2007 Spring Benefit

The annual Spring Benefit is Hudson Link's primary event to raise money to fund its college education program for the men at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. The classes are provided through a partnership with Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York. The mistress of this year's event, held in New York City on May 10, was anchor/reporter Tara Lynn Wagner.

The benefit brought together Hudson Link's friends, graduates and faculty to recognize individuals who have contributed to the Hudson Link Community. This year's honorees were:

Recipient of the Bill Webber Award
Dr. Louise H. Feroe is president of Mercy College. For nearly a quarter of a century, Dr. Feroe has worked to define and strengthen Mercy College as a leader in providing educational excellence to the students who now represent the majority of the college-going population: those who strive to balance the obligations of work and family while pursing their academic goals. Since joining the college in 1982, Dr. Feroe has served in a variety of academic positions, most recently as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She was elected as the ninth president of Mercy College in 2006.

Recipient of the Community Service Award
The Rev. Canon Petero Sabune is the Protestant Chaplain at Sing Sing. He was ordained at Grace Church in White Plains, New York, in 1981. In his first year of ordained ministry, he was called as Rector to Sts. John, Paul and Clement in Mount Vernon, New York, where he served for the next five years. Among his many accomplishments at that time was the establishment of an immigration and resettlement service that sponsored Haitian refugees and resettled them in the community. He currently is serving as the Pastor and Protestant Chaplain at Sing Sing, where he leads worship every week.

Recipient of the Brian S. Fischer Achievement Award
Sean "Dino" Johnson is a multi-talented, emerging actor who also is the associate director of School-Based Initiatives for the Council of Unity in New York City, Westchester County and Long Island. Mr. Johnson supervises 50 programs and is the pivotal person in carrying out the Council's mission to rescue youth from a life of conflict, discrimination and gang involvement and to give them a second chance. He is the epitome of someone who has had that second chance -- a message that resonates with all the young people who come in contact with him in workshops and assembly programs.

Dr. Louise Feroe receiving the Bill Webb Award.	The Rev. Canon Petero Sabune, recipient of the Community Service Award.
Sean "Dino" Johnson (l), recipient of the Brian S. Fischer Achievement Award, with Hudson Link Board member Helen Dillon and George French, counselor at Sing Sing.	Gregory Frederick, Class of 2001, with his band "A Few Good Men" providing entertainment for the evening.
Yolanda Johnson, Women's Prison Association (WPA), and Russell Feroe, Hudson Link Board member.	Desiree Lawrence (l) with Commissioner Brian Fischer and Veronica Lawrence-Willis.
Hudson Link Executive Director Sean Pica and Mistress of Ceremonies Tara Lynn Wagner with the hand-made quilt that received a high bid of $4,000 in a silent auction to support the college program at Sing Sing.

Hudson Link Newsletter

2007 Spring Benefit