TSC Annual Report 2023-2024

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

2023-2024 ANNUAL REPORT

1

VIsion

Our vision is to create healthy communities through the power of cooking.

22

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

Mission

Our mission is to educate young people and families through culinary programming to promote health and well-being.

33

Dear Friends,

“This beet tastes empowering!” said a Sylvia Center student. We agree! Beets are empowering, and we are so proud that in 2024 The Sylvia Center empowered so many more students through our nutrition-focused culinary programming than in any prior year.

Our growth was fueled not only by beets, and other healthy ingredients, but also by our students, staff, partners, and funders, who worked collaboratively to bring culinary programming to New York City and upstate New York all year.

In 2024, The Sylvia Center nearly doubled the number of students who learned about healthy food and how to cook delicious, fresh food recipes through our core Cooks for Health program. We launched a new track of our most intensive program, the Teen Culinary Apprenticeship, which introduced students to career opportunities through work-based learning experiences.

And we extended well beyond our Columbia County roots at Katchkie Farm into the Capital District, allowing us to educate more than four times the number of students upstate. At our organic learning garden, these students learned about, prepared, and tasted fruits and vegetables they had the opportunity to pick themselves.

Fortunately, our garden blooms each year, so there is much that still needs tending. Demand for our programming is high, and the need to build healthy communities and provide access to fresh food and food education remains critical.

In the coming year, our focus will be to engage more broadly with our partners to bring health and wellness to entire communities.

4

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

Our goal is to reach more students in the early years and their families, provide more professional engagement opportunities for our teens, and reach areas in New York City and upstate New York that otherwise wouldn’t have access to quality culinary and food education programming.

We could not do this work without the full array of supporters who share our values and commitment to growing healthy communities. Thank you for being our partner. We look forward to committing to this important work together with you in the coming year.

Warm regards,

Cindy Edelson Chair (to June 30, 2024)

Tara Gendelman Chair

Barbara A. Glassman Executive Director

(from July 1, 2024)

Photo (L-R): Cindy Edelson, Barbara Glassman, Tara Gendelman

5

PLANTING THE SEED FOR GOOD HEALTH The Sylvia Center was founded in 2007 to address the growing tide of childhood diet-related diseases. Guided by a vision to create healthy communities through the power of cooking, we teach young people and families nutrition literacy and essential cooking skills.

Who we empower

Young people ages 2-24 and their families

Where we’re cooking

All five New York City boroughs, upstate New York in Columbia County and the Capital District, and our Learning Garden at Katchkie Farm

When we’re in the kitchen

Year-round with program sessions in fall, spring, and summer during school-time classes, after-school sessions, and summer programs

In the classroom, students learn to: • • • • • •

6

Develop essential kitchen skills Explore new foods Distinguish between whole and processed foods Build a healthy plate Add flavor healthfully Understand seasonality

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

“The power of cooking is love.

You need to love what you’re doing!”

Teen Culinary Apprenticeship participant

7

6,052 students served

8

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

The Sylvia Center serves communities in all five NYC boroughs, as well as Upstate NY in Columbia County and the Capital District

Upstate 27%

Bronx 21%

Manhattan 18% Queens 6%

Staten Island 11%

Brooklyn 17%

% of students served

WE’RE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD 9

OUR PROGRAMS Cooks for Health Ages 2-24 In our Cooks for Health programs, students learn essential culinary skills and experiment with healthy foods through age-appropriate lessons and plantpowered recipes that they prepare together. Our programs run year round and are adapted for all age levels and families.

Cooks for Health Early Childhood - Ages 2-4 Introduce participants to the world of food with activities to develop sensory and motor skills.

Cooks for Health Elementary - Grades K-5 Encourage participants to explore new foods and flavors, and make healthy snack recipes that are nutritional, familiar, and fun.

Cooks for Health Middle School - Grades 6-8 Introduce more advanced lessons and complex culinary techniques such as knife skills, nutrition principles, the science of baking, and how to read nutrition labels.

