, pencils, dictionaries and books, and provided grants to local community organizations for projects benefiting women, youth, seniors, cancer patients, and the community.  The Club also built a playground in Yonkers School 9.
 
A few glimpses of the event:
Outback SteakHouse Manager, George at the Grill. Our Sponsor Board - Outback, Greyston and ShopRite Sergeant-at-Arms Harvey Bernstein speaking  at the ceremony
Rich's daughter Elizabeth recalling memories of her father.
Club President Mahbub Ahmad paying tribute to the memory of Rich 
 Richmond CEO Dr. Paca Lipovac.