Blog Archives - Page 58 of 68 - The New York Foundling

Q&A with Laura W. | Strategic Partnerships & Communications Department Intern at The Foundling

Internships present a great opportunity for students and young adults to learn about working at a nonprofit. This summer, a group of interns from across New York City had the chance to see our work in action, collaborate with staff and make a difference in the lives of the people and communities we serve. Each week this summer, we will highlight one of our interns, sharing what makes them special, and recognizing their accomplishments and achievements.

Where do you go to school?

University of Southern California

What is your favorite subject?

Urban social issues and calculus

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully working at a nonprofit in NYC. I’m really passionate about education, so I’d like to be working in an organization that focuses on providing education to low income and disadvantaged students.

Who is your role model and why?

My aunt, Frances Resheke, because she is the most kind-hearted, hardworking, intelligent person that I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

What project did you work on while at The Foundling?

I helped draft the Sponsor a Camper emails for Camp Felix, The Foundling’s overnight summer camp located in Putnam Valley, NY, for children living in welfare or foster care. It felt amazing to be trusted enough to write emails that would go out to potential donors who would in turn be donating thousands of dollars. It made me feel like I had a direct impact on The Foundling’s success.

What will you take away from your experience at The Foundling?

The Foundling has definitely continued and strengthened my passion for helping those who are undeserved and misrepresented. I think it’s so easy to generalize and make conclusions about people based on one detail, such as being in foster care. Working here has reminded me to always get to know someone’s story before latching onto one detail about them.

What piece of advice would you tell future Foundling Interns?

Ask questions. It’s so easy to be nervous or intimidated, but I truly believe that the employees at The Foundling want to help you as much as you want to help them. If you show interest, imitative, and passion, I think you’ll be much happier with your experience at any internship.

What is your spirit animal and why?

An otter because they hold hands to keep their families together, and I like to think of myself as the glue in my relationships.

If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go and why?

The next place I want to go is Cape Town, South Africa. In school we barely covered African history and heritage, and I would love to go there and experience the history and culture for myself.

What is the last book you read, what are you reading now?

The last book I read was “Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation” by Bill Nye, and currently I’m reading “Sharp Objects” by Gillian Flynn.

July 30, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog, Education, Guest Blogger

Empowering Youth in Child Welfare and Foster Care Through the Gift of Sleep-Away Camp

The Following post was written by Bill Baccaglini, President and CEO of The Foundling, for The Huffington Post.

Many readers have experienced the magic of summer camp—days spent basking in the sun, swimming and splashing around the pool or lake, playing sports, running around, making new friends, and enjoying beautiful summer nights around a campfire telling ghost stories. Those were the days we lived for as children and the joys we hope our children will know as well. In addition, summer camp instills in children a reliance on daily structure and responsibility for the care of personal items and surroundings, lessons that sneak in amongst the fun and friends.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to experience carefree summers or the lessons that camp holds. This is especially true for the thousands of children living in foster care or are otherwise involved in the child welfare system.

This is where The New York Foundling and Felix Organization come into play. Since 2006, these two organizations have given the gift of Camp Felix, a sleep-away in upstate New York, to over 1,000 children living in welfare or foster care. Camp Felix is the only overnight camp for children in the child welfare system near the New York City area that is operated by a child welfare agency at no cost to caregivers.

Designed to meet the needs of kids who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma at a young age, Camp Felix offers a wide range of sports, games, and activities, and addresses the social-emotional needs of campers while offering the support these children need to heal and grow.

Staff and counselors receive extensive training in order to work at Camp Felix. They create clear expectations and a sense of structure for campers. Kids who’ve been awakened at night, told to pack and move to a new home, now have a predictable schedule and a routine they can count on.

On the surface, casual observers might see the same activities they’d see at any other camp, but at Camp Felix, engagement requires more. Counselors focus on building campers’ self-reliance and self-confidence, with the opportunity to gain a sense of accomplishment through simple, everyday experiences.

