Contact: Eileen Sullivan, Rubenstein Communications (212) 843-8016 esullivan@rubenstein.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Volunteers Provided Nearly $1 Million Value in Services to Public Schools in One Day
NEW YORK, NY, October 18, 2014 – Thousands of New York volunteers spruced up 70 New York City public schools across the five boroughs today during the 23rd Annual New York Cares Day Fall. More than 4,000 volunteers completed hundreds of projects as a kickoff to the new school year and New York Cares’ year-round education projects.
This year, New York Cares recruited special local community teams for each site, as it is doing more than just painting and revitalization projects. New York Cares engaged students and community members, and fostered deeper partnerships with the schools through projects involving job readiness and ESL classes for parents, and arts and sports activities for students.
The volunteers also organized spaces where academic supplies are stored, including libraries, engaged in arts and sports activities, painted classrooms and created murals, and transformed gardens. This year, 11 schools in Manhattan, 27 schools in Brooklyn, 16 schools in the Bronx, 11 schools in Queens, and 3 schools in Staten Island were revitalized by volunteers.
New York Cares Day is the city’s largest day of hands-on volunteering in the public schools. This annual day of service is coordinated by New York Cares – the city’s leading volunteer management organization – in partnership with the NYC Department of Education. Like a walk-a-thon, participants raise money based on the time they spend volunteering. Money raised today goes to support the event and New York Cares’ year-round volunteer programs.
New York Cares Day volunteers fanned out across the city, collectively improving:
- 11 schools in Manhattan, including PS 165 M – Robert E. Simon in Morningside Heights. 90 volunteers, joined by Paula Gavin, Chief Service Officer for NYC Service, organized spaces where academic supplies are stored, engaged in arts activities with students, and painted hallways.
- 27 schools in Brooklyn, including PS 196 K – The Ten Eyck School & MS 582 K in Williamsburg, where 100 volunteers engaged in sports activities with students and revitalized the schools’ indoor spaces by painting offices, murals, and hallways.
- 16 schools in the Bronx, including MS 568 X – Young Women’s Leadership School of the Bronx, where 65 volunteers painted stencils and murals throughout the school, and painted six new classrooms.
- 9 schools in Queens, including PS 207 Q – The Rockwood Park School in Howard Beach, where 50 volunteers transformed the school library by organizing and creating a space for students to utilize after classes, painted a community mural in the school entrance and a sports mural in the courtyard.
- 3 schools in Staten Island, including PS 41 SI – The New Dorp School, where 130 volunteers spruced up gardens in front of the school, painted classrooms, and created canvas murals to decorate the hallways.
“A strong education builds a foundation for future success, not just for students but for entire communities, and today, at this 2014 edition of New York Cares Day Fall, I am proud to kick off a year of volunteer programming aimed at improving educational outcomes,” said Gary Bagley, New York Cares Executive Director. “Today, more than 4,000 New Yorkers are working at 70 schools, many of which partner with New York Cares in various ways all year round, on projects ranging from tutoring to arts and crafts to painting and revitalization. I thank each and every one of those volunteers who have stepped up today to recognize and participate in the important role that education plays in our great city.”
“NYC Service is proud to partner with New York Cares on this special day and every day to promote volunteerism, engage New Yorkers in service and build volunteer capacity,” said Paula Gavin, Chief Service Officer for NYC Service. “NYC Service seeks to inspire and empower every New Yorker to volunteer and serve NYC and each other. On behalf of Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Service thanks New York Cares and all volunteers for helping build a city where all New Yorkers can rise together.”
Approximately 150,000 New Yorkers have volunteered on New York Cares Day since 1992, benefiting more than 600,000 New York City public school students citywide.
The value of the total volunteer hours dedicated to schools on New York Cares Day, plus donated materials, is equivalent to nearly $1 million dollars. In addition to hands-on work at the schools, New York Cares Day volunteers also raised funds to support New York Cares’ year-round volunteer programs. To make a donation in support of New York Cares Day, please visit www.newyorkcaresday.org until November 7th.
About New York Cares
New York Cares is New York City’s largest volunteer management organization. Founded more than 25 years ago, New York Cares runs volunteer programs for 1,300 New York City nonprofits, city agencies, and public schools across the five boroughs. Last year, 62,000 New York Cares volunteers served on hands-on volunteer projects helping 400,000 New Yorkers in need. For more information, visit www.newyorkcares.org.
