About Us.
The volunteer East Harlem Holiday Tree Committee comprises local activists, representatives of nonprofit organizations, including our fiscal sponsor, a representative of our local City Council member, and a representative of Franklin Plaza.
El Comité de voluntarios de East Harlem de El Comité del Árbolito del Barrio está compuesto por activistas locales, representantes de organizaciones sin fines de lucro, incluido nuestro patrocinador fiscal, un representante de nuestro miembro local del Concejo Municipal y un representante de Franklin Plaza.
Tree Committee members and invited guests, 2019. Front row, left to right, Genevieve Andre, Ana Chireno, Sandra Rivera, Carmen Vasquez, Kathy Benson, Eve Valenzuela-Easter, Aurora Flores, Emcee Monica Morales, WPIX New York. Back row, left to right, Tree Committee member Gina Rusch, UMEZ President and CEO Blair Duncan, Community Board 11 Vice-Chair Xavier Santiago, State Assembly member Robert Rodriguez.
Committee Members
Genevieve Andre, artist and poet
Kathy Benson, community advocate
Aurora Flores, Zon del Barrio/Aurora Communications
Eve Valenzuela-Easter, Hope Community
Carmen Vasquez, community advocate
Melinda Velez, community advocate
Office of Council Member Diana Ayala
In memoriam: Gina Rusch (9/15/1938-5/23/2022), Union Settlement Association
Advisory Committee
Lillian Bent, Franklin Plaza board
Jose Carrero, Jeffersonville HDFC
Sandra Rivera, Ballet Hispanico
Fiscal Sponsor
Our Fiscal Sponsor is Union Settlement Association, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. Since opening its doors in 1895, it has brought education, wellness and community-building programs to East Harlem, empowering residents with opportunities to better their lives.
Please indicate “East Harlem Holiday Tree” in the “notes” section of your online donation.
Installing and decorating the 2017 East Harlem Holiday Tree