STRONG NEWS December 2018: A STRONG Year in Review
2017-2018 STRONG Highlights This year was BIG for STRONG: Launched our satellite office in Brentwood Hosted our first organizational Parking Lot Party awarding outstanding improvement, leadership and partnerships Honored our partners at our Annual Boat Party Fundraiser Awarded State & Suffolk County Agency of The Year by NASW Graduated families in our Strengthening Families programs Led our 1st Gang Institute
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity can not survive.” - Dalai Lama
In This Issue
Organizational Highlights Bellport/ Wyandanch CHANGE Program Brentwood CHANGE Program
EDVP
University
STRONG Stars
How you can support STRONG
Bellport & Wyandanch C.H.A.N.G.E. Program "All progress takes place outside the comfort zone."
Success in 2018:
School wide Hispanic Heritage and Black History Celebrations Graduations Family Nights at the Library Summer fun in Adventureland, bowling, the beach Wyandanch Breast Cancer Walk Hofstra Basketball Opening Day Thanksgiving Lunch at STRONG headquarters
"Together we can achieve Greatness” Thank you to our Partners: Pastor Mike from the Light House Mission who helped us make our summer program a success. Pastor Mike brings youth to parks, beaches, farms, and nature walks in Suffolk county The South Country Library for Providing us with space to do family events and projects with our youth when school is not in session such as Family Craft Night, Community tree workshop & Bookmark Making.
Breaking Ground In: Brentwood & Central Islip In January 2018 we launched a team to work with youth of promise in Brentwood and Central Islip. Without a place to call home base we focused on building relationships with beautiful people and organizations already doing amazing work. Together we served 110 youth and families with counseling, home based services, and case management and our first Summer Soccer Program.
Group mentoring outings to Adventure park, Mets game, Viva Africa Show, Cirque Du Soleil
Community Service in Annual Fashion Show, Homecoming Parade, Clean Streets Project, Hope Day, Voter registrations with LICE, Sunken Meadow Clean Up
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS Make the Road NY, the Brentwood Public Library, and City Hill Church for opening your doors to us. The PTA and local community advocates who rallied by our side as we fought to show Brentwood and Central Islip are brimming with hope and the promise of a stronger future.
Uniondale Elementary EXTENDED DAY VIOLENCE PREVENTION Success in 2017-2018:
Family Game Nights School Assemblies 5th Grade T-shirt Competition Car wash Fundraiser Mini Marine Camp Skill building Equestrian
Trips to: The Hall of Science, New York Aquarium, Chamber of Horrors, Bronx Zoo, Cirque De Soilel, Marvel Live, Hofstra Men’s Basketball Games, Long Island Nets Basketball Nets
Thank you to Our Partners:
Pal - O - Mine Equestrian Cornell Cooperative Marine Nature Study of Nassau County Hofstra University & Hofstra Men’s Basketball Team Play Like a Pro Baseball Hicks Nursery Uniondale Fire Department Shop Rite of Uniondale Uniondale Public Library
STRONG UNIVERSITY Thank you to Our Partners:
Cornell Cooperative Marine Nature Study of Nassau County Life Camp Inc. & Belly Tyson Demar of Urban Life Magazine The Life Experience Church Freeport PAL
Successful in 2017-2018:
Summer Youth Employment Program Roosevelt Community Garden Fall Family Dinner Nike Sneaker Give Away #JustDoItCampaign Tyson Demar from Urban Life Magazine Presentation 3 Participants complete Momentum Educations Teen Basic. Mini Marine Camp AMC Movie Night Out Brooklyn Nets Game Nassau County Youth Board Conference Elementary Program Car Wash Young Men of Color Summit
STRONG STARS DJ Lemard
DJ first joined our after school program in the fall of 2017. Since then we have seen his leadership skills excel. DJ is always the first one to offer to help when it is needed and is attentive and inclusive to all of his peers. Recently DJ has been a part of a duo that has created a rap about what STRONG has taught them, which he has been able to perform on two different occasions. We are so proud of you DJ and want you to continue to reach for the stars.
“Thank you STRONG for staying on top of me and helping me see how many people really care about me.”
Katherine Deras
When Katherine was referred to our program, she was cutting school, associating with negative influences, fighting and getting into a lot of trouble. Her parents were worried and did not know what to do with Katherine. Katherine knew she was messing up. “At that time I did not realize how much stuff was bothering me. I was going through a lot and I needed someone to talk to. I started coming to STRONG and my life started to change for the better. I am grateful for the opportunities STRONG has exposed me to and the lasting relationships.” Katherine is now a high school senior graduating with honors from Hempstead High School and Nassau Boces Medical Assistant program! Katherine has two afterschool jobs and started applying to college. Katherine dreams of becoming a doctor.
Strengthening Families Donors
Strengthening Families is a 14 week program which incorporates weekly family meals for all of our participants. This year we were supported by numerous local businesses with food donations to help make this program a success. Thank you so much to all of our donors We Couldn’t have done it without you! Wings & Things of Hempstead Delicacies of Syosset Bone fish Grill of Rockville Center Hurricane Grill of Syosset McCann’s of Massapequa IHOP of Manhasset Pastaeria Dennis & Patty Brick Dr. Halcrow of Nassau Community College Jonathan Maldonado Arlind Limanoski
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