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Thank You for Making The Blue Party a Success!

At this year’s Blue Party, 450 new and familiar faces turned out to show their support for The New York Foundling and raise awareness about foster care.

 

We’re happy to announce that, thanks to our generous attendees and sponsors, the May 10 bash at the Bowery Hotel was a success — and we raised more than $100,000!

 

This means support for programs that set youth in foster care up for future success, like after-school support, Camp Felix, Haven Academy and our tutoring and educational advocacy services that The Foundling’s CEO and President Bill Baccaglini spoke about in his opening remarks.

 

Want to find out if you were a raffle winner? Want to browse pictures? Here’s a recap.

 

And The Winners Are…

Did you enter one of our raffles at The Blue Party? Find out if you won!

 

Two tickets to the June 21 Yankees vs. Angels game: Jeff Dvorak

David Yurman bangle: Thomas Kandybowicz

Dinner at Saxon + Parole: Jeff Loperfido

Tickets to Unstoppable: The Musical: Doron Zwickel

Casper gift set: Winston Nguyen

Blue Apron subscription: Colin Lounsberry

Classes at Barry’s Bootcamp, S’well water bottle: Joanna Elliott

Six-month Crunch membership: Theodore Dimig

Three-month Equinox membership: Anthony Piccola

Private Pilates sessions with Halley Cianfarini: Robin Schmerler

Personal training session with Kate Cherichello: Ryan Roth

10 classes with the Pack Outdoor Gym: Joseph Angelini

Two-month SYNCStudio membership, lululemon yoga mat: Alex Huber

Fitbit Alta: Kim James

Six bottles of Treleaven wine: Michael Kurtz

 

The Blue Party Pictures

It was a sea of blue at The Blue Party! We’re pretty sure our guests represented royal, navy, cobalt, sky and every color of blue on the spectrum in between.

 

Katie Lyman snapped some gorgeous pictures of the attendees as they arrived and throughout the evening. You can check out pictures directly on her website or in our Facebook album.

 

The Bosco GIFs!

If you swung by The Bosco’s GIF-making photo booth, you’ve got to find your image in The Bosco’s gallery! Find the gallery here and download your favorites.

 

ICYMI: Limited Edition Rosé of Syrah from City Winery

There’s still time to place your order for a bottle of organic Rosé of Syrah through City Winery that will help support The Foundling’s programs, with a beautiful custom label by artist JGoldcrown. They are $25 each. Snag yourself a bottle (or two) on the City Winery site.

 

Stay Tuned!

Please save the date for The Foundling’s Fall Fête, Nov. 1 at the Metropolitan Club!

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The New York Bar Foundation Awards Grant to The New York Foundling for Families Rising Program

Catie Boatright (center), therapist with The Foundling’s Families Rising Program, with a family she treated

 

The New York Foundling’s Families Rising Program, which keeps older adolescents charged with crime out of detention and at home through proceedings, now has some extra support thanks to a generous $8,500 grant from The New York Bar Foundation (TNYBF).

 

“With support from The New York Bar Association, we are able to offer youth an alternative to incarceration program,” said Bill Baccaglini, President and CEO of The Foundling. “We work with the individual and their family—and the courts—to avoid a criminal record in exchange for participating in Functional Family Therapy, an evidence-based approach that’s had highly replicated success among participants.”

 

The New York Foundling was one of several TNYBF grant recipients. In 2017, the organization allocated $640,000 in grants for 98 New York programs to assist in increasing public understanding of the law, improving the justice system, facilitating delivery of legal services and enhancing processional and competence ethics, a press release notes.

 

Learn more about TNYBF, the philanthropic arm of the New York State Bar Association, on their website. You can read more on The New York Foundling’s Families Rising Program on our website.

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Individuals in Developmental Disabilities Division Host The Foundling’s CEO for a Special Dinner

(Top, from left) Carl, Draper, CEO and President Bill Baccaglini, Ruben, and David pose in their new independent living apartment in the Bronx. (Bottom left) Bill Baccaglini digs into a homemade meal with the residents. (Bottom right) Ruben, an individual with developmental disabilities, prepares chicken parmigiana dinner for The Foundling’s CEO and President.

 

Staff from the Developmental Disabilities Division team contributed to this blog post.

 

This spring, five individuals in The New York Foundling’s Developmental Disabilities Division program were proud to display their wide range of abilities by making dinner for organization’s CEO and President Bill Baccaglini.

 

Ruben, Carl, Christian, Draper, and David invited Bill to join them for a delicious meal of chicken parmigiana, pasta and salad in their new supportive independent living apartment, located in the Wakefield section of the Bronx. After planning the menu and shopping, the men prepared the dinner with some assistance from staff.

 

“It was a great dinner! The food was great and the staff that joined us for dinner were unbelievable — and had such good rapport with the guys,” Bill said of the April 2017 visit.

