| Gala Highlights Programs that are "Strengthening Lives... Shaping Futures" |
Event Chairs with Mich Araten | X20 Restaurant in Yonkers was the festive and delicious location for nearly 200 guests assembled
on April 15 to honor outgoing president Mich Araten and hear from young representatives who spoke of their experiences volunteering or participating in WJCS programs.
Chaired by Froma and Andy Benerofeand Carol and Herb Corbin, the Gala event raised approximately $230,000 to suppport a range of WJCS programs. Thanks to Program Chairs Debby and David Glasser and Julian Gomez and Journal Chairs Barbara and Robert Ehudin and Rikki and Barry Kaplan, the event was both meaningful and financially successful. Gratitude also goes to Development Director Barbara Gordon, Community Relations Director Dale Wang, Event Assistant Rachel Scherer and assistants Charlotte Cobbs, Meryl Lewis, Colleen Porrazzo, Sheri Curro and Janet Younkin for coordinating the details and making the evening special. Special appreciation to Elsa Lekovic and our phenomenal IS staff for helping with technical and video reproductions. Click the photo for more images from our gala event. (Photos by Jessica Shayn Photography) |
| Young Parents Achieve Honored with 2010 Distinguished Public Health Service Award |
On April 7th, the Young Parents Achieve! (YPA!) Program was honored by the Westchester County Board of Health with their 2010 Distinguished Public Health Service Award. County Executive Robert Astorino and Board of Health President Douglas Aspros, DVM, acknowledged the importance of YPA! in working with pregnant and parenting teens to improve the health of children and families. Accepting the award from Dr. Aspros on behalf of her staff in 5 locations countywide, Program Director Paula Santa-Donato talked about the strength of the young women who juggle school and child care to make a better future for themselves and their families. Read Paula's touching remarks
Each year YPA! staff, who work with pregnant/parenting teens in the White Plains, Sleepy Hollow, Ossining and Lakeland school districts and at Sound Shore Hospital in New Rochelle, impact more than 200 youth and families. The dedicated staff members acknowledged at the ceremony included Eve Hausler, Clinical Supervisor; Rosalia Kullock-Sosa, Coordinator of Latino Family Services and Peer Education; and Zoila Condor, Case Manager.
|
| Mary J. Blige Center OPEN HOUSE Draws Local Leaders and Community Representatives | |
Local officials including Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick (left) and County Legislator Jose Alvarado (center) were among the 70 who attended a recent Open House at the Mary J. Blige Center for Women in Yonkers. The event introduced community organizations to the Center, which is a partnership between WJCS and FFAWN (Foundation For The Advancement Of Women Now) that provides young women in Yonkers with the skills, knowledge and resources necessary to achieve a successful future.
Yonkers native and Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Mary J. Blige offers support for the Center through FFAWN, whose mission is to inspire women from all walks of life to gain the confidence and skills they need to reach their individual potential. Ms. Blige was recently at the Center to film a segment for The Oprah Winfrey Show. See more photos
For more information contact Michelle Hammett, Program Director, at 914-965-9140 or [email protected]. |
| Jewish Celebrations Abound in March |
 The holiday of Purim presented the opportunity for "The Still Not Ready for Prime Time Players"of the WJCS Senior Program in Mt. Vernon to entertain friends with a comical Purimspiel complete with costumes, songs and noisemakers. Photos captured some of the fun experienced by the audience and performers. Mt. Kisco's Bet Torah Synagogue, led by Rabbi Aaron Brusson and Cantor Randy Herman, also hosted a Purim party for 75 guests of our Havorah Program for persons wtih developmental disabilities. In New Rochelle, musicians from the inter-generational Westchester Klezmer Program entertained seniors at United Hebrew of New Rochelle under the auspices of our Partners in Caring Program.