Campers receive different colored wristbands to identify how well they can swim and if they can swim in the deep end. As their swimming ability advances over the course of the summer, achievements are reflected in the brightly colored wristbands. It’s gratifying and uplifting to see the pride these children feel when they “graduate” from the pool’s shallow end to the deep end. As simple as this may seem, for the children The Foundling serves, this can be one of the first times they’ve received a tangible and public acknowledgement for something they’ve accomplished on their own and can be proud of.

Campers participate in Arts and Crafts, learn to play tennis, compete in basketball tournaments, play musical instruments, plus a host of other outdoor activities such as rock-climbing that are geared towards helping them overcome their fears, build confidence and form bonds with staff members and campers who share a similar background.

Indications of success can be found in the many volunteers at Camp Felix who were once campers themselves; 30 returning campers have become Counselors-in-Training and five volunteers are on their way to becoming full-time staff.

Camp Felix offers a vulnerable population the chance to thrive, grow, and be carefree kids. These children, perhaps more than anyone, have earned the right to have fun and learn that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.

July 24, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog, Education

New York City Business Leaders Mingle, Network, and Support The Foundling

The New York Foundling held its 2^nd Annual Investors’ Circle Breakfast on July 14, where more than 90 leading business professionals gathered to mingle, network, and hear about The Foundling’s latest accomplishments across New York City and surrounding boroughs. Chief Operating Officer Bethany Lampland acknowledged valued vendors who have become ardent supporters of the Foundling. President and CEO Bill Baccaglini delivered remarks about The Foundling’s evidence-based programs and services, and emerging programs that will focus on workforce development and technology.

John H. Banks III, President of the Real Estate Board of New York, was the keynote speaker and discussed current trends in real estate across New York City and how they impact the community. Mr. Banks also took questions from event attendees about his experience in city government, including the MTA and Con Edison of New York.

COMING UP: Join us on November 19, 2015 for The Foundling’s Fall Fête at the High Line Hotel. Click here for event details and sponsorship opportunities.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

July 17, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog, Developmental Disabilities

Job Readiness Workshop for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

On Friday June 19, Goldman Sachs’ Community Team Works (CTW) volunteers hosted a job readiness workshop at The Foundling for adults with developmental disabilities. Goldman Sachs’ volunteers coached workshop participants through interactive group discussions and set up “speed interviews” to give everyone a chance to practice their new skills. During these mock interviews, our adults gained valuable experience and coaching from some of New York City’s top business leaders. During the event, Goldman Sachs’ volunteers addressed questions from attendees about interviewing and entering the workforce. At the end of the event, each attendee received a certificate of participation and enjoyed lunch in Washington Square Park with the volunteers.

The Foundling provides residential care to approximately 200 adults with mild to severe developmental disabilities. Our goal is for each person to live as independently as possible in a home environment. We operate under the conviction that all of the people we serve become fully-integrated members of their communities and hold meaningful roles in the workforce.

Thank you to the wonderful Goldman Sachs CTW volunteers for helping our individuals with developmental disabilities build their self-confidence and gain important job skills!

To learn more about our work with adults with developmental disabilities click here.

July 2, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog

Watching Kids Grow at Camp Felix

Samantha knows how important Camp Felix is for kids in foster youth. Listen to her describe her favorite part of camp and what it is like to be a staff member.

June 29, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog

Friendship and Support at Camp Felix

Camp Felix gives every camper the lifelong tools they need to become successful. Watch one of our returning campers explain what Camp Felix means to him.

June 29, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog

Five Words to Describe Camp Felix

June 25, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog, Education, Partnerships

Mott Haven Scholars Join Forces with Famous Brazilian Street Artist to Paint a 5-Story Mural at their School

Being creative through mediums such as dancing, singing, and art is important for every child. This month, Haven Academy scholars had the opportunity to express themselves by painting alongside the famous Brazilian street artist, NOVE. Scholars painted leaves at the bottom of a multi-story mural on the exterior of their school, located in The New York Foundling’s Bronx building at 170 Brown Place. Noeli, a fourth grader, was excited to take part in this project, saying, “You get to be creative and use your imagination.”

