Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial

JANUARY 30, 2008
TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST MEMORIAL GROUP AWARDS FOURTEEN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial (TSFFM), a NYS Not-For-Profit organization announced that fourteen Triangle Scholars are to receive grants for the Academic Year 2007-08. The organization noted that this class of children of injured workers brings the total of scholarships and awards since 2003 to 69 and total grants of $138,000.

TSFFM’s Scholarship Chair, John Sciortino, a Rochester attorney, said, “It is an honor to participate in this project. The 69 Triangle Scholars attend both public and private institutions from Buffalo to Stony Brook in Long Island and reside in counties of the state from Erie to Suffolk. This program reaches those families and individuals, their children, whose aspirations for a better life were impacted by injuries suffered during the working lives of their breadwinners.”

TSFFM was founded by a group of attorneys from the NYS Injured Workers Bar Association (IWBA) which counts members throughout NYS. Barbara Levine, a Nassau County attorney and President of the IWBA observed, “I believe TSFFM and its Scholarship Program speak directly to the history of our state’s commitment to assist its hard working citizens. The Triangle fire and the legislation that it spawned pre-date Social Security by two decades as a means to create a floor, a social safety net, to aid those who need the assistance of their fellow citizens. However, that net is not sufficient and TSFFM’s scholarship program is intended to enhance opportunity for those dependent upon the net to sustain their hopes and dreams for their children.”

The success of TSFFM in the past five years has expanded opportunities for participation by donors, including a named scholarship program, and advertisers in a Memorial Journal. “We are so excited,” observed Levine, who also serves as a TSFFM Vice President and Chair of the fundraising dinner, “and had no idea when we started this project that we would be so successful increasing our ability each year to raise funds for such a worthy cause.”

This year’s fund raising dinner is scheduled in NYC at the Fire Museum in lower Manhattan on March 25. Attendees are treated to cocktails, a four-star dinner, and entertainment with themes relating to the 1900’s, the Triangle era and performed by a theatre group lead by Mauro Contrastano, an IWBA member. “In this way,” offered Ed Pitts, a Syracuse attorney, “we fulfill TSFFM’s mission to commemorate the Triangle fire and remind the public of the origin of laws that operate on a daily basis in the workplace. Workers’ Compensation statutes were one of the results of the Triangle tragedy and we should not forget how such innocent sacrifice has profoundly affected our lives today and the lives of our fellow citizens.”

JANUARY 30, 2008
TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST MEMORIAL GROUP NAMES FIVE AS RECIPIENTS OF CLARA LEMLICH PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDS

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial (TSFFM) announced that four individuals have been named to receive a Clara Lemlich Public Service award for their work and efforts in calling attention to and participating in the reform of workers’ compensation and improvement of occupational safety in New York State.

The recipients are Lee Clarke, Director of Safety and Health for DC 37; Art Wilcox of the NYS AFL-CIO; Dr. Stephen Levin, Director of the Mt. Sinai I.J. Selikoff Center for Occupational Medicine; Dr. Robert Goldberg, President of the Medical Society of NYS; and John Sciortino, Esq., an attorney from Rochester.

Ed Vargas, a member of the Board of Directors of TSFFM and Assistant to the President of UNITE/HERE, announced the awards and observed, “Although history is supposed to be a great teacher, we too often are not familiar with its many heroes who slug it out day to day for working men and women. Clara Lemlich, a young Jewish immigrant, was among those who rose to the occasion and inspired many with her voice and her actions.”

In the early 1900’s, Lemlich participated in efforts to improve the working conditions of her co-workers in the garment industry. Despite a number of severe beatings by goons hired by factory owners, Lemlich continued her organizing efforts. On November 22, 1909, after hours of speeches from labor representatives mostly men, she mounted the stage at Cooper Union and addressed the workers in Yiddish. Her words inspired 20,000 workers to strike, one which lasted until February 10, 1910 and resulted in better wages and working conditions for members of the ILGWU.

“UNITE/HERE is the successor and beneficiary of Clara’s bravery and dedication,” continued Vargas, “and we need to be reminded of that. So, I am proud and pleased to announce the names of TSFFM’s 2008 Clara Lemlich Public Service awards and recognize their connection to, not only labor history, but to all who enjoy safer and better working conditions.”

