Graham Windham Fall 2011- Winter 2012 Newsletter

record

Volume Volume 39 40

The Graham Windham T HE G RAHAM W INDHAM

Spring/Summer Fall 2011/Winter 2011 2012

Serving Children, Supporting Families, and Strengthening Communities Since 1806 • www.graham-windham.org

Becoming a Family

Jennifer and her children

How one mother is rebuilding her life and bringing her children back together Story on Page 3

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Other Help

At the Campus

President & CEO Poul

The Tigers are on the

To the Moon and Beyond

Jensen on getting it right

prowl for victory this

Field trips for our

– by delivering the right

season! Plus, other news

kids at our Beacon

kind of help

from The Graham School

After-School Centers

Page 2

Page 6

Page 10

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Other Help A message from Poul Jensen, GRAHAM WINDHAM PRESIDENT & CEO

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e are all helpers here at Graham level, delivered efficiently with W i n d h a m . . . p r o f e s s i o n a l compassion, respect and cultural altruists as someone once said. competence...and a generous serving We're supposed to be "of assistance". of straight talk. We need to be But not all help helps and not all careful, though, and not get too full altruism is altruistic. Sometimes our of ourselves. We don't want to over"remedies" can be f lat-out wrong and help. That can be counterproductive we're no help at all. Worse yet, we can – disabling, in fact – undervaluing confuse our client's needs with our the innate strengths and coping own, and end up helping ourselves at capacities of the children and their expense (and the taxpayer's, I families we serve, and undermining might add). And sometimes, if we're the natural human urge to act (be not careful, we can just sort of get in self-sufficient) in favor of simply the way. Years ago, Mort Walker, the being acted upon (dependent). In creator of the cartoon strip "Beetle the professional parlance of today, Bailey," presented this particular we need to be strength-based. scenario rather neatly. "Sarge", the obese, heavy-handed sergeant of the platoon, has fallen over a precipice "We cannot get to and is hanging in space by a small twig growing from the face of the service excellence cliff. "Help, help! " he cries. "Zero", without private a well-intended but short-on-wits support." private, comes upon Sarge in this predicament and is sent for a rope.

He repeatedly takes a few steps and returns to ask another question: Graham Windham works hard to "How did you get there, Sarge? " "Don't get it right. Our carefully nurtured let go, Sarge." "How long a rope do performance culture, supported by you need, Sarge? " until finally Sarge distinct, non-negotiable principles, cries out in exasperation..."Other targeted learning systems, attentive help! Other help! " supervision and a comprehensive merit-based employee evaluation Many of our clients are like Sarge. system, has us focused laser-like on They have fallen over a precipice service outcomes. Our action plans, and are hanging on by the barest of humanized with care and empathy, threads – kids who have lost their are continually under review and families, families who have lost their updated when necessary. Our basic kids, school issues, delinquency operating assumption posits that it is issues, mental health/domestic as much our fault as anybody's when violence/substance abuse issues, we come up short of our outcome housing/poverty/crime problems – goals. That keeps us honest, humble the whole gamut of personal, family and centered on how we can get and worldly troubles. They need better, so our children and families "other help", meaning useful, targeted can get better. and unembroidered help at ground

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We've been given an astonishing opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of every child and family we serve. We must not squander that opportunity by confusing good intentions with good outcomes. Getting it right, however, brings us face to face with a simple hard fact. We cannot get to service excellence without private support. Government won't pick up the surcharge. So, please, consider this an open invitation to support the important work that we do with a gift or a helping hand. You will be creating better lives for some of New York's most desperate children and families...and maybe for yourself too. Helping others, after all, is the greatest of joys.

Thank you.

FALL 2011/WINTER 2012

HOMECOMINGS Becoming a Family The Birth of a Child and the Rebirth of a Mother

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hen Jennifer’s daughter Emily was born, she was immediately placed into foster care because Jennifer could not take care of her...and it seemed likely that, unless something changed soon, Jennifer would lose her rights as Emily’s mother. It was a shock and a wake-up call for Jennifer, who had struggled for years with some very tough issues…and who had lost custody of a child before because of them. A series of emotions overtook her – the grief of the loss, the fear and anxiety over what would become of her child, and a sense of incompleteness. "I felt lost without my kids," she said.

