WILTON MANORS, FL, February 22, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present John Edward Lazar with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Lazar celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Lazar is a nonprofit executive who boasts expertise in such areas as program development, organizational change, advocacy and lobbying, and is a recognized leader in the areas of housing, health and human services and human rights, as well as immigration. Presently, he serves in a volunteer capacity and represents the LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as the regional alternate director for region eight. Mr. Lazar's responsibilities include supporting democratic nominees, while also endorsing various laws, legislation and policies with respect to the LGBTQ community.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Mr. Lazar began his career teaching English for the New York City public schools between 1972 and 1979. Following this accomplishment, he became a clergyman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn in 1980, where he remained for more than a decade. He also simultaneously served as the founding president of the nonprofit human services agency, Polonians Organized to Minister to Our Community Inc. (better known as POMOC), in New York City from 1981 to 1984. To strengthen the relationship of the NYC Polish Catholic and Jewish communities, in 1982, Lazar founded the NYC Polish Catholic and Jewish Dialogue, and as the first Chair. At the request Pope John Paul II in 1985, he developed and served as the first executive director of the U.S. Catholic Office of Pilgrimages, tasked with serving the travel needs of 60M+ U.S. Catholics.
Among other noteworthy roles, Mr. Lazar's expertise in the nonprofit sector has included a tenured position with the American Cancer Society as the executive director, regional vice president and senior state vice president between 1998 and 2011 and as the executive director of the Combined Federal Campaign National Capital Area between 2011 and 2012, where he was responsible for the oversight of world's largest employee giving campaign of more than $64 million. He held the position of Development Director from 2014-2020 at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, a national nonprofit focused on economic and social justice.
During his career, Mr. Lazar spent time in media as a television show host for "Polish Profiles" between 1989 and 1993. He was also the producer and host of "City of West Hollywood Town Hall-Gay Spirituality" in 1999 and 2000. Furthermore, Mr. Lazar has contributed several written works, including his book, "Outpouring the Spirit: Gay and Lesbian Spirituality in the Judeo-Christian Tradition" in 1996. Highlighting his accomplishments, he made guest appearances on television and radio programs.
Extensively active in his political efforts, Mr. Lazar was most notably elected as Ward 2 committee member to the Washington, D.C., Democratic State Committee, in 2017. He then became the Ward 2 Democrats chairperson during 2019, where he actively promoted the Democratic Party by way of engagement, outreach, education and recruitment to those living in the region. He was appointed by the State Party Chair as co-chair of two committees, one responsible for overseeing elections and resolving issues for all Democratic organizations in the District of Columbia and the other committee tasked to develop the diversity plan for the election of D.C. candidates to the Electoral College for the 2020 Presidential election.
Some of Mr. Lazar's other recent activity included serving on the committee of the Broward County Seniors Organizing Council, the Florida State Leadership Council and the Florida Senior Democrats, Biden for President. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Alice B. Toklas GLBT Democratic Club since 2005-2007, was the elected treasurer of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club in Washington and has served in various roles on behalf of the Commonwealth Club of California, including as the founding chairperson of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender forums and was the principal speaker for the 1996 World AIDS Day program in NYC for the NYC Gay and Lesbian Community Center.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Lazar studied locally, attaining a Bachelor of Arts at Saint John's University in 1971. He went on to complete a Master of Arts at Brooklyn College in 1973 and a Master of Divinity at the Seminary of Immaculate Conception in 1980. Mr. Lazar was subsequently ordained by the Roman Catholic Church in 1980 and has since become a certified and licensed teacher in New York. He has proficiency in English and Polish.
In 1982, Mr. Lazar was named as the Citizen of the Year by the Polish American World and was also named as an Honorary Alumnus by Our Lady of the Lake Seminary. He was later the recipient of a Commendation Award from the New York City Comptroller in 1995 and a President's Award from the Los Angeles Stonewall Democratic Club in 1998. As a part of his professional commitments, Mr. Lazar has been an active member of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in America Inc., which is a scholarly institution in Manhattan. He is also a member of the Koscisuzko Foundation and of The Lotos Club. Mr. Lazar resides in Wilton Manors, Florida with his spouse, J. (Ted) Edward Jarvis, also recognized by Marquis Who's Who.
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