New York, NY - Congressman Charles Rangel joined Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. at the Rotunda of the Bronx County Building to launch Bronx Week 2012, a week-long celebration of the unique social and cultural aspects of the borough which takes place May 10-20, 2012.

"The Bronx offers a distinctive vigor that is unmatched by the rest of the city which makes it a great place to live and work. It is the home of the Yankees, hip-hop, and home of some of the hardest working New Yorkers out there," said Rangel. "I am proud to be part of a celebration that honors the values that make this borough so rich in culture and traditions."

Bronx Week 2012 features over 120 mostly free events all over the borough. The events, such as the Bronx Bankers' Breakfast, Senior Day, the Centenarian Celebration, Environmental Day, the Bronx Ball, the Urban Farms Trolley Day, and the Film Festival Gala. The festivities also include the Grand Finale where hip-hop artist Fat Joe, supermodel and actor Tyson Beckford, world renowned cinematographer Sol Negrin, and critically acclaimed jazz legend and long time Bronx resident, Valerie Capers, will be officially inducted into the Bronx Hall of Fame.

Highlights of the festivities include a first annual solar energy conference and the Health Fair. Bronx Week will conclude, as it has in previous years, with its annual Bronx Parade and Food & Arts Festival on Mosholu Parkway. The venue will feature a multitude of local food and arts vendors that have helped shaped the Bronx. The parade will conclude with its annual concert which, in celebrating "Bronx Pride," will include appearances by legendary hip-hop artist Doug E. Fresh, critically acclaimed salsa stars of Los Hermanos Morenos, and other talented performers. More information about Bronx Week 2012 events can be found here: "I love the Bronx.com."

"Bronx Week is a prime example of a way in which we can commemorate the storied history of this great borough and forge the connections between us to make the Bronx a stronger community as a whole," said Rangel.

Rangel also added: "I applaud the efforts of Bronx Borough President Rueben Diaz Jr., community organizations, and local small businesses owners for making this celebration possible each year. I encourage all New Yorkers to participate in Bronx Week celebrations."

Bronx Week is organized each year by the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and the Bronx Tourism Council. Sponsors include the New York Yankees, Montefiore Medical Center, Con Edison, Affinity Health Plan, United HealthCare Community Plan, Assurance Wireless, Kyocera, the Bronx CUNY Colleges, Health First, Emblem Health, The New York Hispanic Cosmetology & Beauty Chamber of Commerce, Citi, Verizon, BronxNet, Domino's Pizza, News12, the Bronx Design Group, and the New York Daily News.