It was one of the hardest blows in what had already been a very difficult life. Her own mother died when Jennifer was a child and she never knew her father. She grew up in foster care and struggled to find her place as an adult, without the roots of a stable family life. To escape her problems, she ran toward things she knew she should have avoided. "I know that what I was doing was wrong," she said. "I never wanted things to be this way." We had worked with Jennifer for years on the problems she faced and made some progress…but with the prospect of losing Emily permanently fast approaching, she made a breakthrough.

"It hurt me," she said, "putting my daughter through what I had to go through [by placing her in foster care]. It hurt me not knowing what she would become. I wanted to be there in her future. My mother didn’t have a chance to do that. But I’m alive – I have a chance."

And she is taking that chance. Marcy Chell, Regional Director for Family Permanency Planning Services, calls her "Miss Perseverance" for her determination and dedicated efforts to turn her life around. Our staff, including Ms. Chell, Case Planner Janice Singleton, and Supervisor Marva Maison, established the steps she needed to take in order to care safely for Emily at home, and helped her to follow them…from obtaining employment, housing, and Medicaid and other assistance to addressing her personal issues – from the trauma she faced in childhood to the choices she made as an adult – in counseling. We recognized her progress at a staff meeting with a GOTCHA Award, an award given at Graham Windham to those "caught in the act" of going above and beyond. About two years ago, Jennifer found another reason to keep herself on track: a little boy named Jacob. By the time Jacob was born, Jennifer was stable and doing well…well enough to keep him and raise him.

Now Jennifer and her kids are learning to be a family. They spend time together when Emily and older sister Brianna, who currently lives with her father, come to visit for the weekend. They love to play together, watch movies, and eat as a family.

"But," says Jennifer, "there's a lot of emotional stress. Jacob misses the girls when they leave." However, that may change soon.

Because of Jennifer’s progress in maintaining housing and employment – and in taking care of Jacob – the courts have granted her a trial discharge for Emily…a chance for her to come home. We will be stepping up our already frequent phone calls, visits, and supportive counseling during this period to ensure that Emily’s homecoming is a smooth and safe transition – and hopefully, the beginning of a permanent return to her mother.

Thanks to friends like you who support our work every day, we are able to help parents become the parents they need to be for their children…so that their children can have the childhood they deserve.

Jacob, who is just learning to talk, has picked up a new phrase, telling his mother, "I got this, Ma!" With your support for our staff and programs – and Jennifer’s unflagging determination – she will be able to tell her kids with just as much conviction about her ability to be their mom, "I got this, kids." u

Jacob, Brianna, and Emily

*Names changed for privacy

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NEWSWORTHY Everyday Heroes A message from Jess Dannhauser

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR PROGRAM PERFORMANCE & PLANNING

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y 3-year-old daughter – perhaps already tired of my daily questioning about pre-school – asked, “Daddy, what did you learn at your school today?” With the tides turned, I stuck to the basics. “Today, sweetheart, I learned about bravery and wisdom.” (I can’t remember whether I was referring to a parent being brave enough to make a difficult change, or a foster family welcoming a child unknown to them into their home, or a young adult re-enrolling in school, or whether I was thinking of one of our staff knocking on a new door late at night). From the wide-eyed look my daughter gave me, I can tell she now thinks that I go to school with superheroes. In a way, she’s right. The truth is someone is doing something heroic every day here at Graham Windham. This year alone, over 500 Graham Windham children will remain safely at home, more than 300 will return to their strengthened family, and nearly 100 more will be adopted by a loving family. Over 40 of our courageous youth bucked the odds and are off to college. There’s a brave and wise superhero in each of those stories and in the stories you’ll read in this edition of The Record.

Yet, when you walk the halls of Graham Windham, you see no capes and no masks.

There are no illusions of grandeur here. With our feet firmly planted in reality, we’re hard at work in our efforts to provide: children with a safe foundation from which they can explore and thrive in the world; parents the opportunity and support to become the heroes in their children’s lives again; and young women and men the preparation they need to pursue dreams worthy of their talents. If you join me walking the halls of Graham Windham (bring your sneakers; there is lots to see), you’ll see determined staff and foster/adoptive parents, who have committed their lives to these efforts, working in close partnership with children and families. They’ll likely give you a quick smile and promptly return to the work at hand in our family meeting rooms, family visiting spaces, school, cottages, clinics, treatment centers, education achievement centers, and foster homes.