 Passover was also an opportunity for gathering and retelling of the story of the Exodus. Havorah program participants were hosted at seders at Beth El Synagogue in New Rochelle and Temple Shaaray Tefile in Bedford, thanks to the coordination of Havorah director Gail Oliver and many dedicated volunteers. County Executive Rob Astorino (pictured) joined the New Rochelle celebration. The generosity of congregants from Westchester Reform Temple, Northeast Yonkers Jewish Center and private individuals helped us to distribute Passover baskets filled with holiday foods to clients from various WJCS programs county-wide. We are very appreciative of those who think of the needs of others during holiday times and help us to fulfill requests from people in the community. Contact Meryl Lewis at 914-761-0600 ext. 222 to learn more out about contributing goods. |
|
GRANT UPDATE:
Thanks to the efforts of NY State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, we have received notification of a $20,000 grant from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services in support of our Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program. Funds from this grant enable us to secure the safety of child sexual abuse victims, work with the non-offending parents to provide a safe home environment for their children and engage in treatments that restore child victims to normal developmental functioning and reduce symptoms and behaviors of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to deliver kosher meals to homebound individuals in Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle and Yonkers. The Kosher Meal Program operates Mon.- Fri. from Sinai Free Synagogue in Mt. Vernon where meals are picked up at 11:30 AM and warming trays returned at 1:00 PM. Volunteers use their cars and can travel in 2-person teams. Each route encompasses about five deliveries. Volunteers can participate weekly, monthly or on an as-needed basis. Interested? Contact Caron Gelles at 668-4350. |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Women-Helping-Women workshops, designed to provide encouragement, information and resources to women who are unemployed or transitioning to other jobs will be held at Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle. Registration is required. Click here for schedule or contact Lenore Rosenbaum, 761-0600 ext. 308. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
 |
|
-------------------------------------------
 YOU ARE INVITED to our WJCS ANNUAL MEETING
BUILDING BLOCKS & STEPPING STONES:
WJCS Services
for Young Children
June 8, 2010
6:45 Reception
7:30 Program at
Westchester Reform Temple, Scarsdale
---------------------------------------
 SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS
in April  Chai House, WJCS' first Kosher home for Jewish women with develop-mental disabilities, celebrated its first Anniversary on
------------------------------------------  Board Member Laura Kleinhandlerwas WJCS' honoree at the Annual UJA-Federation of New York Health and Human-Service, Geriatric and Jewish Education Agency event on April 20. Laura, a trustee for 6 years, chairs the agency's Program Services Committee and has been invaluable as a volunteer with various WJCS programs. ----------------------------------------------
Dotty Angerman, a Volunteer at our Continuing Day Treatment Program in White Plains is WJCS' UJA-Federation Volunteer of the Year, honored at a reception on April 21 in New York City. Dotty's connection to people coping with mental illness has made a significant impact on their lives and we are delighted to acknowledge her contribution to our agency.
----------------------------------------
Our April 27th Volunteer Recognition Luncheon will recognize the many volunteers of all ages who give generously of their time and talents to enrich and enhance our services. Special recognition will be given to Linda Gesoff, Lisa Litvin, Diane Brawarsky, Alana Lutchen, Susan Richman and Jody Heyward, who tutor and mentor at the Mary J. Blige Center for Women, and to Stephanie Rogh, president of Young Women's Hadassah in New Rochelle, who makes a steady supply of children's clothes & furniture available to our programs. For information about volunteering contact [email protected]or call 761-0600 ext. 222. |
|
MAKE THIS MOTHER'S DAY EXTRA SPECIAL!
Your donation to a WJCS program that encourages positive parenting and enhances the lives of mothers and their children can be a meaningful and most appreciated gift. Consider a contribution to WJCS' Parent Child Home Program, the Mary J. Blige Center for Women or Young Parents Achieve! as your expression of love for someone dear to you and for women who strive to improve their children's futures. ---------------------------------------------- |
| Join our Mailing List!
WJCS Benefits from
Just click on the icon and search for information or SHOP at hundreds of stores that donate a percentage of sales to support WJCS services. Put the icon on your desktop and make a difference whenever you make a purchase or search on-line!
----------------------------------------------------- |
|
