(L. to r.) Queens Centers for Progress Chefs of the Year Honorees Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski and Thomas M. Quinn and Sons Funeral Home Vice President George L. Stamatiades and Borough President Helen M. Marshall at the annual QCP Evening of Fine Food reception at Terrace on the Park. Photo Jason D. Antos Each year Queens Centers for Progress (QCP, formerly United Cerebral Palsy of Queens) chooses individuals displaying exemplary dedication to making a difference in the community and honors them as Chefs of the Year at QCP’s annual Evening of Fine Food reception. This year, George L. Stamatiades, vice president of Thomas M. Quinn and Sons Funeral Home in Astoria, and Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski were honored at the QCP event at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on February 9.

Guests sampled signature dishes from some of Queens’ best restaurants. Papazzio’s of Bayside offered classic Italian dishes, Marbella Restaurant provided their specialty, Spanish cuisine, Bourbon Street, did Cajun food, London Lennies offered lobster rolls, Kati Allo homestyle Greek dishes, and Mexican delights were served by Tequila Sunrise, whose live Mariachi band entertained everyone. Simply Fondue of Glendale furnished dessert.

Lewandowski, who oversees Queens’ 7,326 acres of parkland, served perogies to the hungry masses. Stamatiades served a Greek specialty, pasticcio.

“I made it from scratch,” Stamatiades said. “Actually, I must confess that my wife is the one who cooked it.”

He added that he originally agreed to make toast.

Borough President Helen M. Marshall, the evening’s honorary chairperson, presented Proclamations to Lewandowski and Stamatiades.

Marshall thanked the two for their generosity and hard work.

Also present was Mary Ann Esposito, creator and host of the PBS series “Ciao Italia”, now celebrating its 20th season, making it the longest running cooking series on public television. Esposito signed copies of her cookbook based on the series.

QCP was founded 60 years ago, by a group of parents who needed services for their children with cerebral palsy. The organization now provides services for children and adults in Queens County with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. The purpose of these services is to maximize the range and quality of independent life choices available to the individuals and their families.

QCP began providing residential services in 1979 with the opening of the Robert T. Groh Residence in Jamaica Estates.

In 1989 QCP opened the Daniel Wieder Campus, named for the agency’s executive director. The site includes a day treatment program for 150 people and an intermediate care facility for adults with significant disabling conditions. The agency has opened three individual residential alternative houses in neighborhoods throughout Queens and additional residential expansion is planned for the future.

In 2001, the organization changed its name to reflect the wide variety of developmental disabilities treated.

QCP is dedicated to providing people with opportunities to make choices that will maximize their skill development, independence and integration into community life. More than 1,500 people of all ages, from toddlers to the elderly, now receive ongoing services from QCP for all aspects of life, including being provided a place to live and work, health care, hygiene and life skills training, education, therapy, vocational training and recreation. QCP, 81-15 164th St., Jamaica, currently has a staff of more than 600 and an annual budget in excess of $32 million funded through federal, state, and local government sources, contract services and private contributions.

For more information, visit QCP at www.queenscp.org or call 718-380-3000.