September 16, 2005

BROOKLYN, NY – Richard K. Wong, long-time Director of Community Partnerships at Habitat for Humanity New York City, died suddenly on September 15.

Aaron Bouska, Senior Advocacy Program Associate, issued a statement on behalf of Habitat for Humanity NYC: "Our colleague, mentor, and friend Richard Wong passed away suddenly yesterday as a result of a massive stroke. Please keep Richard's family in your prayers. Obviously, this is something that has devastated all of us. Richard Wong was Habitat for most of us, embodying the spirit of compassion, and a true man of God."

"His loss has been a shock and his contribution to the work of building a just and compassionate city was beyond measure," said Marc Greenberg, Executive Director of the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing. "Richard was a great man – hard working – committed – wise – gentle and loving – and a true friend with a giant heart. He was certainly the Dean of faith community organizing in NYC and he will be greatly missed and cannot be replaced. The Interfaith Assembly joins all of his colleagues at Habitat and his friends throughout New York and beyond in mourning his passing. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family – in particular his wife and children and their new grandchild."

A memorial service will be held Friday, September 23, 2005, 11:00 a.m., at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn. Richard was very committed to his faith and his church. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church for the Capital Campaign.

Honored for Outstanding Leadership

Just last January, the Queens Federation of Churches honored Richard Wong with its annual award for Outstanding Leadership in Queens. The biographical sketch published on that occasion follows:

Richard K. Wong is the Director of Community Partnerships at Habitat for Humanity – New York City, a not-for-profit Christian housing ministry. He is a native New Yorker who firmly believes in helping our neighbors, having spent over 35 years volunteering with local community organizations. During his eleven years working with Habitat, Richard has worked with local leaders, community boards and City agencies to identify building sites and form community partnerships for future Habitat homes. Richard also works with local congregations to develop partnerships that enable them to put their faith into action.

Richard has organized dozens of local congregations in Queens in building 18 Habitat for Humanity homes in the borough. In 2000, he led a Citywide Faith Community Campaign involving dozens of local congregations that raised over $1.4 million and provided hundreds of volunteers to build 22 homes in New York City.

Prior to joining Habitat for Humanity-NYC, Richard was the Assistant Director at Asian Americans For Equality, a local community development corporation serving lower Manhattan. In the 1980's Richard was involved in the local labor movement, holding various positions including President of the Brooklyn Local of the American Postal Workers Union and as delegate to the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Richard organized the first "walk-a-thon" in New York City in 1970 that mobilized hundreds of young people from local congregations and schools, to walk 26 miles in Queens to raise money for anti-hunger programs. He received a citation of merit from B'nai B'rith in "recognition of devoted effort and achievement to advance democracy, improve human relations and further understanding among all people."

Richard has served on the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Chapter of the American Red Cross and the First Chinese Presbyterian Church Community Affairs Corporation which provides home care services for 1,200 seniors every month. He is an Elder at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Every year Richard speaks to hundreds of young people encouraging them to "give back to the community" and to love their neighbors through community service.

Queens Federation of Churches