Cooks for Health Teen - Ages 14-24 Empower participants to take the lead in making affordable and plantbased versions of their favorite foods, using the nutrition principles and culinary techniques they have learned.

Cooks for Health Family - All ages Children of all ages are joined by a parent or caregiver for a virtual class in which they prepare a meal together. Families are provided a free, fresh ingredient meal kit that feeds 4-6 individuals.

10

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

“Elizabeth has dyslexia and flips letters and numbers so she struggles a lot with reading and math. But in this class style she is able to totally do it on her own without someone having to read instructions for her. It is really helping her with her confidence. She’s so proud to be able to cook all by herself.”

Cooks for Health Family parent

11

OUR PROGRAMS Teen Culinary Apprenticeship Ages 16-18 Teen students learn the benefits of plant-forward eating, perfect their cooking skills, and explore food justice and food science in this 16-week, credit-bearing program that includes a paid apprenticeship.

Teen Culinary Apprenticeship Trains students to teach fundamental nutrition and cooking to elementary youth in the summer.

STEAM Teen Culinary Apprenticeship Prepares students to teach food science to middle school youth in the summer.

Work-Based Learning Teen Culinary Apprenticeship Focuses on skill development, career exploration, and work-based learning experiences.

“I love the community that’s created when working with your peers, cooking a meal you never did before.

Not only this, but the program pushes you so far out of your comfort zone. It’s incredible. I ate, and enjoyed, fruits and vegetables that I said I would never eat in my life like mushrooms and peppers.”

Teen Culinary Apprenticeship participant

12

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

The Learning Garden at Katchkie Farm All ages The Learning Garden at Katchkie Farm is an educational garden located in Kinderhook, NY. The garden grows over 150 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers, and hosts hundreds of students each year. This program is a unique opportunity for students to learn firsthand where food comes from. On their visits, they plant and harvest produce that they later use in a cooking class, which takes place in our pavilion’s outdoor kitchen.

13

OUR IMPACT

44

program sites

6,052 students served

1,788 program hours

349

visits to the farm

1,063

meal kits distributed 14

GROWTH: Total number of students served increased by 78%.

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

94%

are eating one or more healthy meals per week as a result of our nutrition-focused classes

94%

can correctly identify the components of a healthy plate

80%

of teens are confident in using basic cooking skills

100%

would recommend TSC to a friend

Based on participant survey results

15

A BLOOMING YEAR IN STATEN ISLAND The Sylvia Center launched the Food Systems Integration Project with the goal of bringing our nutrition-focused culinary programs to targeted Staten Island communities with the highest need.

Through newly established partnerships with local organizations, The Sylvia Center delivered: • Nutrition education and skill building for both youth and their families

• Broader food access • Neighborhood engagement In one year, we delivered 30 programs in Staten Island, reaching 687 students. In speaking with students, families, and partners, we learned that our program successfully educated local residents on how to prepare the nutritious food available and how to maintain access to it.

387% growth in students served in Staten Island NEED: According to a report from NYC Food Policy Center at Hunter College, 16% of Northern Staten Islanders are consuming zero servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

16

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

17

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE As a part of our Teen Culinary Apprenticeship program, The Sylvia Center piloted the Work-Based Learning Apprenticeship in the fall of 2023. This 16-week after-school series takes our teen students a step further with: Advanced culinary techniques Career exploration

Networking opportunities with industry professionals Program participants connect with a wide range of food industry professionals, including chefs, restaurateurs, caterers, business consultants, entrepreneurs, and food writers, and learn about career pathways within the food and hospitality industry and what it takes to succeed.

18

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

“Last year, I wasn’t in the position that I’m in now.

I wasn’t looking at life the same way. You know, I wasn’t thinking about my future as much. Now I’m thinking about it a whole lot more. I’m telling you this because The Sylvia Center played a part in that.

