Honor Joseph Kerwin Award

Senate Resolution No. 200 BY: Senator BRESLIN HONORING Joseph Kerwin upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Libby Post Leadership Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the profound impact of those exemplary individuals within the great State of New York who proactively work for the enfranchisement of minority communities, and the importance of such work for the benefit of all citizens of this State, and indeed, all citizens of the Nation; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Joseph Kerwin upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Libby Post Leadership Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region to be celebrated at its Annual Awards Gala on Friday, October 19, 2018, at the Albany Capital Center, Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, This auspicious event benefits the Pride Center of the Capital Region and celebrates the important contributions of individuals who work hard to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community; Joseph Kerwin is one such individual; and WHEREAS, Joseph "Joe" Kerwin, a native of Troy, New York, is the oldest of three children; after graduating from LaSalle Institute in

1982, he began his years of training and study as a member of the Franciscan Friars, a Roman Catholic community of religious priests and brothers; and WHEREAS, He spent almost 20 years with the Franciscans working in various capacities including years as a priest; and WHEREAS, Believing that his life needed to go in a different direction, Joe Kerwin left the Franciscan community in 1998, and moved back to the Albany area where he has lived ever since; and WHEREAS, Joe Kerwin has a Master's degree in both Theology and Psychology; in the years since his return to the Capital District, he has worked as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities AIDS Services and the Administrator of the AIDS Program at Albany Medical Center; and WHEREAS, Currently, Joe Kerwin works at the New York State Department of Health's AIDS Institute as the Director of several Medicaid redesign initiatives providing healthcare and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS; and WHEREAS, Joe Kerwin has enjoyed volunteering in the community having served on several not-for-profit board of directors; he served on the board of directors of the Pride Center from 2010 to 2018, and was President of the board from 2017 to 2018; and WHEREAS, Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful efforts of individuals who unite for the cause of improving the quality of life for others, and who proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Joseph Kerwin upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Libby Post Leadership Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Joseph Kerwin.