2019-2020 Fall/Winter Newsletter

MADISON MATTERS Saving and Enhancing the ives of New York City Kids Since 1884.

WHAT’S INSIDE!

FALL / WINTER 2019-2020

• Our Pinkerton Clubhouse is now open!

• Take a look at The Elbaum Family Clubhouse in Brownsville.

• Relive the magic of Club Fun. • Mark your calendars for our upcoming events!

From the Desk of Executive Director

LETTER FROM TIM Madison Square Boys & Girls

Tim McChristian

Club is proud to announce

that the Pinkerton Clubhouse

is now open for after-school

and summer programming.

It’s been a long, but extremely

Madison Square Boys & Girls Club: Since 1884, Madison has been

worthwhile journey to get to this

point. From the groundbreaking

saving and enhancing the lives of

ceremony in May 2017 to the

and summer programs for children

June 2019, Madison’s largest

youth by providing after-school in New York City’s most under-

ribbon-cutting ceremony in

resourced communities. Programs

Clubhouse is on its way to

member to achieve three priority

Bradhurst community of Harlem.

are engineered to empower each outcomes: Academic Success,

Good Character & Citizenship, and the adoption of a Healthy Lifestyle.

Every day, Madison provides

thousands of children with a safe and positive environment, one where

becoming a beacon in the

While we remain energized by

our new presence in Harlem,

our most recent adventure in

Brownsville is another example

fun is encouraged and positive role

of our commitment to under-

member of Boys & Girls Clubs of

New York City. In September,

models are plentiful. A founding

America, Madison currently serves

more than 5,000 youth, ages 6 to 18, at six Clubhouses in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Harlem.

www.madisonsquare.org Administrative Offices

250 Bradhurst Avenue

New York, New York 10039 Phone: 212.760.9600 Executive Director: Tim McChristian

Co-Chairmen of the Board:

Victor F. Ganzi & Michael S. Geltzeiler Co-Presidents:

Don Devine & Richard Eaddy Please contact Gabby Schiraldi

with any comments or questions.

resourced communities in

we opened the doors to the Elbaum Family Clubhouse with thanks to former

resident of Brownsville & Madison Board Member, Steve Elbaum, as well as

his wife, sister, & brother-in-law. This Club will provide much needed after-

school programming and supportive adult mentors to teens in the Brownsville

community. We are confident that our presence will make a difference.

With the start of the new fiscal year comes an exciting new Special Events

calendar. Please be sure to check out our Save the Date section on the back of the newsletter to find out more information and review our upcoming special events.

As always, we owe tremendous thanks to our community of supporters and friends who contribute to our growth and make all of these milestones possible. Because

of our continued work together, supporting the families who need us most, we are able to open our doors to new ones. Together, we can help our members

believe that they are capable of anything and that they can dream without fear of failure. We are thankful to everyone, especially you, who supports our mission to

make a difference in the lives of the more than 5,000 youth we currently serve.

Email: gschiraldi@madisonsquare.org Phone: 212.760.9600 x0485

Warmest Regards,

Photo Credits:

Christopher Vernale,

Jennifer Gonzeles, Shay Epps, Creative Art Works

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Tim McChristian

MADISON'S NEW HOMES

We're now in Brownsville!

On Thursday, September 26th, Madison Square Boys & Girls

Club cut the ribbon on our newest location, the Elbaum Family Clubhouse. The Clubhouse is located within the site of two

high schools, Frederick Douglass Academy VII and Teachers Preparatory Academy at 226 Bristol Street in the Brownsville

neighborhood of Brooklyn. The Elbaum family was integral in

bringing this Clubhouse to life. While Steven Elbaum is new to Madison’s Board of Trustees, he is no stranger to the Boys &

Girls Club family, as he is also a Trustee of Boys & Girls Clubs

of America. A native of the Brownsville community, Steven and his family recognized the immense need for an after-school

program there. The Elbaum Family Clubhouse aims to bridge this gap by providing a safe space for Brownsville teens.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a special one, as remarks were made by former Youth of the Year, Anastasia from

our Thomas S. Murphy Clubhouse, Executive Director Tim McChristian, Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, the Elbaum family and the Principals of both Frederick Douglass

Academy VII and Teachers Preparatory Academy, Ms.

Tamika Matheson and Ms. Carmen Simon. Duane Kinnon,

who has served as a project consultant, acted as Emcee of the event and surprised the crowd with a wonderful cake celebrating the partnership, baked in the likeness of the

building. After the ceremony, future members of the Elbaum Family Clubhouse were invited to help cut the ribbon.

We are thrilled to welcome teens, ages 13-18, to this

new safe space where programming will take place from 3-7 P.M. Teens will benefit from programs focusing on college preparedness, financial literacy, and more!

To learn more, visit www.madisonsquare.org/enroll

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Our New Pinkerton Clubhouse in Harlem is now open!

MADISON'S NEW HOMES

After years of planning, Thursday, June 6th proved to be a momentous Madison occasion: the ribbon-cutting of

our new Pinkerton Clubhouse at 250 Bradhurst Avenue in Harlem. The Clubhouse is named in honor of The

Pinkerton Foundation, whose generous endowment

supports a wide-range of programming at the Clubhouse.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from

Madison leadership, The Pinkerton Foundation President Rick Smith, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer,

Assemblyman Al Taylor and Lauren Bush Lauren,

granddaughter of the project's Honorary Co-Chair,

President George H.W. Bush. Vy Higginsen’s Sing Harlem

Choir also performed.

The Pinkerton Clubhouse was designed with modern educational spaces, recreational facilities including a

soccer field and basketball court, and innovative visual

and performing arts spaces encompassing a full breadth

of program areas for our members.