I started to care once I started doing things other than school. I realized there are things other than sitting in the classroom.”

Work-Based Learning participant

NEED: Only 32% of NYC high schools offer nutrition education programs.

Work-Based Learning students with guest chef, Jae Lee (center), who taught a kimbap (Korean seaweed rice rolls) making class. Chef Lee is founder of Nowon restaurant and co-chair of The Sylvia Center Culinary Council.

19

COOKING UP CONFIDENCE: MY CULINARY JOURNEY Meet Dana Dessources, Teen Culinary Apprenticeship Alumna

During my senior year in high school, I joined the Teen Culinary Apprenticeship program with the goal of learning to cook. My mom was worried that when I went away to college I wouldn’t be able to eat well because I didn’t know how to cook. I would always tell her, “Oh, don’t worry; the university provides food!”

Let’s just say I’m extremely glad I listened to her.

While The Sylvia Center taught me how to cook, it also taught me how to cook healthier. I was born and raised in Queens, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants. During my childhood, I was surrounded by Haitian and Guyanese dishes, which while very delicious, can be very rich in oil. But one thing this program taught me is that I can still enjoy my favorite dishes from my culture while being mindful of nutrition.

After picking up these skills, it was so much fun to cook at home with my mom to show her what I learned.

Dana speaks at The Sylvia Center’s Art of Cooking Gala at Hall des Lumières.

20

One of my favorite Sylvia Center recipes is the soba noodle stir fry, which I made for my family. They all loved it! When my dad was recovering from surgery, my mom made the stir fry for him because she wanted to make sure he ate healthy and didn’t consume too much meat.

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

Even though I joined the program to hone my cooking skills, I was surprised about all the other things I learned. Whether it was prepping the vegetables or setting up the station, we had to communicate, collaborate, and rely on one another to be successful. In fact, through this experience, I became close to one of my now best friends whom I still speak to every day.

“While The Sylv ia Center taught me how to cook , it also taught me how to cook healthier.”

Being a teen culinary apprentice was so much fun and an experience I will remember forever. Not only can I cook, but I understand the importance of nutrition, and I will take that knowledge with me into my future.

Dana prepares a dish in a Teen Culinary Apprenticeship class at Richmond Hill High School.

SUCCESS: Dana Dessources, TSC’s 2023 recipient of the Divina Future Community Leader Award, is a sophomore at the University of Rochester majoring in public health with the goal of being a physician assistant.

21

FARM TO TABLE July 15, 2023 | Katchkie Farm

Photos: (L) Liz Neumark, The Sylvia Center Founder and board member, welcomes more than 200 members of the TSC community. (R) Families enjoy a day on the farm filled with activities and delicious food.

Photos by Bogardus Photography

ART OF COOKING March 12, 2024 | Hall des Lumières, NYC

Honoring Cindy Edelson, Board Chair and FOODMatch + Divina

Thank you!

Cindy Edelson, Board Chair 2018-2024 Cindy Edelson is an extraordinary voice and leader for The Sylvia Center. In June 2024, Cindy stepped down from her position as board chair after six years. We are truly grateful for her unwavering dedication to supporting youth and families and creating healthy communities through the power of cooking. We are grateful she will remain an active member of our Board of Directors.

Photos by Amanda Gentile

22

Photos: (Top) Honorees Phil Meldrum, Founder and President of FOODMatch + Divina, and Cindy Edelson, Board Chair.

(Bottom) TSC Culinary Council members with the evening’s guest auctioneer, Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja (center) of Shuka and Shukette.

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

FINANCIALS

July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

Government

Other

8% 5% 38%

38%

Management & General

Special Events

Contributions

11% 11%

Program Fees

14%

Fundraising

75%

Programs

Revenue

Total: $2,012,536

Expenses

Total: $1,995,496

GROWTH: Total revenue increased by 26% from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024.

