For the New York Mets’ September 2 game at Citi Field, pitcher Taijuan Walker partnered with The New York Foundling for his Tai’s Taco Truck initiative, where he gave out free tacos and solicited donations on behalf of The Foundling.
On November 6, Team Foundling will take to the streets for the TCS New York City Marathon! The world’s largest marathon and a source of inspiration to runners worldwide, the race will include over 50,000 athletes who will complete a 26.2-mile route through all five boroughs of New York City.
This year marks our largest team of runners yet – and while they come from different backgrounds and have different athletic aspirations, they all share a commitment to not only reach their personal race goals, but to raise money for the children, adults, and families in our Foundling community as well.
Read more about each of our team members below, and learn how you can support them and The Foundling.
 Ryan Dykhouse
Ryan has only been running for four years, but in this time, he has participated in the 2018 Detroit Marathon, as well as the Brooklyn, NYC, Disney, and Portland Half Marathons. He loves the runner community, especially around big races, and how supportive everyone is when you are training and participating in an event. For the NYC Marathon, he’d ideally like to break the 4 hour barrier. It’s his first time running with a charity partner, and he’s excited for the opportunity. Not only is he looking forward to the comraderies and shared commitment that comes with running with a team, but he’s passionate about The Foundling’s work. As he shares, “The Foundling is such an incredible institution for kids in New York City. As a former NYC public school teacher, I am thankful for any organization that works to provide underserved youth with opportunities to embrace life and grow into the best people they can be. And The Foundling is exactly that kind of organization.”
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 Eric Kanagy
Eric has completed 4 marathons in the past (including the NYC Marathon), and is excited to run for The Foundling this year! He enjoys running in lower Manhattan and Central Park, and particularly cherishes how the sport provides him with the opportunity to think without distractions. As a foster parent with The Foundling, he shares a personal connection to our mission, and is excited to support our work!
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 Jeffrey Tuchman
Jeffrey’s been an avid runner for 15 years, and has completed two marathons and five half marathons. Most recently, Jeffrey was a member of Team Foundling for the 2022 United Airlines Half! He is eager to run for The Foundling once again, as he cares about children and supports investing in their present and future.
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 Timothy Williams
Timothy’s been a runner for 18 years, and most recently ran with us for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon earlier this year! His favorite places to run are across NYC and on the beach, and he particularly enjoys the sense of accomplishment that running gives him. Timothy comes to Team Foundling through a deep understanding and passion for our mission. He is a foster parent with us, and was drawn to create a safe, loving environment and life for children who need a supportive home. Timothy is excited to combine his interest in running with his dedication to helping our Foundling community.
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 Emerson Davis
Emerson will be running her very first marathon as part of Team Foundling! She’s been a runner off and on since high school, and has completed in five half marathons in the past. Her favorite song to run to is Higher Love by Whitney Houston, and her favorite places to run are Prospect Park and Central Park. She is particularly passionate about The Foundling’s Haven Academy and our Haven Kids Rock performing arts program. “I believe in the transformational power of the arts and Haven Kids Rock is a wonderful example of that,” she shares.
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 Jacqueline Falcon
Running “can provide a mental and physical escape, and is one thing that’s completely powered by you,” says Jacqueline. She’s been a casual runner for the past 10 years, and has completed a few 5k runs, but this is her first marathon! She’s excited to soak up the energy of the city, and to finish the race. Jacqueline’s excited to raise money for The Foundling, and has a personal connection to foster care and adoption. “I believe strongly that having an advocate for you can completely change the course of your life,” she says. “My mother was someone who was adopted at age 13 and suffered through a difficult home environment. She ultimately was set on a better path thanks to someone who was able to advocate and give her access to resources like the ones that The Foundling provides.”
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 Amanda Brown
Amanda has been a runner for her entire life, and is excited to finish the NYC Marathon! She enjoys running in forests and parks, to Beyonce, Drake, and Brockhampton’s music. Running for The Foundling is just one more way she’s deepening her connection to The Foundling – she also serves on our Junior Board, was a Camp Counselor at Camp Felix, and volunteers regularly for the organization. “My work with The Foundling is what inspired me to become a teacher, and to teach in a high need, urban environment,” she says.
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 CL Freedman
CL is a beginning runner who hopes to complete the NYC Marathon this year! She enjoys running because you need nothing but an open road, and enjoys running along the West Side Highway. CL was formerly on The Foundling’s Junior Board, and is drawn to our organization’s deep history and wide scope of programs.
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 David Stuckey
David is excited to join Team Foundling and complete the marathon in under 3:45. He enjoys running along NYC’s waterfronts, as well as in neighborhoods that he’s unfamiliar with. Running allows him to clear his head – he often doesn’t listen to music, and running gives him time to think. David is excited to be on Team Foundling – he loves that the organization provides holistic support to families and young people, from counseling to housing to education and so much more!
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 Cecile Curtin
Cecile has been a runner for 7 years, and has completed the virtual Boston Marathon, the Philadelphia Marathon, and the Marine Corp Marathon. For the NYC Marathon, she hopes to finish in under 5:30-6:00. She enjoys running in Cape Cod and Central Park, and likes that it provides a chance to zone out and clear her head. Her connection to The Foundling comes through family – her daughter Taylor previously worked for The Foundling as an Education Specialist!
