PRESS RELEASES

Release Date: March 5, 2003
CONTACT: Lenore Neier, CSSNY, 212/614-5425

The Community Service Society of New York Receives Leadership Award from Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs

New York, NY, March 5, 2003 – Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) presented its third annual global leadership awards to the Community Service Society; Madeline K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and Ambassador to the United Nations; and Richard K. Smith Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek magazine at the Plaza hotel last evening.

Every year, SIPA bestows an award on a non-profit, advocacy based organization making a significant difference in bettering the lives of local, national or international communities. This year, David R. Jones, President of the Community Service Society, accepted the Schuyler C. Wallace Award for Distinguished Public Service from David N. Dinkins, former Mayor of New York, and Professor in the Practice of Public Affairs at SIPA.

Ms. Albright accepted the Andrew Wellington Cordier Award for distinguished Public service. Richard Smith received the Harvey Picker Award for Distinguished Public Service. Two Columbia alumni, James Rubin, Former Assistant Secretary at the Department of State, and Michael Hoffman, SIPA Board Member presented the awards to Albright and Smith.

“I am truly honored to accept such a prestigious award on behalf of CSS. By accepting this privilege, we join the esteemed ranks of truly remarkable past and present recipients.” said David R. Jones, President of CSS.

“CSS is making an enormous contribution,” said Lisa Anderson, Dean of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia. “Daily the organization marshals support for New Yorkers in need through a combination of advocacy and direct services in the areas of healthcare, housing, income security, and the labor market. Given SIPA’s mission of educating the next generation of public policy leaders, I am proud to see many of our graduates land at this remarkable institution.”

Past SIPA global leadership honorees include Senator George Mitchell, Ted Turner, Human Rights Watch, Former President of Columbia University George Rupp, Ambassador-at-Large for Argentina Martin Varsavsky and the Nature Conservancy.

For over 150 years, CSS has pursued a mission that is aimed at the poor but which benefits all: to identify and eradicate the problems creating and perpetuating poverty in New York City. CSS is an independent, nonprofit organization that assists those in need to defeat the problems of poverty and more fully participate in productive community life.

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