Ellis Island Honors Society facts for kids
The Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) is a special group in the United States. It's a 501(c)(3) organization, which means it's a non-profit group that does good work for the community. Their main goal is to celebrate and protect different cultures. They also want to help people from different backgrounds understand and respect each other.
The EIHS started in 1984. Back then, it was called the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO). In 2017, they changed their name to the Ellis Island Honors Society.
The EIHS gives out a special award called the "Ellis Island Medal of Honor". This award goes to American citizens, whether they were born in the U.S. or became citizens later. It honors people who keep their family's traditions and values alive. It also celebrates those who show the good values of the American way of life.
| Founder | William Denis Fugazy Sr. |
|---|---|
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Location | |
|
Key people
|
Nasser J. Kazeminy (Chairman) |
Contents
How the Society Started
The Ellis Island Honors Society began as NECO in June 1984. It was founded by a man named William Denis Fugazy Sr. He started it because some people were not happy with how awards were given out for the Statue of Liberty's big celebration.
Honoring All Cultures
During the celebration for the Statue of Liberty, a special "Medal of Liberty" was given to important immigrants. Mr. Fugazy and others felt that many immigrant groups were not included. For example, he thought Italian Americans, Irish Americans, and Polish Americans were not represented enough.
A historian named Arthur Schlesinger Jr explained that most Irish and Italian Americans at that time were not first-generation immigrants. This meant they might not have been eligible for that specific award.
Working Together for Awards
The group that helped with the Medal of Liberty award, the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, decided to work with NECO. Together, they created the Ellis Island Medals of Honor.
On October 10, 1986, the U.S. Congress officially supported these new awards. Mr. Fugazy gave out the first 80 Ellis Island Medals of Honor on October 27, 1986. Some famous people who received the award that day included Joe DiMaggio, Victor Borge, Anita Bryant, Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, and Donald Trump.
Notable Achievements and Honorees
Over the years, many important people have received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. These include seven U.S. presidents, many celebrities, and also everyday people who have done great things.
Fighting Stereotypes
From 1987 to 1990, NECO also gave out "Golden Pit Awards." These were like "booby prizes" for TV shows and movies that used unfair ethnic stereotypes. This showed their commitment to promoting respect among different groups.
Recognizing Contributions
In 2004, a politician named Charles Rangel praised NECO in the U.S. House of Representatives. He said that NECO was a group of 143 different ethnic groups working together.
William Denis Fugazy Sr was later followed as the head of NECO by Nasser J. Kazeminy.
Recent Awards
In 2016, the Ellis Island Honors Society gave the Ellis Island Medal of Honor to Wendy Diamond. She received it for her important work helping others.
Lee Iacocca, who was a friend of Mr. Fugazy Sr and Mr. Kazeminy, was also a co-chairman of the society until 2012.