It is a privilege to walk among them and our obligation to provide them with the tools they need to do right by children and families. This year, we’ve invested in implementing practices which have been proven in the real world and are consistent with our perspective on help (see note from our CEO on page 2). We’ve also invested in the development of our staff, supervisors and foster parents. We do this because we know it is only on their shoulders that we will continue to rise to the challenge of helping our children and families succeed. There is much more rising to do.

We hope you’ll join us in any way you can.

1806 FOUNDERS Joanna Bethune

Elizabeth Hamilton

Isabella Graham

Sarah Hoffman

HONORARY TRUSTEES Arthur Ashe †

Wynton Marsalis

Joan Ganz Cooney

Jim Henson †

Oscar de la Renta

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Georgia Wall Chairman

R. Kenneth Bryant

Heather McVeigh

Henry J. Carnage

Pamela C. Minetti

John L. Cecil

Carmen Paolercio

James R. Craigie

Salim Ramji

Sally E. Durdan

Richard Rothman

Eric Gerster

Mark Rufeh

Michael Golden

John Sargent

Shamika Lee

Harriet Savage

Jennifer Mackesy

Eyal Shemesh

Andrew Makk

Melissa M. Thomson

Barbara Marcus Poul Jensen

President & CEO

TRUSTEES EMERITI Michael Ainslie

John C. Hanson

Suzanne Ainslie

Elizabeth Sargent

Suzy Bales

Diane Schlinkert

Barbara Carr

Leo Schlinkert

Richard DeMartini

Richard Stewart

Robert Ferrari

Sandra Trim-DaCosta

James Gorman

H. M. Baird Voorhis

HONOREES Michael Ainslie Arthur Ashe † Mrs. Vincent Astor † Suzy Bales Dr. T. Berry Brazelton Ruby Bridges Joan Ganz Cooney Oscar de la Renta Michael Golden

(Note: Jess has been named President of Graham Windham reporting to the organization's CEO, Poul Jensen, effective January 1, 2012. More about this appointment in our next edition.)

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James Gorman Donna Hanover

Marian Sulzberger Heiskell Jim Henson † Charlayne Hunter-Gault Judith Jamison Chancellor Joel I. Klein Kenneth Lewis Wynton Marsalis Cokie Roberts John Sargent Maurice Sendak

FALL 2011/WINTER 2012

NEWSWORTHY

Back to School!

Preparing Hundreds of Kids for Academic Success

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hanks to friends like you, we helped hundreds of kids from Brooklyn, Harlem, and the Bronx get ready to go back to school this year.

Kids received new backpacks filled with school supplies, generously donated by our friends at Bloomberg and the Brooklyn NAACP. A youth group at a local temple, called Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, also donated supplies and books for our kids. Thank you all!

t There

were plenty of books for our eager readers, thanks to donations from the Penguin Young Readers Group.

u We also gave kids warm winter coats generously donated by Aeropostale, along with clothing and accessories donated by our friends at Zana Di Jeans.

Announcing Our Scholarship Winners

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his year we awarded six students the Poul Jensen Honorary College Scholarship! These students, who represent a crosssection of our programs – from The Graham School to our foster care and Beacon after-school programs – received the scholarship for their academic standing and financial need, as well as how they have overcome challenges in school and in their personal lives. And the winners are: Luis Alonso at the University of Rochester, Candacy Collison at the University at Buffalo, Javier Grullon at the State University of New York at Geneseo, Carolina Ramirez at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, DeAndra Rivers at Bethany College, and Luis Valdes at Mohawk Valley Community College. Congratulations to all!