The awards will be presented at TSFFM’s Sixth Annual Memorial dinner to be held at the NYC Fire Museum in lower Manhattan on March 25. Proceeds from the dinner and a journal are dedicated to a scholarship program for children of injured workers. Attendees are treated to cocktails, a four-star dinner, and entertainment with themes relating to the 1900’s, the Triangle era, and performed by an amateur theatre group. “In this way,” offered Jim McCarthy, a NYC attorney and President of TSFFM, “we fulfill TSFFM’s mission to commemorate the Triangle tragedy and remind the public of the need for vigilance in workplace safety. The Clara Lemlich awardees personify that responsibility in their everyday work lives.”

FEBRUARY 26, 2007

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial (TSFFM) announced today that fifteen (15) men and women have been named Triangle Scholars for the Academic Year 2006-2007. The scholarship awards are each made for $2,000.00 to children or dependents of parents or guardians receiving benefits under New York’s Workers’ Compensation Law.

John Sciortino, a Rochester attorney and Chair of TSFFM’s Scholarship Committee, said that seven (7) of the recipients were awardees in past years and eleven (11) received awards named for families or individuals with associations to workers’ compensation. The students reside in counties from Erie to Suffolk; attend public and private institutions; and are studying in fields from teacher education to pharmacy to pre-engineering.

Sciortino said, “Although our new Governor deserves great praise for increasing benefits in the workers’ compensation system in future years, these students are dependents of breadwinners who are receiving 1994 benefits under the prior law. Just as seven of them are repeat recipients, we expect the need for Triangle Scholarships to increase as the dependents age-in to college years. “

James McCarthy, President of TSFFM, agreed with Sciortino adding, “It’s like the “baby boomer” phenomenon. The permanently injured workers from the 1990’s will be seeking college assistance for their children in the next 10 years. If TSFFM can make its first award for freshman year, then we will have three more years to anticipate. In the present class of Triangle Scholars, one student has moved from community college to a four-year institution and has received Triangle awards for the past three years.”

TSFM was initiated by a group of attorneys who practice in the field of workers’ compensation. The first dinner and fundraising event was held in NYC in March 2001. This year two dinner events are scheduled for March 23rd, 2007 – one in Syracuse and one in NYC. Over its five years, the organization has awarded fifty-five (55) Triangle Scholarships totaling $106,000.00.

FEBRUARY 26, 2007
TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST MEMORIAL GROUP HOSTS TWO EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN OF INJURED WORKERS

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial (TSFFM), a NYS Not-For-Profit organization announced that for its 2007 fund raising effort two events are being held – one in Syracuse and the other in New York City at the Fire Museum both on March 23rd. This year marks the 96th anniversary of the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 146 young men and women, mostly immigrants, who were trapped in a sweatshop inferno in lower Manhattan.

Proceeds from the four previous years have enabled TSFFM to offer 50 college scholarships each in the amount of $2,000.00 to children of injured workers. John Sciortino, a Rochester attorney who heads the TSFFM Scholarship Program said, “Our scholarship awards, in many instances, have meant the difference for some of the Triangle Scholars to complete their studies. The Triangle Scholars are concrete testimony to the plight of injured workers whose capacity to support the aspirations of their families has been impacted by their career-ending disabilities.”

TSFFM was founded by a group of attorneys from the NYS Injured Workers Bar Association (IWBA) with members from across the state. Louis Dauerer, a Newburgh attorney and President of the IWBA observed, “I believe TSFFM and its Scholarship Program speaks to the history of our state's commitment to assist the most needy of its citizens. The Triangle fire and the legislation that it spawned pre-date Social Security by two decades as a means to create a floor, a social safety net, to aid those most in need of protection and assistance.”

Both events – in Syracuse and in NYC – reflect the success of TSFFM in the past four years and will expand opportunity for participation for donors and advertisers. “We are so excited,” observed Barbara B. Levine, a Nassau attorney and NYC Dinner Chair, “and had no idea when we started this project that we would be sponsoring two events and increasing our ability to raise funds for such a worthy cause. I am awed and, when the scholarship checks are sent out, simply and absolutely gratified.”

Each event will treat participants to cocktails, dinner, and entertainment with themes relating to the 1900's, the Triangle era. “In this way,” offered Ed Pitts, a Syracuse attorney, “we fulfill TSFFM's mission to commemorate and remind the public of the origin of laws that affect their lives on a daily basis. Workers' Compensation statutes were one of the results of the Triangle tragedy and the general public needs to be reminded of its vital importance in workplace safety.”

For further information, please contact:

James M. McCarthy
718-830-3200
jmccarthy@nycomplawyers.com

Ed Pitts
315-471-3036
epitts@dayandpitts.com

TSFFM
718-830-3200
www.trianglememorial.org