Quantcast

Blackburne Dem Club to honor 11 at Antun’s

Blackburne Dem Club to honor 11 at Antun’s
By Howard Koplowitz

A former TimesLedger Newspapers employee is one of 11 people slated to be honored Saturday during the Elmer H. Blackburne Regular Democratic Club’s 29th-annual awards luncheon at Antun’s in Queens Village.

Mary Boyd-Foy, a retired senior account executive who worked for the weekly chain for 14 years, will be receiving the club’s Woman of the Year Public Service Award.

“I just find it extremely rewarding and gratifying for the years of service that I have rendered in the community and I really appreciate the recognition,” Boyd-Foy said.

She has served on the Queens district attorney’s African American Advisory Council and is the former county chairwoman for fund-raising of the United Negro College Fund.

Boyd-Foy is also active in various organizations and was past president of the VFW Post No. 5298 in Springfield Gardens, Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the Queens County Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW.

The club’s namesake, Democratic District Leader Elmer Blackburne, called Boyd-Foy “one of the most exciting honorees we’ve had in a long time.”

Blackburne noted that the luncheon attracts political heavyweights from across the borough, with City Comptroller John Liu to serve as keynote speaker. U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) will be special guest speaker.

“We have one of the most prestigious roster of honorees that we’ve had in a long time,” Blackburne said. “Twenty-nine years we’ve been giving these things out at Antun’s, so we feel pretty good about it.”

The $65-a-head luncheon, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Antun’s, is expected to be attended by 300 to 350 people, Blackburne said.

Seymour James, attorney-in-charge for the Legal Aid Society, is being honored with the Public Service Award.

The club is handing out two lifetime achievement awards: one to E. Thomas Oliver for education and the other to Clinton Graham, president of C&G Enterprises for entrepreneurship.

Also receiving public service awards are Deputy Inspector Krystal Johnson, commanding officer of the 113th Precinct, and Sharon Cox of the Laurelton Library.

The club is also presenting emerging leader awards to attorney Leslie Myers, Dwayne Cumberbatch and Shawn Kennon.

Deborah Allen of Allstate Insurance will receive the Community Service Award and Ke-Shawn Alexander will be presented with the Youth Award.

For more information or to buy tickets to the event, contact Luncheon Committee Co-Chairwoman Joan Avaloy at 718-712-5366 or the Democratic Club at 718-525-4033.

Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.