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The BronxWorks November/December 2019 Newsletter
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 Fifth Annual BronxWorks #GivingTuesday Event a Success!
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Pictured above from left to right is Board Members Joseph Macaluso, Emily Menlo Marks, Stan Frelich, and Janice Hart, and guests Ren Singh, and Donna Fafinski.
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The Fifth Annual BronxWorks #GivingTuesday event at Hard Rock Cafe, Yankee Stadium on December 3rd was filled with supporters, board members, staff and friends all in the spirit of giving. The most prosperous #GivingTuesday event to date, guests were entertained by the live music of John James, while they enjoyed dinner, drinks, and networking. The event featured wonderful raffle prizes, including a Google Home, a Metro Optics gift basket, and a Hard Rock gift bag.
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Board Member Tom Watson centered, musician John James far right, with friends and guests of BronxWorks. |
The event was also attended by
BronxWorks Leadership Council,
including Patricia Arellano, Oliver Dirks, and Kate Machan.
The Leadership Council is a recently formed group
of committed people who bring knowledge, connections, and skills that complement those of the formal directors to support the Agency.
Attendees were grateful for the opportunity to get to know each other as well as other BronxWorks supporters.
BronxWorks supporter and President of ISE Office Plus, Kerri Damon spoke highly of the event recalling,
"The BronxWorks #GivingTuesday event is such a great evening! It's a great way to give back to this amazing organization after the frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. ISE Office Plus has worked with BronxWorks for almost 20 years now and at these events, I'm reminded of the wonderful work they do and why it's so important to continue to support them!"
Click here to view our 2019 #GivingTuesday thank you video, also shown as a highlight at our event.
Many thanks to
our sponsors
and all who donated throughout the day. We are looking forward to a successful #GivingTuesday next year!
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The BronxWorks
2019
Year-End Appeal
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The end-of-year giving season is upon us! Gifts made to The BronxWorks Year-End Appeal will benefit programs that serve our most vulnerable neighbors, including homeless adults, families, and seniors in the Bronx. As 2019 comes to an end, please consider donating. BronxWorks serves over 50,000 community members, below are success stories of thriving program participants.
Donovan K. is all smiles with 100 percent school attendance.
Donovan K. was one of 24 students recently rewarded for remarkable school attendance. Donovan and his family live at a BronxWorks Family Residence that offers the Attendance Matters program. Weekly, the program team reviews student's attendance reports and discusses strategies to assist with challenges students may have attending school while living in a shelter. The program offers an array of interventions and solutions to barriers that may exist such as distance and transportation, chronic illness, or child care. The team also works with school staff to ensure resources are available to the students during the day. Celebrations are held regularly to recognize children and their families who achieve 90% or higher attendance.
Phyllis M. praises BronxWorks for legal assistance.
Phyllis M. moved to the Bronx from Jamaica to live with and care for her elderly mother. Soon after, Phyllis was forced to retire as both she and her mother developed health issues. Phyllis came to BronxWorks when she faced legal issues with her mother's apartment lease and landlord. She fondly recalls the BronxWorks staff being so helpful and happy. Her BronxWorks case manager discovered Phyllis and her mother were eligible for multiple services to keep them stably housed. In addition, they were also entitled to other benefits such as SNAP and tax credits. The legal assistance Phyllis received from BronxWorks allowed her to renew her mother's lease and obtain necessary updates to the apartment. Phyllis speaks highly of BronxWorks, stating she would be without a home for her mother and herself,
"I found BronxWorks and I appreciate them a lot. BronxWorks does great things for my mommy and myself."
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Brian S. blessed with permanent housing after 10 years homeless.
Originally from Chicago, Brian S. relocated to New York and struggled with homelessness after a failed relationship. Many of Brian's nights were spent sleeping on the subway, at parks, or in restaurants. He was extremely reluctant to go to a shelter. Brian recalls numerous times he was approached by the BronxWorks Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) to accept shelter. Being homeless was rapidly affecting Brian's health. He struggled with addiction and developed some health conditions that ultimately landed him in the hospital. In June 2017, Brian finally made his way to the HOT team office. He remembers being greeted with open arms, unlike any other shelter experience. Brian was offered a stabilization bed and eventually, his own place. During his time in transitional housing, Brian engaged in outpatient substance use treatment that has helped him maintain his sobriety. Brian's goals for the future are to once again engage in his passions, catering and DJing. Brian is currently taking culinary classes in Brooklyn.
Click here for more about Brian and others who made the transition from living on the street to permanent housing.
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How to Participate in the BronxWorks Year-End Appeal
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You can participate by
On Amazon, you can choose BronxWorks as your
AmazonSmile charity, and Amazon will donate on your behalf every time you make a purchase!
