Our Head Start students are no strangers to exciting visitors. Last year, the world-famous red monster Elmo dropped by. And in 2015, our Head Start students in Corona began the holiday season with a visit from then-New York Secretary of State Cesar Perales, Assembly Member Jeffrion Aubry, and U.S. Congressman Joe Crowley.

A year ago, The Child Center of NY launched “Dreams Take Flight,” a public awareness campaign to encourage kids and adults to let their dreams soar — literally!

I am excited to announce that when you give to The Child Center of NY this holiday season, our generous advisory board member Russell Carson will match what you give 1:3 up to $5 million. I’d like to tell you about one of the programs your tax-deductible contribution will help grow.

Last Wednesday, pediatric residents of the prestigious Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Northwell Health came to The Child Center’s Corona Head Start location to provide primary medical services, including physical examinations; medical histories; height and weight measurements; vision, hearing, and nutritional screenings; and parental guidance to low-income families.

Every year, more than one million Americans celebrate afterschool programs and their impact on the lives of millions of children. The Quest ExpandEd program at P.S. 182 proudly participated in this national celebration with our Annual Lights on After School event and, in true Quest fashion, knocked it out the park! 

At The Child Center of NY, one of our firmest beliefs is that intelligence and drive are evenly distributed among zip codes. Unfortunately, opportunity isn’t always. That’s why we’ve been hard at work at August Martin High School, in one of the most underserved communities in the city.

The Child Center of NY is the place to be if you’re a kid who’s into professional sports. Last summer, our Far Rockaway RBI little leaguers participated in Major League Baseball’s All-Star Youth Classic. This spring, they scored free tickets to Bat Day at Yankee Stadium. And yesterday, campers from our Latimer Community Cornerstone were invited to the US Open’s fourth annual Queens Day celebration at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona

To understand the importance of the Redfern Cornerstone Community Center in a tight-knit community of Far Rockaway, start by asking its youngest residents.

It’s been quite a ride for Far Rockaway RBI in the three years since its inception — sometimes literally. Last weekend, 28 Far Rockaway RBI ballplayers, along with 9 coaches and chaperones, rode the NYC Ferry from the peninsula to Manhattan. For most of them, it was their first time on a ferry. As if that weren’t exciting enough, they were headed to Bat Day at Yankee Stadium, where they got to see one of their favorite Major League Baseball teams in action.

Performers from the Quest ExpandEd program at P.S. 182, Samantha Smith Elementary School, took the stage last month with a production of “Beauty & the Beast, Jr.,” an outstanding adaptation of Disney’s beloved “tale as old as time.”

When a child spends his adolescence in the criminal justice system, his time behind bars might stay off his permanent record, but the experience never gets fully erased from his psyche. “Adolescents who’ve been in the criminal justice system mostly talk about the trauma and abuse they experienced there,” says Miosotte Caban, a therapist at The Child Center of NY’s Jamaica Family Center. “Some say they will be traumatized for life and may not live what society calls a normal l

“History in the Making: The Soul of the Youth” lit up the stage at The Child Center of NY’s Beacon program at Catherine & Count Basie Middle School 72 on Friday, February 3, kicking off Black History Month with a diverse array of performances and readings by students of all ages. Jaylin, who served as the student emcee for the evening, announced quietly before making his way to the front to introduce the first act:  “I’m scared.” 

When a group of talented and hardworking middle-school girls combine a strong social conscience with a passion for dance, amazing things happen. Back in October, the Golden Lionesses of The Child Center of NY’s SONYC Queens United afterschool program performed a dance focused on the theme of “broken homes” at our Second Annual Lights on Afterschool event. In attendance were representatives from Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman’s office and Councilman Donovan Richards’ office.

It’s never too soon to instill in children the importance of financial literacy — and it’s never too late for their parents to achieve it. That’s why The Child Center promotes the concepts of budgeting and saving in age-appropriate ways across our programs.

So begins the rap written and recorded earlier this month by the Queens United Middle School’s Nike step team, The Golden Lionesses. The song, entitled “Weekend Warriors,” points to the realities our youth deal with by exploring the negative effects of “broken homes.” (Check out the audio and lyrics below.)

Whether they’re just beginning their life’s journey, in the throes of middle childhood, or about to embark on adulthood, children who look to The Child Center of NY for help will make good use of your support this holiday season and throughout the year.

Giving Tuesday, 11/29/16, is a day of generosity that follows the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Fueled by the power of social media and collaboration, #GivingTuesday has grown into a global movement since it emerged in 2012 — more than 45,000 organizations in 71 countries participated last year.

Thanksgiving came early for some 100 students from M.S. 72 (Catherine and Count Basie Middle School), P.S. 223 (Lyndon Johnson), and August Martin High School. New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson and his teammate, third baseman Jose Reyes, joined them this week at M.S. 72 in Jamaica, Queens, to hand out turkeys for their holiday meal.

Students of our Ficalora Family Foundation Head Start Center in Woodside got a big surprise last week: a visit by the lovable red Sesame Street character, Elmo. The excitement was palpable as the preschoolers spotted him and shouted, “Oh my God, it’s Elmo!”

A new school year is a time of adapting to new environments and routines, which can be both challenging and exciting for young children. Every family member has a vital role in fostering a smooth transition into the school setting, helping little ones feel motivated to learn in a safe environment.