The Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) is a United States 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to honor and preserve cultural diversity and to foster tolerance, respect and understanding among ethnic groups.[1] The EIHS was founded in 1984 as the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) and adopted its current name in 2017.[1] The EIHS awards the "Ellis Island Medal of Honor" to naturalized or native-born American citizens "who preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and values of their [ethnic heritage] while exemplifying the values of the American way of life".[2]
NECO was founded by William Denis Fugazy Sr in June 1984 in response to discontent with the choice of 12 recipients of the "Medal of Liberty" awarded as part of ABC's Liberty Weekend celebration of the Statue of Liberty's pre-centennial renovation.[3][4] A committee appointed by ABC producer David L. Wolper was tasked with selecting eminent living immigrants, and Fugazy was among those who felt many prominent immigrant communities were unrepresented. Fugazy, a real-estate agent and founder in 1984 of the Coalition of Italo-American Associations, mentioned in particular Italian Americans, Irish Americans, and Polish Americans.[3] Committee member Arthur Schlesinger Jr pointed out that most Irish and Italian Americans were not first-generation and therefore ineligible.[4][3] The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, which had cooperated with the Medal of Liberty award, agreed to co-operate with NECO on the Ellis Island Medals of Honor.[4] A Congressional resolution of October 10, 1986, endorsed the awards.[5] Fugazy awarded the first 80 Ellis Island Medals of Honor on October 27, 1986; recipients present included Joe DiMaggio, Victor Borge, Anita Bryant, Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, and Donald Trump (a business associate of Fugazy).[3]
In 2018, Ellis Island Honors Society communications director confirmed that Donald Trump was a 1986 recipient of the Ellis Island Medals of Honor and that a photo of the event with Trump alongside Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks was authentic. Trump was honored for his work as a successful developer in New York City and his German heritage, not for helping inner city youth.[8]
Seven U.S. presidents are among those who have been nominated, along with both celebrities and ordinary people. From 1987 to 1990, NECO gave booby prizes called "Golden Pit Awards" to television shows and motion pictures which exploited ethnic stereotypes.[9] In 2004, Charles Rangel paid tribute to NECO in the U.S. House of Representatives, stating NECO was a coalition of 143 ethnic interest groups.[10] Fugazy was succeeded as head of NECO by Nasser J. Kazeminy. In 2011, a disgruntled former Board member erroneously alleged that NECO was mis-allocating funds and exchanging subsidies with member organizations. The allegation was acknowledged and never followed up by the NY Attorney General office. It ultimately proved baseless.[11]
Lee Iacocca, a friend of Fugazy Sr and Kazeminy,[12] was co-chairman until 2012.
In 2016, Ellis Island Honors Society awarded Wendy Diamond the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of her humanitarian efforts.[13]
Referencesedit
^ ab. Ellis Island Honors Society. Archived from the original on 2018-07-21. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
^"Medalist Criteria". EIHS. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
^ abcdWilkie, Christina (23 October 2016). "No, Donald Trump Did Not Win A Medal From The NAACP". Huffington Post. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
^ abcRadcliffe, Donnie (28 June 1986). "The Great Liberty Awards Uproar". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
^"Expressing Congressional Support For Awarding Of Ellis Island Medal Of Honor". Congressional Record(PDF). Vol. House. October 10, 1986. pp. 30185–30186. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
^"25 Years Ago: Sinead O'Connor's Records Get Steamrolled". Townsquare Media. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
^"Sinead O'Connor Remembers Things Differently". Verizon Media. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
^"Trump won 1986 award, but not for helping black youths". AP NEWS. Associated Press. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
^"Television programs, ads chosen as 'the pits'". UPI. 19 August 1987. Retrieved 21 January 2019.; "'Golden Pits' awarded ethnic sterotypers". UPI. 9 August 1989. Retrieved 21 January 2019.; "Golden Pit Awards for ethnic insults". UPI. 23 October 1990. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
^Congressional Record. Vol. V.150, Pt. 6. Government Printing Office. April 27, 2004. p. 7696. ISBN9780160829765.
^Vincent, Isabel (March 20, 2011). "Ellis Is. honcho in Iran $candal". New York Post.
^Iaccoca, Lee (April 15, 2008). Where Have All the Leaders Gone (First ed.). New York: Scribner. p. 47. ISBN978-1416532491.