Scholars took pride in their hard work and the positive impact they had on their community. Haven Academy Principal Jessica Nauiokas told DNAinfo, “This mural is a perfect example of scholars collaborating to give back to the community by creating and sharing something beautiful, unique, and one of a kind.”

Although NOVE has completed murals, paintings and exhibits throughout the world, this was his first visit to the U.S.—and we were grateful he spent much of it with our scholars! NOVE wanted to visit the Bronx because he was inspired by street art in the area and The Foundling and Haven Academy’s mission to serve youth in the child welfare system. NOVE has been featured in publications such as Vogue Brasil, Abstract Graffiti, and Mapa of Arts, and he is currently working on a project for the 2016 Olympic Games.

NOVE partnered with Spoke, a fashion accessories and outerwear brand that cultivates urban art and environmental conservation, to create his first U.S. mural at The Foundling. Spoke collaborates with urban artists and sends them throughout the world to create public artworks. Spoke generously donated all of the costs associated with the mural painted on The Foundling’s building.

The project was a great success for The Foundling, Haven Academy, NOVE, Spoke, and the Mott Haven community, and attracted the attention of local media. News coverage of this event can be found here.

June 18, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog, Education, Partnerships

Camp Felix R.E.S.P.E.C.T. | Sponsor a Camper

RESPECT

Respect for self and other

Engage in positive decision-making

Support each other at camp

Peaceful conflict resolution

Experience something new

Care for your environment

Tolerance for others despite differences

Guided by this philosophy of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. for the past 9 years, Camp Felix has offered an enriching camp experience for over 150 kids, completely free of charge. With the return of #SponsorACamper, we’ll highlight life at camp and with your help, make this summer the best yet. All donations go directly towards enhancing the camp experience for our youth. To donate go to: http://bit.ly/1dAWCXL

R : Respect for self and others. From basketball to soccer, Camp Felix offers a variety of sports for campers. Being part of a team teaches campers the value of good sportsmanship and the importance of treating teammates and peers with respect. By donating to Sponsor a Camper, you can help foster youth experience the power of positive teamwork, and allow them to gain social skills that will lead them towards forming successful relationships later in life. #SponsorACamper #RESPECT

E : Engage in positive decision-making. At Camp Felix, campers get a chance to express their creativity through various arts and crafts projects. The act of making artistic choices has been shown to increase decision-making skills in youth and provide a healthy outlet for expressing feelings. Coming from a school system where many arts programs have been cut due to budgets, Camp Felix is a place where kids can experience the benefits creating art has on their confidence level and decision-making skills. A donation to Sponsor a Camper will expose a child to the powerful benefits of the arts. #SponsorACamper #RESPECT

S : Support each other at camp. Camp Felix counselors, many of whom are foster care alumni themselves, work hard to make sure there’s a sense of unity and support among campers. Because all campers have foster care backgrounds, they’re able to relate to each other and create bonds that can last a lifetime. By looking out for younger campers and being supportive towards peers, campers experience increased self-esteem and a feeling of competence. Your donation can help kids from the child welfare system learn how to care for others, a skill they bring back with them when camp ends. #SponsorACamper #RESPECT

P : Peaceful conflict resolution. Theater is one of the many activities at Camp Felix that help campers overcome fear and gain skills that allow them to address conflict in their lives responsibly and peacefully. The act of participating in a collaborative effort allows them to work through obstacles and equips them with the tools and words to face conflicts that may arise in the course of putting on a performance. By sponsoring a camper, you’ll be giving them a chance to improve their self-esteem and communication skills through theater. #SponsorACamper #RESPECT

