NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle’s Junior Board of Directors is a dynamic group of young professionals committed to raising funds, increasing awareness and attracting new supporters for the organization in a fun and social environment. The money raised by the group is directed towards specific needs for the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle. As a result those that participate in junior board activities are be able to see the immediate impact of their contribution to the Club and its kids.
Most recently, the Junior Board of Directors held a “Community Cocktail Party” at Alvin & Friends Restaurant to support the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle’s S.T.E.M. Program. S.T.E.M. is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. Rather than teach the four disciplines as separate and discrete subjects, S.T.E.M. integrates them into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications.
Though the United States has historically been a leader in these fields, research shows fewer students have been focusing on these subjects. According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 16 percent of high school students are interested in a S.T.E.M. career and have proven a proficiency in mathematics. Currently, nearly 28 percent of high school freshmen declare an interest in a STEM-related field, a department website says, but 57 percent of these students will lose interest by the time they graduate from high school. The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle seeks to reverse this trend by exposing its members to S.T.E.M. in a fun-filled environment ranging from field trips to surprise guest speakers and high yield learning activities. Doing so however, requires raising critical funds to benefit the 2,000 children served by the Club each year.
Realizing the importance of helping kids love learning, the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle’s Junior Board of Directors set a goal of raising $5,000 to support the Club’s S.T.E.M. Program. “As a result of the community’s generosity and our recent event at Alvin & Friends, the Junior Board is pleased to report that we are more than halfway towards our goal says Founding Member, Erica Aisner.”
A major highlight of the Junior Board’s “Community Cocktail Party” was its silent auction of specialty goods/services. This highly successful auction featured contributions from:
The Daily Show; Fidelity National Title Insurance; Bobbi Brown Cosmetics; Fancy Face Photography; AOC Fine Wines; Dr. Martin A. Rube DDS; Steve Sohn Krav Magra; Rooftop Rhythms Dance Studio; Seth Leibowitz Tutoring; WHAT’S NEXT CLUB – Career Counseling; Eye Level Learning Center of New Rochelle; Sutton Flowers; Modern; Capucine Baked Goods; Alvin and Friends; NY Sailing School; Fun Fuzion; Buffalo Wild Wings; R Patisserie; Town Pizza; Backstreet Gallery; VIP Country Club; New Rochelle Public Library; Tony’s Pier; The Seashore; J&G Deli; Beginnings Boutique; Broken Gypsy; Jacqueline’s Skin Studio; Healthy Fit; Sound Movement; Home Fair Camera.
“I can’t begin to express how appreciative the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle is to the members of its Junior Board of Directors and all contributors to the Community Cocktail Party, says Candace Pinn, Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle Board Chair. Your support enables our children to build bright futures, explore career opportunities and develop their full potential. More important, this support helps the Club continue its rich tradition of being the place where success stories begin!”
Current Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle Junior Board member include: Erica Aisner, Diane Cesa, Lauren Cesa, Kees Coughlin, Dori Graff, Sara Kaye, Diane Mulle’, Brooke Mueller, Courtney Nunns, Ashley Ranje, Ray Soares, Lisa Summa-Guarino, Jennifer Syken and Lauren Trotta.
“The Junior Board of Directors is such a blessing for the Club says Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle Executive Director, Quay Wallace Watkins. Their efforts provide a perfect compliment to the Club’s current Board of Directors and allow us to raise new money and awareness in support of our mission and message.”
The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle’s Junior Board of Directors holds regularly scheduled meetings at the organization’s Mascaro Clubhouse (79 Seventh Street New Rochelle, NY). Anyone interested in attending should contact Rudy J. Breedy at (914) 235-3736 or rbreedy@bgcnr.org to learn specific meeting dates and times. New member applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are available by visiting www.bgcnr.org.
Since 1929, the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle has provided a safe, structured and positive environment for children. The organization is also charged with helping kids develop the attitudes, skills, values and behaviors that enable them to succeed in life. With five locations throughout the city of New Rochelle, The Club impacts 2,000 children annually by offering a wide array of programs and services after school, during holidays and the entire summer.
