Leaders honored and unity displayed at Salam Arabic Lutheran Church gala

Honoring leaders and building bridges.

The Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, 414 80th Street, held its annual fundraiser gala on Saturday, November 4 at the Bay Ridge Manor, 476 76th Street, where attendees enjoyed dinner andlive band entertainment by Eddie Osama as they honored local leaders.

“The gala is an annual event and it went very well,” said Reverend Khader El-Yateem, the church’s spiritual leader. “We had four honorees this year and as every year, we try to choose honorees who are working with the community and advocating for the community and those who are committed to bringing people together in unity.”

El-Yateem stressed the significance of the event.

“It’s a very unique event because it brings everyone together as Christians, Muslims and Jews to celebrate individuals of the community who have shown great courage working on issues such as social justice and working to bring people together,” he said.

This year, Chief of Service Emergency Department at NYU Langone Hospital — Brooklyn Dr. Nicholas Gavin took home the Man of the Year Award. Community organizer Kayla Santosuosso won Woman of the Year. The Bridge Builder Award went to Mohammad Saweer of the Saweer Law Office and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to vascular surgeon Dr. Michael Kassouf.

“We had about 150 people at the gala and we had a great time. It was a beautiful and smooth representation,” El-Yateem said, adding that the event raised funds for a good cause, “allow[ing] the church to continue to work with our young people around projects that allow them to interact with each other from different communities. Our focus this year is going to be working among young people to bring them together in places where they can play, talk and know each other in the community.”

State Senator Marty Golden was among those at the event.
“Senator Marty Golden and I were glad to have attended and support the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church’s annual dinner dance,” said John Quaglione, spokesperson for Golden.  “The event featured great honorees working to make our community and this church stronger going forward.  We congratulate Father El-Yateem and wish his ministry and his congregation much continued success in the future.”

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