One of the most popular figures in the Bronx will receive a significant honor from a local college.
On Thursday, February 10, president and CEO of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Lenny Caro, will be awarded with an honorary doctorate from Mercy College. Caro immigrated with his family from Rincon, Puerto Rico to New York at an early age and has been strongly involved with the Bronx since he moved here. He attended Alfred E. Smith High School and studied Business Administration at Hunter College in Manhattan.
Mercy College will present Caro with a Doctorate in Humane Letters in recognition of his outstanding work done in the Bronx. This year Lenny Caro will be the centerpiece of an awards and dinner ceremony that will take place at the Bronx campus of Mercy College. When Caro was notified of the award, he was at a loss of words and could not express how much of an honor it is to him and his family.
“For me there is no bigger honor then to be recognized by Mercy College with this doctorate degree,” Caro said. “It is a very prestigious award and I am very honored. I have worked very hard all of my life to help other people and with this award, I want the Bronx to know that I will continue to help anyone in the future.”
Caro was elected as president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce in 2007. He is a resident of the Bronx and currently resides in Throggs Neck with his wife and three children. His countless hours of work for the Bronx has been recognized and appreciated since he first began his career as a business owner of a local tire company, a boating business and restaurants. Tough childhood experiences have strongly influenced the foundation of his initiatives and he has developed his strong appreciation for the residents of the Bronx.
Kimberly Cline, President of Mercy College, feels Caro is the perfect recipient for the Doctorate of Human Letters. She believes his hard work and commitment to the Bronx has not only left a wonderful impression on the borough, but an overall beneficial impact for all of its residents.
“Mercy College is extremely excited and proud to bestow this honorary degree to Lenny Caro,” Cline said. “Lenny has always been an advocate for small businesses in the borough. His innovative thinking and leadership have enabled our community to strengthen its entrepreneurial base and overall financial position.”
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce offices and Mercy College are currently stationed in the Hutchinson Metro Center located at 1200 Waters Place. Caro has been able to do a lot of work for Mercy College along with Joe Kelleher, chairman of the Hutchinson Metro Center.
In fact, Caro partnered with Monster.com to put together a Bronx job fair and work-training seminar on site in March 2010 for the students of Mercy College and other residents of the Bronx.
Kelleher, who has worked with Caro for over seven years, can not think of any time where he has not worked hard for the people of the Bronx.
“After working with Lenny for some time now, I have been able to see how much the Bronx means to him,” Kelleher said. “He has done many wonderful things for the borough and from my experience with him, he does not plan on stopping. Mercy College recognizes everything he has accomplished and he deserves this honorary doctorate.”