Madison Square Boys & Girls Club’s expansion into Harlem represents an exciting opportunity to help

empower the area’s young people and create a safe and healthy environment for them to learn and grow. The

Pinkerton Clubhouse officially opened to members on

July 1st for Club Fun summer programming.

This summer Madison served teens from the Polo

Grounds Housing Complex as a part of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), a contract awarded from New York City’s Department of Youth and Community Development. As a part of this initiative, Creative Art

Works partnered with Madison and worked with a

group of 15 SYEP teens to create a mural (pictured

left) that would be meaningful to the Clubhouse and

its members. The finished product sits across from the

rooftop sports field and depicts the history of Harlem and the neighboring Polo Grounds. The teens were proud of

accomplishing something that many of them had never

dreamed possible.

This is only the beginning of great things to come from our Pinkerton Clubhouse!

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PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

SNF Field at the Pinkerton Clubhouse Atop Madison's biggest Clubhouse sits the SNF (Stavros Niarchos Foundation) Field. Bright and expansive, the

soccer field provides a safe space for our members to play in the sunshine in an inspirational and nurturing

environment. This incredible resource is already attracting

youth from the community, especially teens, looking for the perfect space to express themselves through sports.

This past September, Madison Square Boys & Girls Club and Stavros Niarchos Foundation held a special “Soccer

Under the Stars� event to encourage our teens to pursue

has seen exceptional attendance by the community's

a celebration of this incredible partnership with SNF.

dedicated study and lounge spaces, help with homework

healthy lifestyles and activities. This fun night also served as

The excitement at our Pinkerton Clubhouse isn't just on

the roof! We're excited to share that programming is in full

swing and happening around the Clubhouse everyday and,

in addition to our younger members, our Harlem Clubhouse

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teens. Teens have access to caring mentors, exciting

plus college and career planning. Of course, one of our

most popular teen hangout spots is our basketball court,

as healthy lifestyles never end!

It's All in the Name: Columbus Becomes John E. Grimm III Clubhouse

This past July, Madison’s Columbus

Madison is like a second family made

a new name: John "Jack" E. Grimm

the children we serve.”

Clubhouse kicked off Club Fun with III Clubhouse! The Clubhouse is

named in honor of the late John E.

Grimm III, who served as an integral

part of the organization’s leadership and governance for 57 years. Mr.

Grimm joined the Board of Trustees at Madison in 1956 and throughout his tenure, served as President of

the Board, both Chairman and ViceChairman, and also served as the

Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Of his time with Madison, Mr. Grimm always said “Many of you ask why I

have stuck around for all these years but it is so easy to answer. For me,

Summer Roundup

up of fellow Board Members, staff and That second family came out in

full force to support his loving wife Ann Grimm at the ribbon-cutting

ceremony. Many of John’s and Ann's friends and fellow Board Members

were in attendance, along with staff

and members of the John E. Grimm III Clubhouse. The ribbon-cutting

ceremony included remarks from

longtime friends, Thomas S. Murphy, Sr. and Myles D. Gillespie. After the touching ceremony, Clubhouse

members were invited to help Ann cut the ribbon. A momentous Madison moment indeed!

It’s officially fall which means Club Fun, Madison's summer programing, is over for another year! The program is designed to prevent summer learning loss. Summer members are not only engaged academically but also in multiple forms of physical activity. Throughout the summer, members took trips throughout NYC, including watching the New York Yankees (pictured left). Members also participated in service activities where they gave back to the community and the Clubhouse, including initiatives like an Anti-Bullying march and projects combating child starvation.

participated and were encouraged

Other Clubhouse events included a member art show, World Fair Day where groups created a poster on a country they researched and educated other members. Participants in the SMART Girls Program created a Big Sister, Little Sister Mentorship Program which allowed the girls to learn more about each other and assist in the growth of their peers.

Marshalls included Richard Williams

One of our favorite moments from this summer was when Madison's

Clubhouses held their 2nd Annual 5K

Walks. Club Fun members of all ages

by staff members to keep moving and to have fun! Throughout the

walk, members did quick exercises,

including pushups and squats, in order to “feel the burn” and keep moving.

Members made encouraging signs

to carry around during the walk with

sayings such as “You got this!”, “Never give up!” and “We are Powerful”.

Each Clubhouse had a special guest as their ‘Race Marshall’ to lead the

Club in the walk and say a few words on the importance of staying active to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Race

from Council Member Al Taylor’s office; John Starks from the New York Knicks;

Troy P. O’Dend’Hal, DYCD Coordinator; and Javier Seda, Junior Academy

Coordinator. Madison Square Boys &

Girls Club staff, members, and special guests all contributed to an inspiring event for the second year in a row.

What a summer!

www.madisonsquare.org 250 Bradhurst Avenue New York, New York 10039

The mission of Madison Square Boys & Girls Club is to save and enhance the lives

of New York City boys and girls who by means of economic and/or social factors are most in need of its services.

Website: www.madisonsquare.org Instagram: @MadisonBGClub Twitter: @MadisonBGClub Facebook: www.facebook.com/MadisonBGClub YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/MadisonBGClub

Save the Date!

53rd Annual Christmas Tree Ball.............................. December 6, 2019 Style of ife uncheon................................................... April 28, 2020 8th Annual Youth of the Year Dinner..............................May 20, 2020 A Night at Yankee Stadium............................................Summer 2020 26th Annual Fore the Kids Golf Tournament...................July 27, 2020 54th Annual Christmas Tree Ball............................. December 4, 2020

Contact Gabby Schiraldi at gschiraldi@madisonsquare.org or 212.760.0485 to learn more!