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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:

Manhattan Lobby Decorating with Macy’s

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 Foundling’s Holiday Gift Drive

Junior Board Gift Sorting

The Junior Board volunteered their time to sort gifts for distribution to the people in our programs.

Peoplehood Volunteer Event

We hosted a corporate volunteer event for the staff at Peoplehood, where they created cards for our program participants.

Cub Scout Holiday Drive

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.

TBTA Holiday Gift Giveaway

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.  

Team Foundling is in the midst of training, fundraising, and preparing for the 2021 TCS NYC Marathon! On Sunday, November 7, our nine runners will hit the streets for a 26.2 mile course through all five boroughs of New York City.

Read about each team member below, and learn how you can support them and The Foundling:


Dan EatroffDan Eatroff

Dan began long-distance running three years ago, and finds it a meditative act. He is excited to run his first marathon, while supporting our community! He’s been training for the past few months, and aims to finish the marathon in less than 4 hours.

“I became involved with The Foundling recently and was impressed with the array of services they offer to the foster care community,” he says. “I want to support The New York Foundling’s team because I can make a valuable difference and educate my network to expand the Foundling’s reach.”

Learn more and support Dan!


James Grasso

James Grasso 

James, who has been on our Junior Board since 2018, is excited to be a part of Team Foundling and to run the NYC Marathon!  “I started running in high school on my cross country team and realized I both loved running and wasn’t so bad either,” he says. “I continued running through college on both the cross country and track and field teams. I like how you can always compete against yourself and carefully track your progress.”

He is passionate about The Foundling’s mission, and has been looking at ways to support and raise money for our programs for quite some time.  “I was very lucky to grow up with all the resources I ever needed, but I realize that many New Yorkers are born into difficult situations – and need help in the form of money, education, support.”

Learn more and support James!


Michelle Hadley

Michelle Hadley

Michelle has been an avid runner since running Varsity Cross Country in high school. “Running is the best, totally free therapy. No matter what you’ve been through or what you’re going through right now, a run can help you clear your head and move past the tough stuff in a productive way. Plus, I love how much guilt-free eating I can do,” she says.

Michelle joined The Foundling’s Junior Board this year, and is excited to use this opportunity to fundraise for our programs. She last ran the NYC Marathon in 2019, and is looking forward to beating her time and raising more money this year. “The only thing that gets me to run a marathon is a good cause, she shares. “It’s the perfect combination of two things I love passionately – giving back and running my heart out!”

She encourages other people to give back and provide support: “I’ve been through a lot in my life, but when I think back on how I had two loving parents and always had enough resources, I realize how truly lucky I am. I don’t see how any of us can live a day on this earth knowing there are children who don’t have that and not caring enough to do something about it. Be the person that does something about it.”

Learn more and support Michelle!


Kendra Morgan

Learn more and support Kendra!


Dr. Roslyn Murov

Learn more and support Dr. Murov!


Mike Russo

Learn more and support Mike!


Max Shapiro

Max is traveling to NYC from Los Angeles to run in his first marathon!  “The motivation to run a marathon specifically came from my Dad,” he shares.  “The way he has describes his experience running the New York City marathon has made it a long-time goal of mine.” He learned about The Foundling from one of his college friends, and was impressed with the organization’s work. “As I began to consider the prospect of running a marathon, I knew The New York Foundling’s team was who I wanted to run for,” he says.

Max began running long distance in March 2020, as gyms were closing due to the pandemic. Despite hating running in the past, he now finds it a great physical and mental outlet. “Whether I’m running for 30 minutes or two hours, the time allows me to disconnect and reflect in a way nothing else does,” he says. “And nothing beats the moments during a run when you lose track of time, distance, and feel like you can run forever.”

Max is looking forward to everything related to the marathon: “The training, the fundraising, meeting other members of the Foundling team, and of course… The finish line!”

Learn more and support Max!


