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JANUARY 2013

In This Issue:
ANDRUS Invited to the White House
Annual Report
Athletes Visit Students


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A Holiday of Giving!

December was filled with generous friends and joy at ANDRUS. We are so thankful to all the friends, organizations and businesses who contributed to making the holiday season bright! Groups held holiday parties on campus for our children, hosted toy drives at their local community center or office, fulfilled specific wishes from each child in our residential program, our mental health clinics and our community division - and even Santa visited! Thank you all!

Brian Farragher Invited to

White House Stakeholders Meeting

on Gun Violence Prevention
   
Brian Farragher Speaks at White House Meeting on Gun Control
 

ANDRUS COO Brian Farragher joined an elite panel of stakeholders invited to advise the White House on policy to prevent gun violence. This panel convened in Washington D.C. January 11 in a period of intense focus on the shattering consequences of gun violence on individuals and communities. His participation in the meeting generated extensive media interest locally (click the links below to see the coverage.)

 

"I am pleased to be asked to join in this important conversation," said Brian. "I think violence is a public health problem. Just as we have changed the conversation about other public health problems, including cigarettes and seat belts, our country can brainstorm solutions that will create safety and security without violence.  

 

While the tragedy in Newtown Connecticut was the immediate precipitant to the President's concern, Brian pointed out that gun violence is not new to our country. "The shooting in Sandy Hook was tragic and unthinkable, but senseless killings from gun violence are a weekly, even daily, occurrence in communities across our nation," he offered. "Gun control is not the only solution. We need to take a serious look at the social and emotional health conditions in this country. There are things we can do together to build strength and resilience, to counter the idea that guns and violence represent legitimate ways to solve problems." 

 

The White House panel was comprised of 26 experts from diverse areas of expertise, including policy leaders, educators, nonprofits in the fields of youth advocacy and violence prevention, media and the technology sector.  Brian noted that his own contributions to the conversation came directly from his experience leading ANDRUS' use of the Sanctuary model of care. "There's a problem with violence in our society. Gun violence is the most lethal form, but physical violence erupts when there's a preponderance of emotional and social violence.   Some of the kids we work with have had painful exposure to violence - be it neglect, physical abuse or emotional abuse. And we wonder why they're violent? It's what has been modeled for them. Overall, something has to change in the way we deal with each other." 

 

Click below to read more coverage on Brian's visit:

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 


2012 Annual Report Available
 
Each fiscal year, ANDRUS releases our Annual Report to share highlights of the year, provide a summary of our financial statements and acknowledge our donors.

The 2012 Annual Report is now available.

Click here.
Student Athletes and Coaches Offer Advice to ANDRUS Students  

The Orchard School recently welcomed guests for its Second Annual Student Athlete Assembly, an event that was a tremendous and inspiring experience for our students. The guest panel consisted of three student athletes and four coaches, all from the local area. Student athletes on the panel included Khalil Edney (senior quarterback of New Rochelle HS), Fredric Bowers (freshman power forward/center for Monroe College in New Rochelle), and Markell Milstrey (senior cornerback for Seton Hall Prep, East Orange NJ). They spoke to our students about their sports careers, educational backgrounds, as well as their own personal endeavors-- both struggles and triumphs.

 

The student panelists were joined by an all-star cast of coaches including: Coach Chris Ward (Personal Trainer, Coach, CEO of Chris Ward Basketball Clinic & Camp), Coach Kavon Crosland (AAU Football, Pop Warner Football), Coach Henry Milstrey (Personal Trainer, Coach, CEO of 28 Dayz Baseball Training Academy), and Coach Terry Williams (Coach AAU Basketball). The coaches shared their personal experiences with each of the student athletes present and the importance of putting education first before athletics. During the assembly, highlight tapes of each athlete were shown and Orchard School students engaged in a Q&A with the panel.

 

Fredrica Bryant, the teacher who assembled the program and organized the event, said "The most touching part to me was when each athlete gave three of our chosen students a piece of valuable memorabilia and shared the personal importance of each item. The students were shockingly surprised when they were called to come up and receive the items handed to them personally from the guest speakers". The assembly was a wonderful experience for our students and a chance for them to meet a group of successful and inspiring role models.

 

About ANDRUS

ANDRUS provides support and treatment for 2,500 children and their families throughout Westchester suffering from emotional illness and trauma. The agency offers prevention, assessment, educational, treatment and research programs that help children and families achieve healthy, stable lives.  ANDRUS has grown from its origins as an orphanage into a premier non-profit mental health, social service and special education provider and resource for Westchester.