NDPF Annual Awards Dinner The National Police Defense Foundation recently held its 2008 Awards Dinner at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach. According to the NDPF, the event was held to honor ‘real-life heroes.’ Award recipients included State Sen. Martin J. Golden, Man of the Year (pictured at left in top photo with Joseph T. Conway); P. O. Leigh Ann Hester (Franklin, Tenn. Police Department), Woman of the Year; William “Bill” Genet (NYPD, ret.), Lifetime Achievement Award; Viola M. Powrie (National President, IPA—U.S. Section), President’s Award; and Stuart R. GraBois, Esq. (N.Y. District Council of Carpenters Benefit Funds and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, N.Y. Southern District), Distinguished Member Award. Scholarship grants were awarded to Nicholas Robert deMarco, Christopher Milstein, Lauren R. Occhipinti, George Froehlich, Jr., Dominic Venezian, Jenna Applebaum, Gabrielle Manas, Samantha May and Reuben Enukashvili. Proceeds from the charity dinner, according to founder Joseph Occhipinti, will benefit Operation Kids Program, a safety program which includes medical services for critically-ill children. Funds from the program benefited Joseph Hopkins, seen being held by a family member in the bottom photo. An NPDF member of the board is pictured with Rev. Kyritsis (left in center photo) and Conway (right in center photo). The NPDF also hopes to see the completion,this year of a memorial dedicated to 9/11 police heroes.

(story and photos courtesy of Joseph T. Conway)

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