The Center Presents Joseph Shamie with The First-Ever Community Humanitarian Award

On a mild Tuesday night in August, amid bright pink roses, matching tablecloths and white umbrellas brightly contrasting a dark sky, over one thousand people excitedly gathered at Ester and Joseph Jerome’s home in Deal, NJ to honor Joey Shamie with the first-ever Sephardic Community Center Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Off to the side, rippling slightly with the breeze, stood a white fabric wall decorated with the logos of multiple organizations to which Joey has contributed over the years. AIPAC, The Sephardic Community Federation, Delivering Good, Teach NYS, Sephardic Bikur Holim, Operation Homefront, and The Center joined together on August 20th as never before.

After enjoying dinner around a pool shimmering with their colorful reflections, guests focused their attention on the huge screen to watch a short film titled Where’s Joey? The film highlighted the almost superhero qualities of one man making a tremendous difference in our world.

In Where’s Joey? a quick-footed cameraman along with the voice of Alice Adjmi travels in search of Joey Shamie. In one day, this pair keeps missing him, as they check various locations and ask a multitude of people where he could be. From his house in Loch Arbor to his shul down the block to Times Square and the UN in Manhattan to Fort Dix in New Jersey and then all the way to China and back to The Center in Brooklyn—the exasperated crew cannot catch up with Joey’s pace! To help solve the mystery, they approach family members, exercise buddies, rabbis, pals, work staff, business associates, politicians, the chief of the NYPD, and the oh-so-many people Joey works with on oh-so-many charitable organizations. In the end, he is found at this very event, enmeshed within the excited and applauding crowd.

From the podium, Joseph Jerome welcomed all and stated, “No one deserves the night’s accolades more than Joey Shamie.”

Ricky Novick, one of the chair people added, “Joey is a man of action for those rich or poor, civilian or military, old or young, Jewish or non-Jewish. He is truly dedicated to Tikun Olam—to bettering the ‘community of man.’” Ricky then informed the crowd that Joey selflessly donates his time and money to over two dozen not-for-profit organizations.

Ricky’s co-chair Gladys Haddad beamed with admiration as she compared Joey to Abraham Avinu, who was a kind and honest visionary and pioneer dedicated to sharing his treasure with all humanity.

Lisa Baum of IDB Bank contributed to this mountain of praise by saying, “Joey is the warmest, kindest, most gentle and soft-spoken person you can ever meet. He is universally beloved in business and in life.”

Joey is the co-owner of Delta Cribs with his wonderful brother Sammy. In this professional sphere too, together, they display tremendous care. With the comfort and confidence that comes from having a solid and supportive partner, Joey often flies from California to Vegas to Harlem to military bases to personally donate and distribute cribs, strollers, and other products to those in need.

Just when everyone was wondering how Joey achieves as much as he does, his son Louis shared a cleverly composed list instructing the audience how to live like his dad. He said, “Root for the underdog, be persistent, smile, socialize, learn from everyone, and focus on others!”

Throughout the proceedings, organizers of the program showered Joey with awards, plaques, and Judaica. When Gladys Haddad presented Joey with a menorah, she stated, “Just as the hanukkiah brings hope and light to the world, so too do you bring hope and light to all of us.”

Said Talia Toussie, one of the main chairs of the event, “This program unified our community in such a special way. By celebrating the work of one special person, we inspired so many people to do hesed in any form and to realize that there are opportunities everywhere. We are all lucky to have Joey as our friend and mentor. Everybody in attendance had a personal connection with him and considers him their own special friend. It was amazing!”

Testifying to the truth of her words are the hundreds of joyous photographs taken of Joey with leaders of the community; committee after committee; almost every guest in attendance, his extended family, and with his dear wife Adrienne and their children.

In his closing speech, with a tear glistening in each eye, Joey thanked the organizers of the tribute; the attendees, Adrienne and his entire family, plus his parents and mentors—who influenced him so positively. He then strongly encouraged each person to get involved in some way. He urged, “Get out there and do. You can do it!” Spreading his arms wide open, he exclaimed, “Just look at me. Any average Joe who puts their heart into it will succeed!”

Twenty three year-old Charles Chakkalo, who made Joey’s acquaintance this year, took these words to heart and wanted to hear more. He spent much time speaking with Joey this summer about community matters, politics, and business, and wanted to give his peers an opportunity to experience Joey’s passion and wisdom as well. And so, he, with Jojo Tawil, Elliot Dweck, and other volunteers, organized Mazza and Conversation with Joey Shamie, moderated by Ezra Ashkenazie for young adults by Ezra and Sharyn Ashkenazie’s beach. Charles helped plan the gathering in just 48 hours, and was pleased at the easy turnout of 150 people!

In a true chain reaction, Charles’ friend, Samantha Chabot, along with those same volunteers, followed his lead and created the next young adult event focusing on hesed and involvement. This took place at the end of October at The Center and featured a Q&A with Joey Shamie and two of his role models: Nancy and Sam Sutton, a true dynamic duo.

Grace Sutton, The Center’s Volunteer Coordinator is currently working on other like initiatives. It seems there are many from all age groups who continue to be motivated by one very magical night and one very special man.

Contact grace@scclive.org to get involved. Organizers of the event included Gladys Haddad, Joseph Jerome, Ricky Novick, Steven Hidary, Talia Toussie, Joey Tawil, Sari Setton, Adrienne Shamie, Loraine Gold, Jack Anzarouth, Norma Cohen, Renee Braha, and Rochelle Dweck.