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In a press release from The American Foundation of Savoy Orders (Savoy Foundation), the foundation shared that they recently granted $150,000 for The Foundling’s Camp Felix.
Since 1970, the TCS New York City Marathon – the world’s largest marathon – has been a source of inspiration for runners around the globe. On November 6, 2022, over 50,000 athletes will once again take to the streets for a 26.2-mile route through all five boroughs of New York City. While the lottery for general admission to the race is now closed, The Foundling still has spots available for dedicated runners. Join us in becoming a part of this important milestone!
In partnership with New York Road Runners, The Foundling is proud to support a team of ten runners. Apply today to join The Foundling’s 2022 TCS NYC Marathon team, as spots will fill up quickly! The final deadline to secure your spot is June 1!
Christiane Palpant
The Foundling is excited to partner with Agora Gallery artist Christiane Palpant this spring. Christiane’s painting, The Journey Aglow, will be featured on the label of this year’s exclusive Foundling Rosé, and a portion of the proceeds from her current gallery exhibition will go directly to supporting The Foundling’s work.
Christiane is captivated by the natural world – particularly skies, clouds, and horizons – and her landscape paintings illustrate and evoke gratitude, resilience, and beauty. Like many of those in our Foundling community, Christiane’s life has been a winding journey.
Our 2022 Rose label, featuring Christiane Palpant’s painting, A Journey Aglow
She discovered painting as a healing outlet while on bed rest for nearly a year, and recently quit her lifelong career in financial services to devote her life to her art. This month, she is setting out in a modified van (which she’s named Millicent) on a 25-week cross-country journey to paint in all 50 states and further pursue her creative ambitions.
In the interview below, Christiane discusses her artistic career, the painting featured on our 2022 Rosé, and her connections to The Foundling’s work supporting children, adults, and families in reaching their full potential:
You’ve had an interesting journey in becoming an artist – one that shows a lot of inner strength and required a lot of bold choices. Can you share a little about this trajectory?
It has occurred to me that I approached my healing journey from both a left brain and right brain perspective. In left brained fashion, once I realized that my healing journey was a marathon, I constructed a spreadsheet with daily mini-goals and milestones. But my right brain kicked in when I asked myself what I could do while on bedrest in order to keep myself mentally strong. Picking up the paintbrush was my answer and I attacked it with great passion painting sixty works that first year. Nonetheless, healing was still a difficult and arduous process, but I am filled with gratitude for family, friends, and faith. There were several powerful conversations that helped guide difficult life decisions. I’ll never forget when one friend shared, “Healing is not linear.” Understanding that better has helped me to embrace the ebbs and flows of both the healing journey and creative process.
During your upcoming travels, you plan to interview women across the country that have made major life changes after experiencing trauma or dramatic events. This has a parallel with many of our Foundling participants, who often draw on the challenges they’ve overcome when transforming their lives. What draws you to these stories in others? Can you share the goal of this project?
Along with painting in all 50 states, one of the missions of my Millicent van journey is to capture the courageous stories of the women whose voices haven’t been heard. Just like the clients of The Foundling, these women have not only transformed their own lives, but often have made a very positive impact on those around them. These poignant journeys knit the souls of our communities. Capturing these experiences is especially interesting to me because of my own encounter with a near death experience followed by more than a year on bed rest. I know how difficult it was to continuously take one figurative step after another and make daily bold decisions that changed the trajectory of my life. I believe many people can identify with pivotal moments in life and will be eager to hear of other compelling journeys.
Can you share a bit about the painting that will be featured on the Foundling’s 2022 Rosé – The Journey Aglow?
The painting, The Journey Aglow, is very special to me. I painted it after spending a week with a dear friend who has three children from the foster care system. This painting gives the feeling of being on a journey with someone special, cresting a precipice and gasping in wonder at the view. The heavens are aglow, and it is a beautiful respite after so many trying moments. Scenes like these bring moments of gratitude for the soul, refreshment, and interconnection.
Christiane, Agora Gallery, and The Foundling gathered at the opening reception for “Interconnection and Intuition” on March 3, 2022
Your exhibition at Agora Gallery is called “Interconnection and Intuition.” As our wine is called “We are Intertwined,” we feel there’s some symmetry here! What does the word ‘Interconnection’ mean to you? How do the paintings in the exhibition demonstrate this?
My paintings featured in Agora Gallery’s “Interconnection and Intuition” exhibition were painted during the global COVID-19 pandemic. It was a poignant time during which human connection became sacred, revered, and sought after in safe settings. The titles of my pieces tie to my feelings during the painting process. The viewer can capture the sentiment with titles such as Calm Amidst the Chaos and descriptions of Resilience, Contentment, and Respite.
The words ‘Intertwined’ and ‘Interconnection’ are also the perfect description for my upcoming Millicent van art journey through all 50 states. In my previous financial services career, I traveled extensively across the US. As a result, I am planning to connect on my travel route with dear friends and family in 47 of the 50 states. I can imagine there will be many new friends that will unfold during this powerful and creative experience.
