It was the First Lady of the Bronx who took center stage at Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz's Women's History Month celebration Thursday. New York 1 reporter Roma Torre was the Mistress of Ceremony, and it was First Lady Hilds Diaz that greeted everyone. Ms. Diaz is employed by the Port Authority, called BP Diaz "Still Her Honey", and spoke of her mother who told her to "Get a good education, and marry a man who can do his own laundry".
BP Ruben Diaz Jr. then spoke, saying he could not be doing the things at borough hall without the women on his staff. He then thanked Deputy Borough President Aurilia Greene, Deputy Chief of Staff Carmela Price, Marlene Cintron of BOEDC, and Monica Major his Director of Education. Diaz then said that "As women go men go, and as women and men go so does society".
Ruben Diaz Jr. is the 13th Bronx Borough President, and the youngest person elected to the position. BP Diaz proudly says that he and his wife Hilda were high school sweethearts, and have been together for over 20 years.
The Honorees were Ms. Beatrice Castiglia-Castillo the founder of the Regional Aid for Interim Needs or better known as R.A.I.N. 95 year old Ms Castiglia-Castillo said that in 1957 she made a promise to god if she survived a tragic event. In 1964 she founded R.A.I.N. while working at a local hospital to provide home care services. She also joked about how the name came about as when asked in the beginning when asked what her company name was, she said that she looked outside at the rain coming down, giving it that name.
Deputy Inspector Nilda Hofmann was the second honoree, and she said that she was born and raised in the Bronx, going to Bronx public schools. She spoke of how she rose through the ranks of the Police Department of become only one of five women precinct Commanders.
The third honoree was Ms. Belkis Lora CEO/President of the Grand Slam Foundation. She said that her organization serves 300 children, and that she id very proud of her business. BP Diaz then spoke of the Little League Bronx championship game that was played last year at Yankee Stadium, saying that it was an idea that came from Ms. Lora.
Ms. Roma Torre then gave the closing remarks.
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| Bronx Borough President is seated between his wife Hilda on the right, and Deputy BP Greene on the left |
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| First Lady Hilda Diaz addressing the audience |
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| From left to right is Deputy Inspector Nilda Hofmann, Ms. Betrice Castiglia-Castillo, BP Diaz, First Lady Hilda Diaz, Roma Torre of NY1, and Ms. Belkis Lora. |
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