Brentwood Assemblyman Secures $20K For Puerto Rican Coalition

BRENTOOWD, NY — A local politician is investing in the power of young people through actions of his own heritage.

New York State Assemblyman Phil Ramos, (D-Brentwood), presented a $20,000 check on Thursday to the Puerto Rican Coalition, a non-profit organization which aims to engage and unite Long Island communities by creating opportunities to sponsor education and participate in social and cultural programs.

Ramos said that the donation, which he negotiated for in the budget, are state discretionary funds which will come from will go towards youth scholarships and preserving Latinx heritage.

"My family came out (from Puerto Rico) in 1956. Since that time, the Puerto Rican community has really developed over the years," he said. "Now, we are a mosaic of different different Hispanic and non Hispanic countries, immigrants that live here."

In addition to scholarships, the coalition, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, also host events throughout the year, such as a Three Kings Day celebration and the Brentwood Puerto Rican Day parade. said that its goal is to support multiple communities on Long Island.

Candido Crespo, president of the coalition, told Patch that the coalition also holds service trips, such as to Haiti or to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Ida, to help people in need.

"They all brothers, so we try to work with everybody," Crespo said.

Angel Pabon , co-founder and financial advisor for the coalition, told Patch that the scholarships and events are not limited to those of Latinx descent, but for anyone from Long Island to take advantage of and enjoy.

"This is our community, and we want to take care of our community," he said. "We want everybody to prosper."

In recent weeks, Ramos has also secured funding for multiple community projects, such as a total of $700,000 for a skate park, $500,000 for an autism park, and $125,000 for recreation center improvements in Roberto Clemente Park.

"Puerto Rican-Americans, we are very proud to be Americans. But we're also equally as proud of our heritage," Ramos said. " We have not forgotten the immigrant experience, we have not forgotten the need to pay it forward. We don't forget that just because just because we were granted citizenship.

Earlier this year, Ramos also provided $35,000 to the Pakistani-American Society of New York to help unite Muslim communities on Long Island, and to a MDQ Academy's Universal Pre-K program in Bay Shore, the only Islamic school on Long Island.

He additionally garnered $655,000 towards the cleanup of Ross Park in Brentwood, $500,000 for a new soccer field in Central Islip, and $20,000 towards the LGBT Network for anti-bullying awareness.

"This organization of Puerto Ricans has helped this very diverse community, whether it's the Central American community, South American, Haitian, Muslim community, they have been there for each one of them," he said. "They realize that we are all in the same boat. And when we work together, that is the tide that rises all ships."

To learn more about the Puerto Rican Coalition and its scholarships, click here.