Unaudited financials without donor restrictions

23

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS! $75,000+ Great Performances The New York Community Trust Edna and Dan Purjes $50,000 - $74,999 Anita Bitton and Peter Mensch Bloomberg Philanthropies Cynthia and David Edelson ExpandED Schools Trudy Elbaum Gottesman and Robert Gottesman The Jim Jacobs Charitable Foundation Pinkerton Foundation Nancy and Fred Poses Trinity Church Wall Street $25,000 - $49,999 Nina Freedman and Michael Rosenbaum Hannaford Charitable Foundation Lori and David Moore Liz Neumark and Chaim Wachsberger The Staten Island Foundation $10,000 - $24,999 Angela and Jacob Buchdahl Arnhold Foundation Bloomberg L.P. Delaware North FOODMatch + Divina Tara and Joe Gendelman Alicia Glen and Daniel Rayner Mindy and Jon Gray The Hyde and Watson Foundation Katchkie Farm Laurie Lindenbaum and Robert Horne Lily Auchincloss Foundation Frances and Jack Levy The Meg and Bennett Goodman Family Foundation Chantal and Phil Meldrum Abigail Pogrebin and David Shapiro Proskauer Mindy Schneider and Michael Lesser Emily and Steven Steinman Steven Tishman

24

Sidney Kohl Family Foundation Lise and Jeffrey Wilks $5,000 - $9,999 Jennifer and Charles Baum Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation BlackRock CBRE Charles Fagan and Ari Wiseman Judith and Alan Fishman Fleurish NYC Sheri and David Gellman Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Elizabeth and Steven Gruber Council Member Kamillah Hanks Herrick Feinstein LLP The J.M. Kaplan Fund Lynne Jacobs and Avery Scheiner Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation Sheryl Kaye The KCF Fund Stacey and Curtis Lane Jae Lee and Scott Millstein Anita Lo Mary Norris Preyer Fund The Mellam Family Foundation Marti Meyerson and Jamie Hooper David Moore Mimi and Lorin Reisner Miguelina and Adrien Rios Nioka Rodriguez Claudia and Dara Rosenberg Laura and Peter Rothschild Jill and Howard Sharfstein Peggy and David Tanner Teri and Barry Volpert Mr. and Mrs. James Zelter $2,500 - $4,999 E. Sherrell Andrews and Robert Kuhbach Jim Clark Ellen and Casey Cogut Lynn Cole and Ian Rosenblum Danielle and Michael Colen Dana Cowin and Barclay Palmer Alisa and Daniel Doctoroff Whitney and Peter Donhauser

Stef Goodsell and Jeremy Fielding Keith Gottesdiener Grand Street Settlement Gary Halperin Renee Iacone and Stephen Clearman Patty and Robert Isen Meredith Kane and Richard Sharp Sally and Stuart Lesser Barbara Marcus and Michael Pollack Lisa Messinger Pamela and Gifford Miller Ayesha Nurdjaja Lois Perelson-Gross and Stewart Gross Carol Ostrow and Michael Graff Peggy Segal and David Topper Michael David Silber Terri Smith and Theodore Burke Deanie Stein and Jay Meredith Stein Tackel-Raven Family Foundation Mary and John Trousdale Leslie and John Unwin Marjorie and Charles Van Dercook Nicole Viscito $1,000 - $2,499 Jean-Robert Andre Helene Banks Gary Bedigan Mindy Birnbaum and Barry Rutcofsky Leslie and Andrew Blauner Laura Tisch Broumand and Stafford Broumand Ralph Bumbaca Rachel Cogut and Jared Zuckerman Brooke Goodman Cohen Lisa Cohen The Dresner Sadaka Family Fund Anne Ebersman and Dan Caligor Andrew Edelson Annabel Edelson Charlotte Edelson Oliver Edelson Vernon Evenson and Paul Cassidy Niki Russ Federman and Christopher Meehan Cindi and Gregg Fisher Judith Fryer and Daniel Biggs Linda and Alex Gardner

