Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, Inc.

105 East 22nd Street, Suite 615, New York, NY 10010
Tel: 212 677-4181 Fax: 212 777-5106
Email: info@iprhe.org

Suleika Cabrera Drinane, MSW
President & CEO



MISSION STATEMENT
The Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly (IPR/HE) is the largest Hispanic nonprofit organization serving the Hispanic and other ethnic/racial minority seniors and their families in New York City. The Institute was founded in 1978 and incorporated in 1979 in the state of New York as a nonprofit organization under IRS Code Section 501 (c)(3).

The Institute mission is to affirm, protect, and empower the minority elderly and their families by ensuring that their human needs are met under the law. A primary concern is the access, acquisition, and protection of senior rights and entitlements.

The Institute believes in the fundamental right of each individual to age with dignity irrespective of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, citizen status, or income. Institute programs address elderly needs through comprehensive direct services, in collaborations with other organizations, and by promoting the development of structures which directly benefit vulnerable seniors and their families.

Over the past twenty-six years, the Institute has grown from a small two contract provider to a large multi-service citywide umbrella organization. The Institute is a prominent member of local, state and national network of agencies serving the elderly.

The Institute is also home to the dynamic Hispanic Senior Action Council with over 5000 members and a network of over 100,000 participants. In addition, the Institute founded the Minority Aging Defense Council, co-founded the Hispanic Aids Forum, and sponsors the Coalition of Hispanic Service Providers.

The Institute provides multilingual/multicultural information, referral and advocacy, counseling, case management, and other assistance services to seniors and their families. Institute services address a wide range of issues including senior fraud, embezzlement, abuse, domestic violence, crime victims,housing, financial literacy, nutrition and congregate meals, care giving support,second language programs, health education and recreation.

Institute programs provide social and cultural activities; civic participation, voter education, leadership training for seniors, conferences, workshops and presentations, and the dissemination of materials relevant to elderly needs and issues.

The Institute also provides technical assistance and diversity training to other organizations and agencies throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Suleika Cabrera Drinane, LMSW  Founding President and CEO  Institute for the Puerto Rican/  Hispanic Elderly, Inc.

BIOGRAPHY
Suleika Cabrera Drinane is the founder and President and CEO of the Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, Inc. (IPR/ HE), the largest non-profit organization serving Hispanic and other ethnic and racial minority seniors since 1978. She is a pioneer in the area of elderly rights and advocacy for improving the quality of life of senior citizens. Ms. Cabrera is at the forefront in the development of programs to overcome cultural barriers and promote diversity in service delivery. Under her leadership, IPR/HE has grown into a 32-contract multi-service operation serving the New York City Greater Metropolitan Area. Ms. Cabrera is also the founder of the Hispanic Senior Action Council, a statewide self-help group for seniors, currently more than 5,000 members strong. Her vision and leadership continues to improve the quality of life for thousands of seniors.

Prior to founding the Institute, Ms. Cabrera worked with a national Hispanic elderly coalition to educate government officials on the needs of this growing community. She worked to gain access to needed services for the northeast region generating five senior programs. Ms. Cabrera served as Assistant Director of the Bilingual Resource Center of the NYC Board of Education where she helped develop and introduce cultural diversity training in the city. Ms. Cabrera was also an Adjunct Professor at the New School for Social Research, School of Gerontology Masters Program.

Ms. Cabrera holds many prominent roles on boards, councils and networks for the aging; and on government and nonprofit committees.

She is a member of the Citizen’s Committee on Aging; founder and former Vice President of the Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC; and member of the NYC Medicaid-Managed Care Task Force and the NYS Office for the Aging Minority Task Force. She is the Vice President of 100 Hispanic Women, Inc.; co-founder of the Hispanic AIDS Forum; co-founder of Progress, Inc; Board member of The New York Women’s Agenda; Aging Committee Chair of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade; Board Member of Comite Noviembre; co-founder of the Bonifacio Cora Senior Housing Development Corporation; and founder of El Cemi Housing Development Fund Corporation which provides permanent housing for the homeless elderly. She was appointed by the New York State Governor to the State’s Elder Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Advisory Board and is a member and former Chairperson of the National Puerto Rican Forum.

Ms. Cabrera has achieved broad recognition for her leadership role, and received many honors and awards from government, the community, and organizations. These awards include the Ellen Lurie Award, from the Community Service Society; the New York Women’s Agenda Star Award; the Cultural Ambassador Award from the Institute for Multicultural Communications Cooperation and Development; the Building Bridges Award from the American Association for Retired People (AARP), the Women Of The Century Award from The New York City Council; the Maggie Kuhn Award from Presbyterian Senior Services; Volunteer Beyond Excellence “The Gift of Life” from the New York Organ Donor Network; a Special Recognition Award from the New York City Commission On The Status of Women, the Women In Leadership Award from Queens Women’s Center; the Advancing The Awareness Of Women’s History Award from the Miracle Makers; the NYC Comptroller’s Puerto Rican Heritage Month Special Services to Seniors Award; and various others.

She was awarded a scholarship to participate in the Leadership America, Inc. National Conference; and was a Delegate to four White House Conferences on Aging and the White House Conference on Social Security.