"I will always remember the safety and stability that Graham Windham provided for me...and now the Poul Jensen Honorary Scholarship will help me to make my college dreams a reality." -Luis Valdes, Beacon after-school program participant and scholarship winner VOLUME 40

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NEWSWORTHY

Campus Life Academics and Activities at The Graham School

 Puppy

love! Kids in the East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD) program train dogs to assist people with disabilities. The dogs learn skills that range from hitting light switches and retrieving items to pulling wheelchairs. After training, the dogs begin their new lives with their new owners, helping them to achieve greater mobility and independence.

q Football

season is upon us and the Tigers are on the prowl for victory! Last year they had an undefeated season...and despite one loss early this season, this year's 26 players, in grades 8-11, have won all three games since!

The secret to their success? As one Tiger says, "We are a family." He also gave kudos to coach Kwabe Johnson, saying, "Even leaders need leaders. Coach Johnson is a very good coach – he keeps us very positive." Go, Tigers!

 This

summer kids took part in our very own version of the Summer Olympics, with events that ranged from jump rope and swimming to a pie-eating contest and a treasure hunt in the pool! (Though not necessarily in that order.)

College Café at The Graham School Thanks to the generous support of The Walbridge Fund, more than 100 high school students have participated in our college access, preparedness and graduation support program, fondly referred to by our students as College Café. This specialized program provides our students with college counseling, SAT preparation, assistance with college and financial aid applications, and academic tutoring to help them get into the college of their choice. As part of the program, each student designs a personalized education strategic plan to help them reach their academic and post-graduation goals.

To help further our students’ preparation for high school graduation and admission into college, our College Café also “serves up” academic enrichment; family literacy, education and support services; community service opportunities and college tours. This year our students visited five local colleges: Lincoln Tech, Mercy College, Pace, Stony Brook, and SUNY Purchase. We are pleased to report that 13 students graduated in June and that nine of them went on to pursue post-secondary education and are currently completing their fall semester.

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FALL 2011/WINTER 2012

NEWSWORTHY

Healing Families...Mending Lives The New Family Treatment/Rehabilitation Program A woman sells her food stamps for money to buy drugs...leaving her young children without food.

A man is continually arrested in the subway for being so intoxicated...that he cannot take care of his young son.

A woman is so depressed...that she keeps her six-year-old son home from school for the entire year.

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or the millions of people living in the shadow of substance abuse or a mental health condition, there are millions of children living in the shadow with them...and many of these children are at risk for being removed from their families and placed in foster care. Our Preventive Services programs were created to help families keep their children safe to prevent foster care placement. In recent years Preventive Services programs have assumed an increasingly protective role, particularly with regard to the physical safety of children. Shifts in social policies and the economy have resulted in changes in the child welfare arena, and fewer children are now being removed from their families and placed in foster care. However, as a result, the severity of the problems for families entering the prevention system has escalated.

To meet the growing need for intensive services, the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) has developed a new prevention model, the Family Treatment/Rehabilitation Program. This is a home-based intervention for families struggling with serious substance abuse (including alcohol abuse) and/or a mental health condition that impacts the safety of the children in the home. This past July we launched our Family Treatment/Rehabilitation Program to support 30 families in Brooklyn and 20 in Manhattan.

Our case planners work with parents and other supports to stabilize the family system while ensuring the safety of the children. In order to adequately engage, assess, and develop plans for these complex families, our staff visit the home two to three times a week. Along with ongoing engagement and assessment, case planners provide supportive counseling and model different techniques for parenting and communicating as a family. They also collaborate with the appropriate community agencies – most commonly substance abuse and mental health clinics – to ensure that family members are receiving the treatment that they need. They work closely with the families to develop concrete plans – for individual family members as well as the family as a whole – that empower them to change in specific ways to keep their children safe...now, and in the future.

The work involved in the Family Treatment/Rehabilitation Program is very difficult, but in February 2011 we adopted Solution-Based Casework, a new casework model that provides a strong foundation for working with families. Solution-Based Casework focuses on addressing existing safety concerns with realistic, achievable solutions. The model prompts the staff to more actively involve the family developing a workable plan, which motivates family members to take ownership of the tasks and activities needed in order to reach successful outcomes. The Family Treatment/Rehabilitation Program, coupled with Solution-Based Casework, now offers families hope and a tangible plan of action to help them overcome what might have otherwise seemed insurmountable obstacles.