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

The Sylvia Center extends our gratitude to the following individuals, corporations, and foundations that generously donated from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

Devin Gilliam Chanel and Daniel Gilmer Barbara Glassman and Arthur Rubin Glenmede Goldman Sachs Gives Google Corporate Match Phillip Grant Matthew Gulliford and Shaun Roberts Marni and Bruce Gutkin Rachel Neumark Herlands and Jonathan Herlands Maggie Hunt Marc Kirschner Stacy and David Kramer Eugenia and Robert Ulasewicz Labbancz David Landgraf Christine Lau Margie and John Lewin Deborah and Gregg Lobel Mr. Charles F. Lowery Jr. and Ms. Susan T. Rodriguez Mawa and Daniel McQueen Dodi Meyer and Stephen Heim Jami and Nicholas Moore Elyse and Michael Newhouse Orentreich Family Fund David Orentreich Stephanie and Noah Perlman Q Prime Becky Quan Betsy Reed and Laurence Zuckerman Janet Romano and Ted Jadick Liz and Mony Rueven Ina Saltz and Steven Beispel Ellen Schoninger Jill and Evan Seigerman Anita Sibony de Adelsberg and Jonathan Adelsberg Smile Farms Janet and Gil Spitzer Monica Stolbach Stathoula Tsambiras and Paul Schroer Shawn Warren and Bill Crowley Stephanie and Lee Spiegel Family Charitable Fund Whispering Bells Charitable Trust

Steven Wils Anonymous (1) $500 - $999 Rosina Abramson and Jeff Glen Pamela Brier and Peter Aschkenasy Sara Cashen and Tony Muoser James Colvin Jennifer Crichton and David Emil Geoffrey Edelson Victoria Freeman and Marc Meyer Deborah and Ralph Gardner Amy Gavaris Rossana Ionescu Frank Levin Kathryn and Vincent Heintz Gillie Holme and Camille Massey Betsy Jacobs and David Berliner Jenny Sharfstein Kane and Andrew Kane Patti Kennedy Lenovo Corporate Match Claire Marin Judith Marlow Abigail Martone and Daniel Richards Mary McCormick Bella Meyer Jessie Moore Claudia and Douglas Morse Kevin O’Conner Carlos Ortiz and Joel Potter Kammi Reiss Jay Rosengarten Jacqueline and Jesse Rushworth Felice Sadicario Nichole and Scott Saland Katherine Locker Scharlatt and Nick Scharlatt Leslie and Sal Scotto Ami Solomon and Howard Kaplan Karen Suen-Cooper and Martin Cooper Christina Tobia Ann and Phil Trowbridge Ariana Smart Truman and Mark Goldberg Denise Porcaro Tupper and Josh Tupper Mike Warren

Roby and Robert Whitlock Molly Wyatt and Jonathan Hierl Anonymous (2) $250 - $499 Kathleen Adams Felice Axelrod Ellen Baer and David Lebenstein Barbara Booras Catherine Boyle Jari Buechler Jennifer Cadenhead Cheryl Capozzi Constellation Aspira Fine Wine Caren Duane Diane and Steven Eidman Jill and Joe Fergus Rachel Friedman and Mark Neustadt Germantown Library Lisa Goldschmidt Paul Harris Louis Hedgecock Matt Holloway Katy Klarnet and Nicholas King April Stewart Klausner Cari Lang Larry Love Francesca Meldrum Alix Mills Susan Mindel Liz Pullman Cara Rosenbaum Abby Rothschild Carl Sacks Andrea and Sam Shapiro Robyn Stein Nancy and Jerry Straus Lauren Tregor Jennie Weiner and Jeremiah Jordan Judith and Stanley Zabar Cathy Zises Anonymous (3)

Our donors are very important to us.

Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of this report. If we have omitted or misspelled your name, please accept our apologies and let us know so that we may make the correction.