 

The residents spent the last several years working very hard to obtain the necessary skills to live in a more independent setting, learning how to cook, how to take their medication, how to travel on their own throughout the community, and much more. They were able to move into their new home, a supportive individualized residential alternative (IRA) residence, in February 2017.

 

Prior to moving, while visiting The Foundling’s central office in Manhattan, Ruben, one of the residents, told Bill about the future living arrangement. In excitement, he promised Bill a chicken parmigiana dinner once they were settled.

 

Once ready to host, Bill took Ruben up on his offer.

 

During the visit, the residents told Bill how much they love having their own bedrooms, and the group bonded over conversation throughout the evening.

 

To top it off, Bill brought over a cheesecake and chocolate cake for dessert.

 

“I can’t wait for the next dinner visit,” Bill said. “We are having shrimp!”

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10 Reasons to Become a Foster Parent with The Foundling!

Above: Foundling foster parents attending “Foster Parent Appreciation Day”

 

The below blog post was written by Miriam Malcom, Christina McDonald and staff from The Foundling’s foster care and home-finding team.

 

May is National Foster Care Month and now more than ever before, foster parents are needed to open up their homes to children in need. From teenagers to sibling groups that need to stay together, The Foundling is committed to placing children in safe, loving and supportive homes.

 

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a foster parent? Ever wonder if you have what it takes to become a foster parent? Have questions on what it means to be a foster parent? Well, we have all those answers and more available here!

 

Here are 10 reasons why people become a foster parent with The New York Foundling!

 

  • Genuine love for children and the desire to make a difference in a youth’s life.
  • To serve as a positive role model in their community.
  • To expand their current family composition.
  • Have retired and want to remain active while doing a good social service.
  • Were unable to have children on their own (i.e., infertility) and want to be a parent.
  • A family member is experiencing a challenge and their child needs a safe and supportive place to stay.
  • Understands and recognizes the need and urgency for families to open up their homes to children in the foster care system (often times, foster parents have careers in the social service sector and see the need to care for children).
  • Were involved in the child welfare system growing up and becomes a foster parent to give back.
  • Have the financial means and desire to open their home to children in need.
  • Someone they know is a foster parent and showed them the joy of welcoming children into their home, family and life.
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Turnaround for Children Names The Foundling’s Elizabeth Tremblay Person of the Month

Thanks to her dedication to helping New York City children, Elizabeth Tremblay, a clinical supervisor at The New York Foundling, has been named Turnaround for Children’s Person of the Month for April 2017.

 

Tremblay, who supervises mental health partnerships at several of Turnaround’s New York City partner schools, demonstrates her commitment to serving children through her challenging yet rewarding work.

 

Tremblay was nominated by colleague Amanda Mays, manager of partnership development at Turnaround, who says Tremblay is, “a strong advocate for creating responsive and sustainable partnerships between New York Foundling and schools.”

 

Turnaround’s Person of the Month Campaign recognizes outstanding individuals in its Newark, New Jersey, New York City and Washington, D.C. school-based partnerships. According to the organization, it’s an opportunity to showcase the real faces – educators, school leaders, social workers and mental health partners – behind the work.

 

Tremblay spoke with Turnaround at length about her work in the field.

 

“If kids feel like they have someone that’s in their corner, that’s cheering them on, they’re saying they can do it – kids can amaze you,” she told Turnaround in an interview for their blog, The 180. “No matter what age, what demographic or where they live.”

 

Read Tremblay’s full interview with Turnaround for Children on their blog, The 180.

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#CallingAllHeroes to #StopChildAbuse

Every year The New York Foundling teaches 20,000 kids how to recognize, resist and report abuse through its award-winning Child Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP).  Until we reach a day when abuse and neglect cease to exist, The Foundling will continue to educate and empower children. In an effort to raise awareness and support for The Foundling’s Child Abuse Prevention Program, The Foundling is inviting everyone to participate in its 2nd Annual #CallingAllHeroes to #StopChildAbuse Social Media Campaign in observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month (April 1-30).

 

How it works: For every new person who follows @TheNYFoundling
on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram in April, $1 will be donated to The Foundling’s award-winning Child Abuse Prevention Program.

 

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How you can help:

Follow @TheNYFoundling on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.Share a picture on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter that represents your inner superhero. This can be a photo of you, your family, your mentor, your favorite superhero or someone who inspires you.

Post the message below:

 

Join the fight to #StopChildAbuse. For every new person who follows @TheNYFoundling in April, $1 will be donated to The Foundling’s Child Abuse Prevention Program.

#CallingAllHeroes: <tag your friends here> show me your inner superhero and follow @TheNYFoundling to help #StopChildAbuse

 

Tag your friends!

  *New followers will be matched up to $1,000

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Developmental Disabilities Month – New Home in the Wakefield Neighborhood!

As part of our Developmental Disabilities program, our staff works diligently with individuals to promote independence, teach daily-living skills and self advocacy. Our person-centered approach helps individuals achieve meaningful outcomes so they can become integrated members of their communities and have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.