E : New experiences. For our kids at Camp Felix, going away to camp itself is a new experience. Many campers in the child welfare system leave difficult circumstances and have the opportunity to live carefree outside the city. This is a true luxury that our campers have not been afforded often. As new experiences affect change in us all, campers leave Camp Felix more confident and hopeful for their future. Experience something new. At Camp Felix, campers are given a chance to try rock climbing, an activity most would never experience otherwise. Beyond being a way to keep kids physically active, climbing up to the top gives kids a sense of achievement and an ability to overcome obstacles. A donation to Sponsor A Camper goes towards helping foster youth participate in valuable experiences like this that they would likely miss out on. #SponsorACamper #RESPECT

C : Care for your environment. Like at most camps, Camp Felix campers are required to make their beds and keep their cabins tidy. Campers also participate in nature exploration, where they learn the importance of caring for the environment. These types of skills are extremely useful to youth living in the child welfare system. Feeling a sense of control and positive ownership over their environment aids children in becoming productive members of society when they grow up. Your donation allows foster youth to practice skills that help them to become successful adults. #SponsorACamper #RESPECT

T : Tolerance for others despite differences. Camp Felix activities are designed to make campers feel accepted and valued. Being surrounded by peers with similar backgrounds allows them to feel like “a regular kid” – a feeling that is invaluable for foster youth. Though campers may have many differences, experiencing new things for the first time together, like learning to swim, brings kids closer together and allows them to become more tolerant of others. A donation to Camp Felix will allow a camper to participate in experiences that foster tolerance and understanding. #SponsorACamper #RESPECT

Click here to make a donation and sponsor a camper, or to learn more about Camp Felix.

June 16, 2015/by Elefant Design

Blog, Education, Guest Blogger

Baby Food Follies

Stephanie Kearns, our Director of Business Operations, shares her baby food tips!

As a little girl, I vividly remember watching Baby Boom with Diane Keaton as the high powered Manhattan executive newly saddled with an infant daughter. She quickly become overwhelmed by her dual roles and decided to turn lemons into lemonade, well, technically apples into applesauce. Dianne decided to forego her big time city job and start a baby food company. It looked like so much fun and easy! I thought, “I will definitely make my own baby food when I have a baby too! What fun!” Well, here I am with my first baby and I can humbly say, it is not as easy as it looks but I’ve found ways to make the experience fun in the real world. Here are my best tips:

Good storage containers are important! Scrutinize your choices and see what works best for you. Don’t forget to measure your freezer to make sure the base of the containers you choose fits
Buy storage containers for “on the road” They sell reusable pouches that you can freeze and take on long car trips
Fill each container only halfway. Little tummies need less food so you’ll waste a lot if you don’t plan for small doses
Get creative with new ideas or simply copy the ideas for pre-made food from Happy Family or Plum Organics. They always have yummy combos so I take their lead when possible
My favorite starter foods alone or combined: sweet potatoes, yams, butternut squash, carrots, peaches, peas, broccoli, bananas – all freeze very well!
Less water = better consistency
Chill the food first, then freeze. This results in less freezer burn.
Your food will not be as pretty as prepackaged food. Don’t panic, your baby doesn’t care about visual as much as taste
Always keep pre-packaged food on hand. Many times I forget to thaw out food overnight and have to turn to my trusty stock of pouches to serve up dinner. Happy Family and Plum make excellent options.
Don’t stress out if he/she doesn’t like your food. Keep reintroducing different options and go back to previously rejected items and you’ll often find they’ll eat it!
You can make a delicious broccoli/pea/squash soup out of the leftover puree. Fill all of your little tots food containers and keep the remaining in the food processor. Add 1 ½ tablespoons of cream or milk and black pepper and salt. Serve in a shot glass as an appetizer for dinner.
Make your prep work count twice! Chop your fruits and veggies and use 2/3 for baby food and 1/3 for baked goods or stews for a dinner party or family dinner.

June 10, 2015/by Elefant Design

The Following post was written by Bill Baccaglini, President and CEO of The Foundling, for The Huffington Post.

RESPECT

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