ICL to honor client, volunteer, vendor and donor at HERO Awards

On Wednesday, May 19, hundreds of friends and supporters of the Institute for Community Living (ICL), a premier behavioral health agency that serves over 10,000 New Yorkers each year, will come together for a virtual event celebrating the organization’s 34-year commitment to helping New Yorkers lead more independent and gratifying lives. The ICL Hero Awards will pay special tribute to a client, a volunteer, a vendor, and a donor whose efforts over the past year helped the organization continue to provide life-saving mental health and substance misuse services; care coordination; and temporary shelter and long-term housing for low-income, underserved, and homeless youth, women, men, and veterans in New York City.

ICL Hero Awards honorees are:
Jazzette Taylor, Client Hero: An army veteran with a promising college career before mental health challenges became overwhelming, Jazzette was determined to return to a more stable, self-sufficient life. Thanks to her courage and determination and the support of her ICL team, Jazette made a remarkable transformation. Today she volunteers at the ICL boutique, and also helps clients experiencing homelessness.

Mary Harrison, Volunteer Hero: Despite personal challenges throughout 2020, Mary’s leadership and generosity inspired many to make the extra effort to support ICL in continuing to serve communities with the greatest need across New York City. A dedicated leader of the ICL board, Mary works tirelessly to connect people and institutions to ICL to cultivate support and awareness of our mission to help those with mental health challenges get better.

Tekscape, Vendor Hero: Tekscape enabled ICL to move quickly into the Cloud and launch a robust telehealth program. When the pandemic hit, the program became essential to staff working almost fully remotely, preventing any interruption of care for clients. Tekscape was the lead service provider strengthening ICL’s cyber infrastructure when ransomware threatened the organization’s ability to serve clients. ICL celebrates Tekscape for their dedication and as a thought partner for all of ICL’s cyber-based needs.

Peking University Alumni Association of New York, Donor Hero:
As the pandemic took hold in the early months of 2020, the need for enormous amounts of PPE far outweighed what ICL could secure. Ensuring the safety of thousands of clients and staff was the nonprofit’s paramount concern. In stepped the Peking University Alumni Association of New York, whose quick mobilization of support and extreme generosity resulted in the donation of thousands of PPE pieces for ICL’s frontline works.

“It has been a difficult year for our city, and particularly for the people and communities ICL serves. The generosity and dedication of Jazzette Taylor, Mary Harrison, Tekscape, and the Peking University Alumni Association of New York has allowed ICL to continue to provide essential services to the most vulnerable in our city during an unprecedented and difficult year,” said David Woodlock, President and CEO of ICL. “We are proud to honor these extraordinary individuals and visionaries whose work improves people’s lives and provides inspiration to us all, and we thank them for going above and beyond to support New Yorkers in need.”

Proceeds from the event will support ICL’s work with 10,000 New Yorkers struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities to be better, feel better, and live better

About the Institute for Community Living
ICL provides trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, integrated, and person-centered care through supportive and transitional housing, counseling, and rehabilitation services for adults, children, veterans and families with mental health challenges and those living with developmental disabilities. We serve 10,000 people each year; every night 2,500 New Yorkers call ICL home. Our goal is to help people achieve better health and the most fulfilling life possible.