“I am truly honored to receive this award because it is coming from your hearts,” said HeartShare President and CEO William R. Guarinello as he received the International Brotherhood Award from P.S./I.S. 104. “I am impressed by the students here and the work they do in and out of school.”

On February 14, 2013, The Parent-Teacher Association of P.S./I.S. 104 extended its long tradition of honoring a member of the community for his or her contributions to the Bay Ridge community by honoring Mr. Guarinello. “Mr. Guarinello is a life-long resident of Dyker Heights, has been President of HeartShare Human Services since 1993, and is Chairman of Brooklyn Community Board 11. He is President of the Fort Hamilton Citizens Action Committee, was Chairman of Brooklyn Remembers, Inc., an organization that planned, built, and maintains a memorial to Brooklyn’s 9/11 victims, and also served as Chairman of Victory Memorial Hospital,” said Angela Diyarza, Treasurer of the PTA. “In recognition of his extraordinary service and dedication to the children and families of the Bay Ridge community, we are proud to present Mr. Guarinello with the International Brotherhood Award for 2013.”

Prior to the award presentation, students from the 8th Grade classes performed skits and sang songs about being kind to each other and the spirit of helping people. Additionally, the school’s Color Guard presented the colors.

“This was a very wonderful ceremony and I am proud to accept this award,” Mr. Guarinello said. “To all the students here, I want you to know that I began my career at HeartShare more than 40 years ago as a case worker and worked my way up to be the President. I want you to see that with hard work, you can accomplish your goals and dreams too.”