^Ellis Island Medals of Honor. "A salute to Women's History Month and some of the powerful women we've honored". Medium. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
External linksedit
Official site of the EIHS
April 15, 2024
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The Ellis Island Honors Society EIHS is a United States 501 c 3 organization whose mission is to honor and preserve cultural diversity and to foster tolerance respect and understanding among ethnic groups 1 The EIHS was founded in 1984 as the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations NECO and adopted its current name in 2017 1 The EIHS awards the Ellis Island Medal of Honor to naturalized or native born American citizens who preserve and celebrate the history traditions and values of their ethnic heritage while exemplifying the values of the American way of life 2 NECO was founded by William Denis Fugazy Sr in June 1984 in response to discontent with the choice of 12 recipients of the Medal of Liberty awarded as part of ABC s Liberty Weekend celebration of the Statue of Liberty s pre centennial renovation 3 4 A committee appointed by ABC producer David L Wolper was tasked with selecting eminent living immigrants and Fugazy was among those who felt many prominent immigrant communities were unrepresented Fugazy a real estate agent and founder in 1984 of the Coalition of Italo American Associations mentioned in particular Italian Americans Irish Americans and Polish Americans 3 Committee member Arthur Schlesinger Jr pointed out that most Irish and Italian Americans were not first generation and therefore ineligible 4 3 The Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation which had cooperated with the Medal of Liberty award agreed to co operate with NECO on the Ellis Island Medals of Honor 4 A Congressional resolution of October 10 1986 endorsed the awards 5 Fugazy awarded the first 80 Ellis Island Medals of Honor on October 27 1986 recipients present included Joe DiMaggio Victor Borge Anita Bryant Muhammad Ali Rosa Parks and Donald Trump a business associate of Fugazy 3 In 1992 they hired a steamroller to crush Sinead O Connor s records after she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II on the late night show Saturday Night Live to protest the Catholic church s involvement in child abuse 6 7 In 2018 Ellis Island Honors Society communications director confirmed that Donald Trump was a 1986 recipient of the Ellis Island Medals of Honor and that a photo of the event with Trump alongside Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks was authentic Trump was honored for his work as a successful developer in New York City and his German heritage not for helping inner city youth 8 Seven U S presidents are among those who have been nominated along with both celebrities and ordinary people From 1987 to 1990 NECO gave booby prizes called Golden Pit Awards to television shows and motion pictures which exploited ethnic stereotypes 9 In 2004 Charles Rangel paid tribute to NECO in the U S House of Representatives stating NECO was a coalition of 143 ethnic interest groups 10 Fugazy was succeeded as head of NECO by Nasser J Kazeminy In 2011 a disgruntled former Board member erroneously alleged that NECO was mis allocating funds and exchanging subsidies with member organizations The allegation was acknowledged and never followed up by the NY Attorney General office It ultimately proved baseless 11 Lee Iacocca a friend of Fugazy Sr and Kazeminy 12 was co chairman until 2012 In 2016 Ellis Island Honors Society awarded Wendy Diamond the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of her humanitarian efforts 13 References edit a b About Us Ellis Island Honors Society Archived from the original on 2018 07 21 Retrieved 2018 07 21 Medalist Criteria EIHS Retrieved 21 January 2019 a b c d Wilkie Christina 23 October 2016 No Donald Trump Did Not Win A Medal From The NAACP Huffington Post Retrieved 21 January 2019 a b c Radcliffe Donnie 28 June 1986 The Great Liberty Awards Uproar Washington Post Retrieved 21 January 2019 Expressing Congressional Support For Awarding Of Ellis Island Medal Of Honor Congressional Record PDF Vol House October 10 1986 pp 30185 30186 Retrieved 21 January 2019 25 Years Ago Sinead O Connor s Records Get Steamrolled Townsquare Media Retrieved 26 May 2021 Sinead O Connor Remembers Things Differently Verizon Media Retrieved 26 May 2021 Trump won 1986 award but not for helping black youths AP NEWS Associated Press 2018 12 03 Retrieved 2019 05 05 Television programs ads chosen as the pits UPI 19 August 1987 Retrieved 21 January 2019 Golden Pits awarded ethnic sterotypers UPI 9 August 1989 Retrieved 21 January 2019 Golden Pit Awards for ethnic insults UPI 23 October 1990 Retrieved 21 January 2019 Congressional Record Vol V 150 Pt 6 Government Printing Office April 27 2004 p 7696 ISBN 9780160829765 Vincent Isabel March 20 2011 Ellis Is honcho in Iran candal New York Post Iaccoca Lee April 15 2008 Where Have All the Leaders Gone First ed New York Scribner p 47 ISBN 978 1416532491 Ellis Island Medals of Honor A salute to Women s History Month and some of the powerful women we ve honored Medium Retrieved 8 October 2020 External links editOfficial site of the EIHS Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ellis Island Honors Society amp oldid 1211896115, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