Introducing Our S.L.A.M. Justice Scholars Program We are honored to have been awarded a new contract with the New York City Department of Probation that will enable us to further our work with youth who have been court-involved. Our S.L.A.M. (Support, Lead, Achieve, and Model) Justice Scholars program will provide educational services, positive peer support, life skills workshops and case management to 40 Brooklyn youth. The contract award is part of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s new Young Men’s Initiative (YMI), a $127 million investment that was announced in August to tackle the broad disparities slowing the advancement of black and Latino young men. We aim to launch this exciting new program in January 2012.

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SPOTLIGHT Meet Our Medical Director Mitchell Rubin, MD, FAAP

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s our Medical Director, Dr. Rubin oversees the Child Health Centers for our foster care programs in New York City, as well as the Residential Treatment Center at The Graham School at Hastings-on-Hudson.

After receiving his undergraduate degree at Cornell University, Dr. Rubin obtained his MD and training at New Jersey Medical School, Roosevelt St. Luke’s Medical Center, and New York University Medical Center. After over a decade in private practice as a pediatrician and managing partner, he became Director of Community Medicine and Community-Based Practices at New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

He went on to serve as Vice President of Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine at the Nassau Health Care Corporation and Vice President and Medical Director at Fidelis Care New York.

In these roles, he has addressed the needs of poor, multi-ethnic and disenfranchised communities served by urban hospitals and their associated community health centers, and has been an advocate for evidence-based, quality health care. His major efforts, many of which have been published, have been in the areas of practice development and clinical research. He has been actively involved in local, regional, and national medical initiatives focusing on primary care access and health care disparities. Holding academic appointments at the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Policy, and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Dr. Rubin teaches graduate courses on health care services for vulnerable communities. He tells us of his role at Graham Windham, "Children in the foster care world represent one of our nation's most vulnerable communities. Having endured multiple, pervasive trauma, separated from their Moms and Dads, and lacking continuity of healthcare, these kids are generally at risk for a host of medical and social maladies. Although I have served poor inner-city families for over two decades, I was honored to be offered the opportunity to care for and advocate for these needy children."

Bringing Attention to ADHD in Kids in Foster Care

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t the Annual American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Convention and Exhibition that was held in Boston from October 14 th -18 th , we presented findings on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the foster care population. Medical Director Mitchell Rubin, MD, FAAP, and Director of Mental Health, Carmen Veloz, PhD, Director of Mental Health, co-authored a research paper entitled ADHD in an Inner City Foster Care Agency, which was one of four selected for presentation from a competitive nationwide pool of applicants, and became part of a new all-day Foster Care Event coordinated by the Task Force on Foster Care (TFOFC). The goal of the TFOFC is to increase the awareness, knowledge, and skills of pediatricians regarding the needs of children and teens in foster care, with the ultimate goal of improving their health and well-being. At the convention Dr. Rubin presented local and national data that ref lects and explores disturbing trends in the prevalence and treatment of ADHD in the foster care population, and explained why further targeted research and new strategies in this critical area are desperately needed. u Dr.

Carmen Veloz, Director of Mental Health, and Dr. Mitchell Rubin, Medical Director, co-authored a paper entitled ADHD in an Inner City Foster Care Agency, presented at this year's American Academy of Pediatrics national convention in Boston.

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FALL 2011/WINTER 2012

SPOTLIGHT

Honoring John Cecil Transforming Lives...and Transforming an Organization “John combines mission fidelity with a towering capacity to identify, analyze and effectively address some of the most complex challenges we face...and he does it with style, grace and good humor. He gives enormously of himself and is a critical difference-maker here at Graham Windham.”

-Poul Jensen, Graham Windham President & CEO

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or more than a quarter century, John Cecil has been one of the most dedicated and respected Members of the Board of Directors of Graham Windham. Over the years, he has chaired and served on numerous committees. Currently, he is a Senior Vice Chairman on our Board of Directors and Chairman of our Program Performance Committee, which oversees the effectiveness of all of our programs. He also serves on our Board's Executive, Strategic Planning, and Personnel Committees and is Vice President of the Greenburgh-Graham School Board (The Graham School).

"Nothing is more compelling than what Graham Windham does. We work in some of the most blighted parts of New York City to preserve families and to ensure that children and youth have safe and nurturing homes and a quality education."