Emily TsangEmily Tsang

Emily, who serves on our Junior Board, has been training for the past six months to run the NYC Marathon. She enjoys running as a hobby – viewing it as a meditation-like activity. It has been her life goal to run a marathon, and she’s excited to  achieve this while supporting a great cause.

 “There are many people who find themselves in situations out of their control. Everybody has the right to have a place to turn to and find aid in those situations and to have access to opportunities regardless of socioeconomic status,” she says. “The New York Foundling provides a range of amazing resources to thousands of people in need, and this is a great way to be a part of that!” 

Learn more and support Emily!


Molly Clarke

Learn more and support Molly!


 

Each year, City Winery creates an exclusive wine to benefit our shared community, with a percentage of proceeds donated directly back to The Foundling.  Just in time for summer, our wine is returning with two great ways to show your support: order We Are Intertwined, a 2019 “Rosé of Press,” in select New York City restaurants – or purchase online to enjoy at home!

Learn more here

Each year, The Foundling partners with City Winery to produce an exclusive wine that benefits our community. With a portion of proceeds going directly to support The Foundling, this is an easy way to support the children, adults, and families in our programs, while enjoying a limited-edition summer wine. This year’s offering, We Are Intertwined, is a fine Rosé of Syrah sourced from high-quality Californian terroir.

The wine is available online for purchase here, with free delivery in the New York City area. For $119, you will receive a case: 3 bottles of our custom Rosé and 3 bottles of sparkling Cava (6 total). A portion of your purchase will directly go to The Foundling’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

At The Foundling, we are committed to providing strength, stability, and hope to our neighbors – and right now, our programs are more important than ever. With your purchase of We are Intertwined, you can join us in providing support to the New York City community during these uncertain times.

Performances begin March 4 at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater for the world premiere of Ren Dara Santiago’s The Siblings Play. Directed by Jenna Worsham (Agnes) the new work marks the professional playwriting debut of Fila-Rican playwright Santiago.

Set in a rent-stabilized Harlem apartment in 2014, The Siblings Play follows three teenagers left to raise each other in their parents’ absence. The play looks at the ways in which they protect, love, fight, and diminish in the wake of their family history; and the complexity of what it means to grow up with parents who are too young to be parents in the first place…

The Siblings Play is working with six community partners, Counseling in the Schools, The Drama Club, Healing Tree, New York Foundling, Student Leadership Network, and The Possible Project on a series of post-show conversations, student matinees, and work experience.

Read more on Playbill.

For 50 years, the TCS New York City Marathon – the world’s largest marathon – has been a source of inspiration for runners throughout the world. On November 1, 2020, over 50,000 athletes will once again take to the streets for a 26.2-mile route through all five boroughs of the City. While the general admission lottery is now closed, charity partners – like The Foundling – still have marathon spots available.

In partnership with New York Road Runners, The New York Foundling is proud to sponsor a team of five dedicated runners. Team members fundraise $3,000 for our programs, and in exchange, they receive marathon entry, VIP benefits, and encouragement from our Foundling community. For the past three years, The Foundling’s marathon team has raised thousands of dollars to support our children, adults, and families in transforming their lives, while having the opportunity to participate in their own life-changing experience.

Our team will fill up quickly – apply by March 27 to secure your spot! For more information on joining the team, please visit our team page or contact Nicholas Kohomban at Nicholas.Kohomban@NYFoundling.org or 212-206-4124.

The Foundling’s President and CEO, Bill Baccaglini, was named one of New York City’s top nonprofit leaders by City and State.

56. Bill Baccaglini

When Bill Baccaglini took over The New York Foundling in 2003, he was tasked with getting the nonprofit out of a $7.5 million deficit. Not only did he succeed, he has cemented the Foundling’s position as one of the country’s largest child welfare organizations. Baccaglini has made education the focus of the 150-year-old organization’s work, particularly with the launch of Mott Haven Academy Charter School and its recent expansion.

Read more at City and State.

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