Amicone Presents ‘Key to the City’ to Child-Advocate Darryl A. Gibbs.
Gibbs Receives City’s Highest Honor in Recognition of His Tireless Efforts on Behalf of Abused and Neglected Children
Yonkers, N.Y. (June 19, 2007) - Recognizing the ongoing, tireless efforts that Darryl A. Gibbs has made on behalf of children, Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone today presented Gibbs with a ‘Key to the City of Yonkers’ at a special ceremony held at City Hall in the Mayor’s Reception Room.
After his third daughter, Cynthia, died on November 17, 2000 as a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome at the hands of a New York State Certified Child Care Provider, Darryl Gibbs dedicated himself to fighting for justice for his daughter, assisting individuals in understanding the complexities of the Criminal Justice System and working to help balance the scales of justice.
Gibbs, a Yonkers resident, founded The Cynthia Gibbs Foundation in 2001 to help reduce the incidences of child abuse and neglect, raise awareness about Shaken Baby Syndrome and help assure that other children do not suffer the same fate as his own daughter.
Mayor Phil Amicone said, “Darryl Gibbs is a unique individual who was able to turn his own personal hardship, the tragic loss of his baby girl, Cynthia, into a fight on behalf of all children. Darryl’s fight soon became the passion that has enabled him to carry his work from the New York State legislature to the halls of Congress.”
“Darryl has not only been a dedicated advocate for crime victims and an eloquent spokesperson regarding the horrors of Shaken Baby Syndrome, but has become an effective, tenacious lobbyist on behalf of children throughout the United States,” continued Mayor Amicone.
In 2006, due in large part to Darryl’s lobbying efforts, New York State added ‘Cynthia’s Law’ as a new crime of ‘Reckless Assault of a Child’ to the New York State Penal Law and a ‘Shaken Baby Public Information and Educational Campaign’ to the State Public Health Law.Mayor Amicone stated, “Rather than stopping his crusade to protect our children after his considerable success in New York State, Darryl is now fighting to protect America’s children by taking aim at the federal government. Using all of his lobbying skills and personal charisma, Darryl is tirelessly working for the passage of federal legislation H.R. 2052 and S. 1204 - — ‘The Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act of 2007.”
“Darryl is a man with a cause, a man with a mission; on behalf of all Yonkers’ residents, I am pleased to present him with a ‘Key to the City of Yonkers’ in recognition of his continuing effort to protect our most precious resource, the children of our Nation,” concluded Mayor Amicone.
In accepting the ‘Key to the City,’ Darryl Gibbs said, “I am honored and humbled by this special presentation. As a longtime resident of this great City, it is especially meaningful to me that my City has so beautifully acknowledged the part that I have played, and will continue to play, in protecting our children. This is not only an honor for me, but also a fitting tribute to the memory of my beloved daughter, Cynthia.”
Source: City of Yonkers Press Release.
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