Serbian-American Recipients of the 2007 Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Serbian-Americans, Philanthropist Obren Brian Gerich, Senior Vice President of Public Storage, Inc. and Heritage Marketing Leader, Mira Zivkovich, CEO of MZI Global Marketing were awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor on May 12, 2007. Chosen among thousands of applicants by NECO, the nominees portray a lifestyle dedicated to community service and exhibit interests for the preservation of cultural groups.
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 2, 2007
Each year, NECO serves as umbrella organization representing over 300 ethnic groups in the U. S. and annually awards the Ellis Island Medal of Honor to 100 outstanding U. S. citizens. Chosen among thousands of applicants, the nominees contribute through personal and professional achievements toward the overall benefit of society. This year, two Serbian-Americans, Philanthropist Obren Brian Gerich (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb527055.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661ac40ead56), Senior Vice President of Public Storage, Inc. and Heritage Marketing Leader, Mira Zivkovich (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb527254.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb), CEO of MZI Global Marketing were awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor on May 12, 2007.
The United States Senate and House of Representatives have both officially passed resolutions recognizing the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, which ranks among this country's most prestigious awards. Each year, Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients are listed in the Congressional Record, honoring those who have made enduring contributions to our nation and to the world.
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor two-day event begins with a reception the evening before the official presentation ceremony at the prestigious Metropolitan Club in NYC where the medalists meet each other. The following afternoon, recipients and guests are taken by ferry boat to Ellis Island for the ceremonial event lasting seven hours. The colossal production starts with a ceremony in a 16,000 square foot tent with over 250 entertainers, marching bands, performers in full regalia, to honor the medalists. There are lights, camera and plenty of action but nothing matches the patriotic and emotional event which medalist Mira Zivkovich describes as the most memorable moment in her life: "excitement of life time, which is beyond description." Following the tent ceremony, the medalists and over a thousand guests proceed to the Great Hall ballroom where candlelight, elegantly appointed tables, music and dance greet the medalists and their families for the evening's dinner celebration. To top everything, this spectacular ceremony and premier event of the year in New York City, ends with Grucci spectacular fireworks display in backdrop of New York Harbor.
In his letter of greeting in the Commemorative Journal for the Ellis Island Medals of Honors Awards Gala, His Excellency Rt. Rev. Bishop Dr. Mitrophan, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Eastern America, congratulated all recipients of the medal and particularly those being honored from the Serbian community. He stated: "For the Serbian community and myself, this occasion marks a milestone since it is the first time that those Americans of Serbian heritage have been honored as a distinct nationality. Early Serbian immigrants to America helped establish the first Orthodox parishes in the United States since the 1860's in New Orleans and San Francisco. The first Serbian Orthodox Church was erected in Jackson, California in 1894. I am pleased to send warm greetings and congratulations to everyone gathered tonight for the Ellis Island Medals of Honor Awards Gala of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations."
"I am very proud of our two Serbian-American medalists for 2007 that have enlightened our orthodox approach, advocating stewardship, empowerment, and social responsibility, coupled with the spiritual philosophy and moral principles that is a prime example of how values, responsibility, commitment, service, integrity, openness, and idealism can lead the Serbian community. Obran Brian Gerich promoting the spirit of orthodoxy and Mira Zivkovich advocate for community awareness did just that with our Serbian community," says the Very Reverend Father Djokan Majstorovic.
Mira Zivkovich became aware of this award when she was invited to attend the Ceremony and Gala on Ellis Island seven years ago and saw that, among ethnic recipients listed in the beautiful commemorative journal with letters from U. S. dignitaries and Presenters - there was not a single Serbian name and hardly any Slavic representation. Mira Zivkovich states: "Since then I have made my personal mission, that whatever it takes, I will personally research and nominate the most prominent Serbs in the community, who contributed either via their charity work or contribution to their Serbian community, heritage and faith. As a result, I nominated the Serbian-American Thomas Stankovich who was honored with the 2005 Medal, and in 2006 Vlado Divac, and this year 2007, I nominated Obren Brian Gerich, prominent Serb and Senior Vice President of Public Storage, Inc and respected philanthropist of the Orthodox Christian community in America. He was awarded this honor for his dedication and leadership in community service on May 12, 2007.
Along with him, this year, as result of my efforts in fundraising for St. Sava Serbian Church, our landmark building in NYC, as well as my personal contributions of over 1000 hours of MZI Global Marketing company's time in creating marketing, web and publishing materials (including St. Sava's journals), books, web sites for various charity organizations and altruistic causes, I was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. My objective was to advance a positive Serbian image and awareness among Americans of the extent of the Serbian community's contributions to the economic, cultural and political life of America and to have Serbian-Americans recognized for their achievements."