John joined our Board in June of 1986 while a Partner at McKinsey & Company, a business consulting firm that had been a supporter of Graham Windham for many years. John tells us, "As a part of this relationship, a member of the Firm always sat on the Agency’s Board. An opportunity came up for me to fill that role for McKinsey and I jumped at the chance. Nothing is more compelling than what Graham Windham does. We work in some of the most blighted parts of New York City to preserve families and to ensure that children and youth have safe and nurturing homes and a quality education. The differences we make are profound. A family that disintegrates and has its kids put into foster care versus a family that stabilizes so that its kids remain at home and are raised by their parents. A child whose future is likely some combination of poverty, criminal activity, drug abuse at the margins of society versus a child who is nurtured and educated and develops into a healthy young adult able to hold a meaningful job and support a family. There are few organizations that can have such life-changing impacts, and Graham Windham does everyday. That is what drew me to the Agency originally and that is what has kept me involved.

What we do and the successes that we have never get old."

John also tells us, "One of the programs I am closest to is The Graham School, our residential treatment and education center in Westchester. My role as a School Board Trustee brings me onto Campus frequently and gives me contact with kids in the program. These kids have had awful prior life experiences. Usually when they arrive they don’t want to be there. They are angry and resentful. They act out. And most, especially the older kids, are significantly behind in school and, likely, headed to drop out eventually. And yet as tough as these starting points are, I have seen so many transformations." In addition to the transformations he has witnessed in kids and families in our programs, John has seen – and been a fundamental part of – what he calls a "total transformation of Graham Windham" during his long tenure on our Board. When he first joined, Graham Windham was "a highly diverse collection of programs serving a disparate set of clients." John says that now, because of the efforts of our Board and President and CEO Poul Jensen, "We have a clear mission. We have a coherent and comprehensive set of programs for achieving that mission. We measure our effectiveness and work continually to improve. And we have a true performance culture. It has been a long journey and a lot of work, but it has been enormously gratifying to see this change occur and to know how important it has been for the kids and families we serve."

John Cecil is a private investor, and since 2005 has served as an advisor to a number of financial services institutions. Previous positions include Chairman of CP Kelco, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Lehman Brothers Holdings, and Partner, then Director, in the New York City office of McKinsey & Company, Inc. Mr. Cecil graduated with honors from Princeton University in 1976 with an A.B. in Public and International Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School. He graduated from Harvard Law School with a J.D. Magna Cum Laude in 1980 and, the same year, received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, graduating as a Baker Scholar.

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NEWSWORTHY

To the Moon and Beyond!

Summer Explorations and Adventures

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his summer we headed out for some fun and educational excursions, from the nautical to the aeronautical...under the sea... and more, thanks to our friends in the community. t Our

friends at Bloomberg generously donated field trips to the New York Hall of Science and the New York Aquarium for kids in our Harlem and Hunts Point Beacon after-school programs.

Thank you, Bloomberg!

 Kids

from our Harlem Beacon after-school program sail by Lady Liberty aboard FDNY’s Marine 1 fireboat! Thanks to trustee Mark Rufeh who donated this trip, our kids saw breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, Ellis Island, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and more during their cruise along the Hudson. They also met the crew of the fireboat, learned about the vessel's engineering and equipment...and were inspired by the bravery of our firefighters.

t Our

future astronauts try on space suits for size at the New York Hall of Science!

Mark also donated tickets for our kids to attend a Mets game...from a luxury suite! Our kids reveled in the excitement of a private suite, with a huge spread of ballgame fare, their names on the scoreboard, a visit from mascot Mr. Met, and even catching the action from seats behind home plate. Thank you, Mark, for always going to bat for our kids! u Reach

out and...wrestle someone! Kids tried their hand – or rather, their arms – at Internet arm wrestling...challenging people in other cities to a friendly match through robotics and networking technology.

t We

A

team of "intrepid" explorers from our Harlem Beacon afterschool program set out to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, thanks to our friends at Bloomberg, and learned about the history of the retired aircraft carrier that became a floating museum.

10 THE GRAHAM WINDHAM RECORD

get a wave from a sea turtle at the New York Aquarium! Our kids loved getting up close and personal with marine life of all kinds, from fish and turtles to dolphins and penguins!

