On June 16th, Kids’ Club hosted our tenth “Breakfast for Bedding” to collect gift cards and new dorm room bedding in support of nearly 40 under-resourced Sleepy Hollow High School seniors who will be attending college in the fall. Most of these students participated in college prep programs (such as TUFSD’s “Application Ready!” program and Latino U College Access’ FAFSA Information Session and Boot Camp) which were funded in part by Kids’ Club. Many of the students are the first in their families to attend college.
We were delighted to welcome some of the students to the event, where they spoke with guests about their plans for the future and also about how a variety of Kids’ Club-supported programs helped them achieve their academic and personal goals. Those programs included ones that gave basic needs supports (e.g., food and clothing), to enriching after school arts programs and summer camps that kept the students busy and safe when their parents were working outside the home, academic programs that helped foster confidence in their abilities and helped them believe in their futures, and practical technological and college prep supports that helped even the playing field as these students competed for college acceptances against others whose families had more familiarity with the application process.
Kids’ Club President, Jennifer Green, shared, “To say that Kids’ Club donors have touched the lives of this year’s graduating class of SHHS seniors would be an understatement! When Kids’ Club launched in June 2009, the Class of 2023 had not even begun formal schooling yet, but many of the students already were benefiting from Kids’ Club supported programs, and that access to opportunity will have continued up until their high school graduation on June 22. Because of the generosity of our donors, Kids’ Club has been able to help enrich, encourage and educate these students for 14 years, and we are so excited to see what they will achieve next!”
Thirty plus guests in total attended, with many more sending in their gifts online. A combined total of more than 175 bedding items and gift cards were collected. The SHHS Guidance Department will distribute the gifts to the students this week.
Kids’ Club is grateful to all who came to the event or contributed to the supply drive, as well as to the volunteers who provided all of the delicious breakfast fare.
The Church of the Magdalene in Pocantico Hills is hosting a Holiday Market today from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., selling everything from homemade granola and hand-sewn pillows, to skin care products, wreaths, cookware, jewelry, candles and more. Kids’ Club is honored to be receiving the vendor fees from this event, and is very grateful to the Magdalene for their generous support of our mission. We look forward to next year’s reprise of the event on December 7, 2019.
Everyone! Kids’ Club was honored today to receive a generous donation from Tarry Crest Swim & Tennis Club from funds raised at their revived Ladies’ Member/Guest tennis tournament. Despite some raindrops, it was a fun day of tennis, trivia, raffles and socializing. We truly appreciate being chosen as the beneficiary of this fundraising effort, and look forward to directing these funds toward valuable community programming so that even more children can enjoy healthy, recreational opportunities in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.
Kids’ Club hosted its 5th annual Breakfast for Bedding at the home of Board President, Jennifer Green. Over 50 guests donated new dorm room bedding and gift cards for students from Sleepy Hollow High School who participated in one or more of the college prep initiatives we help fund, including Latino U College Access and Let’s Get Ready. Student speakers shared their stories of struggle, support and success, and were delighted to get first pick of the collected bedding.
The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns’ Asociacion de Familias Hispanas de los Tarrytowns (AFHT) held their annual Holiday Celebration on December 20 at John Paulding School. Over 85 families gathered for a festive evening, enjoying a potluck dinner, holiday crafts, music and a puppet performance by Jilly Puppets. Lots of community volunteers were on hand, and Kids’ Club provided desserts and crafts, including miniature Christmas trees for each child to decorate and take home. Kids’ Club is proud to have supported the AFHT Family Literacy Program since its inception in 2010, and we are thankful for the wonderful teachers who are so dedicated to this important program.
Latino U College Access held its Financial Aid Community Information Session at Sleepy Hollow High School on October 25th in anticipation of November 1st’s FAFSA Boot Camp. Combined, these two events serve to allow dozens of first generation college bound seniors from SHHS complete their financial aid applications, which are so critical to their ability to attend college.