The following Serbian-Americans were nominated by the Slavic Heritage Coalition founded by Mira Zivkovich and received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. A short profile of their achievements follows:
2007: Obren Brian Gerich (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb527055.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661ac40ead56)
Obren Brian Gerich, Senior Vice President of Public Storage, Inc and Philanthropist is Awarded the 2007 Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Obren Brian Gerich (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb527055.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661ac40ead56), Senior Vice President of Public Storage, Inc and respected philanthropist of the Orthodox Christian community in America has been awarded the "Ellis Island Medal of Honor" for his dedication and leadership in community service. Mr. Gerich, along with other recipients from various heritage groups, chosen by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations NECO, received this honor on May 12, 2007. Each year, NECO awards the "Ellis Island Medal of Honor" to outstanding individuals who lead a lifestyle dedicated to community service, exhibit interests for the preservation of cultural groups and to those who share and contribute through personal and professional achievements toward the overall benefit of society.
Obren Brian Gerich, Senior Vice President of Public Storage, Inc and Philanthropist is Awarded the 2007 Ellis Island Medal of Honor (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb527055.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do465ed723d4f0e)
2007: Mira Zivkovich (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb527254.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb)
Mira Zivkovich, Heritage Marketing Leader and Philanthropist, is Awarded the 2007 Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Mira Zivkovich (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb527254.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb), a leader in heritage and multicultural marketing, President and CEO of MZI Global Marketing and founder of the Slavic Heritage Coalition, is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor presented on May 12, 2007 on Ellis Island. One of 100 recipients from the entire U. S., Mira Zivkovich was chosen by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations to receive this honor because of her contributions to various charitable causes and her devotion to her Serbian group and dedication to preserving the multicultural diversity of American society.
CEO of MZI Global Marketing, Mira Zivkovich, Heritage Marketing Leader, Among 100 Recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor 2007 (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb527254.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb)
Mira Zivkovich, Heritage Marketing Leader and Philanthropist, is Awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (http://www. prweb. com/releases/2007/04/prweb515626.htm)
2006: Vlado Divac (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb385920.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb)
Vlado Divac, Global Basketball Ambassador and Tireless Philanthropist, Awarded 2006 Ellis Island Medal of Honor
After several successful seasons in the NBA, Vlado Divac (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb385920.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb) and six of his Yugoslavian National Team teammates decided to create the Group Seven Children's Foundation. This Foundation was formed to assist those children whose lives had been adversely affected by the ravages of war in Divac's homeland. Divac later expanded efforts to reach out to disadvantaged children in other parts of the world as well. He organizes several events a year through his Group Seven Children's Foundation to raise dollars that fund humanitarian projects to assist underprivileged children. One of these events is the annual summer basketball camp held in Folsom, California. Events like this have allowed Group Seven to provide more than $2 million in humanitarian assistance and educational programs to children in Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the United States, Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Vlade Divac, Global Basketball Ambassador and Tireless Philanthropist, Awarded Ellis Island Medal of Honor (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb385920.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb)
Photos of Vlado Divac during the Ellis Island Medals of Honor in 2006 (http://www. mziglobal. com/showcase. asp? path=after+hours%2FMZInc+2006%2FEllis%5FIsland%5FMedals%5Fof%5FHonor/)
2005: Thomas Stankovich (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb257277.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb)
Thomas Stankovich is honored with the 2005 Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Alongside Independence Day, Serbs are working to raise awareness in politics about the region known as the former-Yugoslavia, and to bring attention to the voices of the Serbian Diaspora community. At the forefront of this movement is the Serbian Unity Congress, which is organizing Serbian Day in Washington, DC on June 28-30 in collaboration with Senator George Voinovich, and Congresswoman Melissa (Luburich) Bean, with a planned visit to the White House followed by a briefing at the State Department.
Mr. Stankovich's experiences involve him in the business and political sphere and bring him into contact with prominent American representatives. When asked about a possible future in government, Mr. Stankovich stated that "anything is possible and it would be a wonderful opportunity." Given his past accomplishments, his potential for the position is clear. Through transforming the current business practices of Eastern Europe into business practices which more closely resembled the West or free market economies, Mr. Stankovich has succeeded in sharing American principles, and solidifying international relations and alliances.
A Golden Celebration: As July 4th approaches, Thomas Stankovich is honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (https://console. prweb. com/prweb/preview/only/50823/prweb257277.php? SESSION_ID=50823_do4661a873afcdb)
Photos of Thomas Stankovich during the Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremony in 2005 (http://www. mziglobal. com/showcase. asp? path=after+hours%2FMZInc+2005%2FEllis+Island+Medals+of+Honor/)
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