FALL 2011/WINTER 2012

HAPPENINGS A Gift to Our Children An Art Show and Fundraiser for Teens in Foster Care

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wo friends of Graham Windham, Alex Bershaw and his girlfriend Monica Aparicio, held a fundraising art show this fall, called The Gift, to celebrate their birthdays while supporting programs for our teens in foster care. Alex, who was in foster care until he was adopted at the age of five, told us, "Having spent my formidable years in foster care, The Gift was a very special project to take on. It is incredibly healing to know that I could give of my time and energy in service of others in need. For me, that is the real gift." Monica shared, "I feel proud and honored to support the vision Alex had. The way he brings people together for important causes is always an inspiration to me." Thank you, Alex and Monica, for helping to give our kids the gift of a bright future! u Alex

Bershaw and Monica Aparicio, creators of The Gift fundraising event

Photo: steve maya

u Alex,

a photographer, brought together his network of artists and musicians for the art show, held at MyMoon Restaurant in Brooklyn. One artist, Marthalicia (far right), painted during the evening, bringing an early photo of children at The Graham School to life with her modern rendition.

Photo: collection of the graham windham archives

Corporate Champions for Kids

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n October, our Board launched Corporate Champions for Kids, an exciting new corporate membership program whose goal is to support programs that dramatically improve the lives and futures of New York City’s most vulnerable children, families and communities. Co-chaired by our Board Members, John Cecil, Founder, Eagle Knolls Capital; Sally Durdan, Executive Vice President, JP Morgan Chase & Company; Michael Golden, Vice Chairman, The New York Times Company; Andrew Makk, Principal, Energy Capital Partners; Salim Ramji, Director, McKinsey & Company; and John Sargent, CEO, Macmillan, this new initiative will raise support for our programs and services from the corporate community and in return will offer a host of corporate benefits including employee volunteer opportunities.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Our goal is to have 50 companies support this new initiative. If your company would like to participate, please contact Sandra April, Vice President for Development at 212529-6445 extension 349 or at aprils@graham-windham.org.

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33 Irving Place, 7th Floor New York, NY 10003 212.529.6445 info@graham-windham.org www.graham-windham.org

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Our Bronxville Friends Bring Holiday Spirit to Our Campus

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or over 20 years, our Bronxville Friends Group, founded by our Board Chair and Bronxville resident Georgia Wall, have generously provided a variety of festive events and activities for our children and families during the Holidays. In 2004, the Bronxville Friends kicked off their annual Adopt-a-Cottage program to bring the spirit of the Holidays to the Campus. Each December, our Bronxville Friends, laden with garlands, lights, and ornaments, descend upon the Campus to help our kids decorate their cottages, trim their trees, and complete their Santa Wish-Lists.

We are grateful to our Board Chair Georgia Wall and Adopt-a-Cottage Chairs, Fran Eigendorff, Karin Kuhns, Trustee Jennifer Mackesy, Cindy Randall, and Jennifer Russo, and to all of our Bronxville Friends, for making the season merry and bright. Thank you for all that you do for our children and families!

SAVE

the

DATE

The Leadership Council Celebration Gala with special guest speaker

Wes Moore

Youth Advocate, Business Leader and Author

Give the Gift of Joy This Holiday Season!

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his holiday season we are launching our 1,000 Gift Cards for the Holidays drive! Most of the families we serve do not have the resources to shop for gifts for their children...or prepare traditional holiday meals – and you can help. Your gift will allow us to purchase gift cards to local toy and clothing stores, grocery stores, and even movie theaters for special family outings.

To donate, please visit us online at www.grahamwindham.org and click on Donate (select Holiday Gift Card Drive under "Program Designation" on the blue donation form). You can also send in a check or credit card donation using the enclosed envelope.

Editor-In-Chief: Sandra April Managing Editor: Nina Choudhary

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

MoMA Museum of Modern Art With grateful appreciation to The Leadership Council for generously underwriting this event

For tickets or information: Sandra April 212.529.6445 ext. 349 aprils@graham-windham.org Layout Editor: Joely Saravia Printing: Candid Litho