 

In February, a very exciting chapter happened not only at the The Foundling but also in the lives of five young men. These gentlemen had dreams of living independently in their own apartments and spent the last several years working very hard in our Developmental Disabilities programs to obtain the necessary skills to do so. Their dreams finally came true when they moved into their own apartment in the Wakefield section of the Bronx.

 

There was an excitement in the air on the day they moved in. Each one of them excited to see their new bedroom decorated the way they wanted them to be and in their favorite color. Their new apartments were completely renovated and decorated in beautiful vibrant colors. Their excitement continued as the days passed and every day was a new adventure, whether they were cooking for themselves or deciding on what to do with their basement or their recreation area.

 

It took a lot of coordinated effort from Foundling staff and supporters to ensure their dreams come true. Thank you to all that contributed!

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Celebrate Social Work Month 2017! Meet Our Highlighted Social Worker: Victoria Carr

March is Social Work Month and today we celebrate Victoria Carr, therapist supervisor for our Prevention Department.

 

Victoria Carr has been with NY Foundling for the past 5 years. During this time she was promoted from therapist to therapist supervisor because of her strong clinical skills and work ethic. Prior to entering the social work field, Victoria was an actress and dancer.

 

Victoria enjoyed being in someone else’s shoes and moving the audience as she felt it was therapeutic. Victoria decided to go back to school to finish her bachelor’s degree in creative art therapy and later decided to pursue her mental health counseling degree at Fordham University. Victoria worked at Four Winds and interned at Riker’s Island before beginning her career at NY Foundling where she has directly serviced over 50 families.

 

“To me being a strong social worker means truly listening, being there for someone when they need, and showing empathy. In this field we never really know the impact we have on the clients we work with, but if we can help them see something differently, or become motivated enough just to get connected to other services then I know we’ve been successful.”

-Victoria Carr

 

While this blog series only highlighted a few of our amazing social works, we would like to extend our thanks to all of our social workers, case planners, and entire staff for the hard work you do for the children and families of New York!

 

See more of our 2017 highlighted social workers: Bonnie Laughner, Toni R. Verdejo, Ivonne Gonzalez-Soto.

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Staten Island Celebrates National Nutrition Month!

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? Well you do now! The New York Foundling’s Developmental Disabilities program celebrated in style. Registered Dietitian, Maddie Rizzuti, visited Staten Island Day-Hab to do some fun, nutrition related activities.

 

The guys participated in a taste test challenge. First they tried a sample of some of the major types of flavors like sweet, salty, spicy, bitter, and sour. It was no surprise to find out that the majority chose sweet as their favorite flavor, but quite a few of them really enjoyed sipping the bitter tonic water!

 

After they learned to identify different flavors, the group entered a blindfold taste test challenge. The guys were daring and adventurous as they trusted the dietitian to place a random food item in their hand to try. They tried things like sweet potato, pita chips, kiwi, and mozzarella cheese! Everyone did a great job of recognizing the foods using only their sense of taste, smell, and touch!

 

For a fun activity to try at home, read the instructions below!

 

Did you know that our sense of smell (the “olfactory system”) actually accounts for the majority of our ability to taste things? Think about having bad nasal congestion when you’re sick- you can’t really taste what you’re chewing! In order to test this theory out, purchase some Jellybeans.

 

  • Select a jellybean without looking up what flavor it is
  • Hold your nose! Make sure you have a perfect seal so that you cannot smell anything!
  • Start to chew the candy with your nostrils closed tight. You will find that the flavor is bland and unidentifiable
  • Release your nostrils and a burst of flavor should hit your taste buds!

 

In honor of National Nutrition Month, we should all go home today and set an intention of leading healthy lifestyles (that include fun, food related games)!

 

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Developmental Disabilities Month – Community Employment

People with disabilities should have an opportunity to make an informed choice about employment, including a chance to explore community jobs, connect with peers who are employed, plan for a career that meets their interests and skills, understand the impact of income on benefits, and be successful in integrated community employment.

 

Meet Raymond. He’s 27 years old and lives in one of our group residences in Staten Island. Raymond, who grew up in Queens, NY, loves to listen to music, dance, watch TV, and go out into the community. Although Raymond’s dream job is to be a singer and dancer, he decided to seek assistance in finding employment in the community to begin saving money. Seeking support from his Medicaid Service Coordinator, he was able to secure employment at Stop N Shop, his community supermarket. Some of his responsibilities include receiving deliveries, stocking shelves with grocery items, and performing general maintenance as needed.

 

His employment at Stop N Shop is also helping him budget and practice money management so he can be more financially responsible and eventually save enough to live on his own. We asked Raymond what he likes most about working in his community. He says, “I enjoy working and earning my own money. I also enjoy working with my coworkers, making new friends at work, and interacting with community members.”

 

Learn more about our comprehensive programming designed to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities and give them the tools needed to reach their full potential.

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