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Rasheed Brown, Director of Social Services at the BronxWorks Nelson Avenue Family Residence.
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Rasheed Brown, Director of Social Services at Nelson Avenue Family Residence began his career at BronxWorks in April of 2018. Prior to BronxWorks, Rasheed was an Assistant Program Director at an agency where he worked exclusively with seniors.
Coming to BronxWorks gave Rasheed the opportunity to work with a wider range of clients, like families, youth, and seniors. "No day is the same," says Rasheed of his fulfilling and rewarding position at BronxWorks.
Rasheed recalls reviewing career opportunities at BronxWorks, and while interviewing he learned of the position he currently holds at Nelson Avenue. He says, "The rest is history." In his day-to-day, Rasheed oversees multiple program areas including case management, client care coordination, housing placement services, and children and youth programs.
"Ultimately, we are all working to help the families find a path back to permanent housing through many different services," explained Rasheed, while discussing all the programs the BronxWorks Nelson Family Residence offers the residents.
One of the newer initiatives Rasheed is focused on at the Nelson Avenue Residence is the Attendance Matters program. Attendance Matters is
a pilot program which reviews student's attendance reports and considers strategies to assist with challenges students may have attending school while living in a shelter. The program offers an array of interventions and solutions to barriers that may exist such as distance and transportation, chronic illness, or child care.
Rasheed is pleased and enthused with the successful results of Attendance Matters.
Rasheed earned a bachelor's degree from Hampton University in sociology. He then attended Hunter College School of Social Work, majoring in Administration. Rasheed earned his master's in 2010. In addition, he received the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Student of the Year Award among other distinctions. When Rasheed is not at BronxWorks, he enjoys spending his time with family and working out at the gym.
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Did You Know?
Macy's Clothes 4 Souls Coat Giveaway
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Pictured above are BronxWorks afterschool participants wearing their new coats donated by Macy's and Clothes 4 Souls.
Over 700 brand new coats were provided to children, youth and their families before the Thanksgiving holiday, all in thanks to Macy's and Clothes4Souls. As a part of Macy's 2019 "Buy a Coat and We'll Donate One" campaign, 35,000 brand new coats have been donated nationwide this year and a total of 270,000 brand new coats over the past seven years. BronxWorks was thrilled to be chosen as a host of this community project.
On November 22, at the BronxWorks Pyramid Cornerstone Community Center, Macy's and Clothes4Souls' volunteers shared the warmth with BronxWorks participants and their families. Smiles were put on the faces of hundreds of children as they were grateful to receive a new coat for this winter season.
Clothes4Souls is a non-for-profit organization that advances its anti-poverty mission by distributing clothing via direct donations.
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Photo Essay
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Park Haven Ground Breaking
BronxWorks joined The Community Builders, New York City Council Member Diana Ayala and other partners for a ground breaking ceremony at what will be "Park Haven" in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. When complete, 50 formerly homeless and low income New Yorkers will move into permanently affordable homes with BronxWorks Workforce Development and other social services on site.
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The 33rd Annual HBCU Fair at Riverbank State Park
The New York Urban League hosted the 33rd annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities Fair at Riverbank State Park on Saturday, November 16th which drew in over 5,000 parents, students, and school administrators. This event provided students and parents with an opportunity to meet with college representatives, attend workshops focused on college readiness, paying for college and Census 2020 as well as an HBCU panel discussion and Greek step show experience. The most impactful part of the fair is that students were able to receive onsite college admissions and scholarships.
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The BronxWorks Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) celebrated the rich cultures within our organization at the Annual Family Heritage Luncheon. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the traditional art, music and food of their classmates and teachers.
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#TeamBronxWorks runs the TCS NYC Marathon
For the 11th year in a row, volunteers participated in the TCS NYC Marathon for BronxWorks. This year, BronxWorks had five charity runners commit to raise a minimum of $2,500 each for BronxWorks programs. Several BronxWorks staff came out to cheer for the runners at mile 21 in the Bronx -- one of the toughest points in the race!
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Food Pantry and Thanksgiving Brunch
Volunteers joined BronxWorks staff for a special pre-Thanksgiving brunch at the community pantry in the Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center at 1130 Grand Concourse. Staff and volunteers served brunch and distributed holiday food items and supplies to BronxWorks program participants.
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Save the Date!
BronxNet, BronxWorks and The Bronx Polar Bears invite you to
The 2020 DIP AGAINST HOMELESSNESS
Saturday, February 8 at Orchard Beach
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STAY CONNECTED:
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BronxWorks is now on Snapchat!
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