What is your personal connection with The Foundling’s mission and values?
My close friend and former college roommate fostered three children and ultimately adopted them a couple of years ago. I’ve been actively engaged in their lives the past decade and I’ve watched the positive impact on these beautiful, vulnerable lives. (The children on their own started calling me ‘Dad’. I think it’s hilarious and touching.) Additionally, I teach at Georgia State University and this year I have mentored a young lady who came from the foster care system. She is a special lady and even at her young age has aspirational dreams of owning her own business. Because of these powerful personal experiences, The Foundling’s mission is near and dear to my heart.
What are your goals for the future?
For the past two decades I have kept my goals listed on a spreadsheet. (This is my left-brain kicking in.) While on bedrest for more than a year I created goals for 7 specific areas of pursuit: art, teaching, writing, speaking, consulting, media, and travel. My project with The Foundling, Agora Gallery, and City Winery is on the right path for accomplishing the goals I’ve listed. The 50-state Millicent trip also is the trajectory I have envisioned. As Thoreau said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you have imagined.” I look forward to future meaningful projects with The Foundling and Agora Gallery.
Christiane’s work, including The Journey Aglow, is on view at Agora Gallery – her exhibition, “Interconnection and Intuition,” runs from March 1-22, 2022. Learn more here (10% of all sales from the exhibition will be donated to The Foundling. Christiane will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from the art she sells on her 25-week cross-country trip to The Foundling.)
The 2022 limited edition of We are Intertwined, The Foundling’s exclusive Rosé produced annually in partnership with City Winery, will be available exclusively from April to June as well as featured in local New York City restaurants. The wine is available for pre-order now, with a percentage of each sale going directly to support our work! This 2020 Rosé of Pinot Noir is refreshing and crisp, with hints of clementine and strawberry. Learn more and place an order!
For the first time, The Foundling has a team of runners participating in the United Airlines NYC Half. On Sunday, March 20, Team Foundling will hit the streets for a 13.1-mile course through Brooklyn and Manhattan.
We have one spot remaining on Team Foundling! If you’re interested in running in the 2022 NYC Half, please reach out to Laura Wright at Laura.Wright@nyfoundling.org today!
Read about each of our team members below, and learn how you can support them and The Foundling:
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Lauren MitchellLauren has been running for 20 years, and has run numerous races through New York Road Runners. She loves running because it clears her mind. Her favorite routes take her across New York City’s bridges, and she keeps her energy up by running to Beyonce’s music. For this year’s half marathon, she hopes to set a new personal best for herself. |
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Run the United Airlines NYC Half with Team Foundling!
After a 2 year hiatus, the United Airlines NYC Half is back on March 20, 2022! This half marathon, which has historically featured nearly 25,000 runners, will send athletes along a 13.1-mile course through Brooklyn and Manhattan.
In partnership with New York Road Runners, we are excited to sponsor a team of ten runners for the event. While we have been a charity partner for the TCS New York City Marathon for the past five years, we are thrilled to be participating in the United Airlines NYC Half for the first time.
This year – with the generous support of our corporate partners, community supporters, and donors – The Foundling was able to bring holiday cheer to the children, adults, and families in our programs!
While we usually host a number of holiday celebrations and events annually, the pandemic placed most of our festivities on hold last year. Earlier this month, vaccinations and other developments allowed us to gather in-person once again, albeit on a limited scale and with strict safety precautions. After the past year and a half, these recent events felt particularly special.
Here’s how the Foundling community came together to celebrate the season this year:
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Our annual tradition continued this year as our partners at Macy’s decked the halls of our Manhattan headquarters to bring holiday spirit to our staff and participants!
 The Junior Board volunteered their time to sort gifts for distribution to the people in our programs. |
 We hosted a corporate volunteer event for the staff at Peoplehood, where they created cards for our program participants. |
 Cub Scout Pack 422 in Manhattan hosted a holiday drive for The Foundling, collecting over $1100 in gift cards and over 200 toys. |
Each December, The Foundling collects and distributes over 5,000 gifts to ensure that each child, adult, and family in our programs has a happy holiday season! This massive undertaking is only possible because of our generous donors, corporate partners, and volunteers.
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For over 25 years, the Emerald Society of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) collects gifts for the young people in The Foundling’s programs (over 1,000 each year!), and hosts a special event featuring Santa Claus and more. In early December, they delivered a portion of the toys to our Manhattan headquarters, where kindergarten students at Haven Academy were invited to meet Santa and receive a gift.
Happy holidays from all of us at The Foundling!
On Thursday, September 30, we livestreamed a special Fireside Chat featuring current President and CEO, Bill Baccaglini, and Melanie Hartzog, his successor, in conversation.
It was a wonderful discussion about the vital work that is done at The Foundling each day, and an opportunity to meet our incoming leader. Hartzog discussed her background and experience in child welfare, and shared her vision for continuing The Foundling’s legacy of supporting children, adults, and families across our five service areas – particularly as our community continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In case you missed it, the full video is available below.
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