25

OUR PARTNERS & SITES Program Partners Albany City School District CAMBA Central Family Life Center City of Hudson Youth Department Coalition for Hispanic Family Services Columbia County Youth Bureau Palatine Park District Town of Kinderhook Town of Livingston Community Health Action of Staten Island DREAM Charter Schools East Side House Settlement ExpandED Schools

Family Enrichment Center Food Education Fund Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School Germantown Central School District Good Shepherd Services Grand Street Settlement Henry Street Settlement Hudson School District Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement Lansingburgh Central School District Mosholu Montefiore Community Center

New York City Department of Education Northeast Bronx YMCA Olana State Historic Site The Opportunity Hub Perfect Ten Phipps Neighborhoods Rensselaer City School District Snug Harbor Cultural Center South End Children’s Cafe Taconic Hills Central School District Town of Livingston Trinity Church Wall Street United Activities Unlimited

“The biggest change and impact I noticed in our students was their sense of belonging.

It was amazing to see how their confidence grew and how they, for the first time in their life, saw themselves as individuals that are capable of so much more.”

Outreach Coordinator Work-Based Learning partner

Program Sites Bronx

CIS 303 Claremont International HS DREAM Charter School Mitchel Cornerstone Northeast Bronx YMCA PS/IS 218 Rafael Hernandez Dual Language Magnet School PS 21 MMCC PS 382 Soundview Cornerstone The Family School

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment HS CAMBA Beacon 271 Lyons Community School Miccio Cornerstone

26

PS 123 Suydam School PS 15 Patrick F Daly PS 158 Warwick PS 84 School for Human Rights Spring Creek/YAP

Manhattan

80 Pitt Street Community Center Baruch Houses Community Center Best Buy Teen Tech Center Cornelia Connelly Center LES Preparatory HS P.S. 142 Amalia Castro P.S. 184M Shuang Wen M332: University Neighborhood MS M378: School for Global Leaders M458: Forsyth Satellite Academy

NEST+m School for Global Leaders Seward Park Community Center Transfiguration School Trinity Commons University Neighborhood MS

Queens

Riis Settlement Community Center Corona Arts & Sciences Academy Richmond Hill HS

Staten Island

Central Family Life Center Community Health Action of Staten Island Family Enrichment Center The Spot Forgotten Foods

Snug Harbor Heritage Farm Mariner’s Harbor Cornerstone Center Hill Street Garden United Activities Unlimited

Upstate NY

Germantown Elementary School Germantown Library Giffen Elementary Hudson Academy Hudson Youth Department Livingston Park Summer Camp Olana State Historic Site Palatine Park Perfect Ten Rensselaer Park Elementary South End Children’s Cafe Taconic Hills Junior/Senior HS Troy Park Elementary

The Sylvia Center Annual Report

WHO WE ARE Board of Directors Tara Gendelman, Chair Cindy Edelson, President Nina Freedman, Vice President Scott Millstein, Treasurer Trudy Elbaum Gottesman, Secretary Liz Neumark, Founder

Jean-Robert Andre Lynn Cole Phillip Grant Peter Mensch Phil Meldrum Ayesha Nurdjaja

Michael Pollack Adrien Rios Eric Schroeck Anita Sibony de Adelsberg Chaim Wachsberger

Culinary Council Dana Cowin Carlos Cortés Georgette Farkas Jill Fergus Leia Gaccione Gracie Gardner Chanel Gilmer JJ Johnson Adam Kaye Kate Krader

Christine Lau Jae Lee Anita Lo Hillary Marra Mawa McQueen Helen Nguyen Nini Nguyen Raquel Pelzel Angela Pinkerton Nathan Rawlinson

Salvatore Rizzo Eamon Rockey Liz Rueven Lee Schrager Bryce Shuman Arlene Spiegel Carlos Suarez Christina Tobia Hannah Wong

Staff

Barbara A. Glassman Executive Director Programs Beth Bainbridge Education Programs Director

Development and Communications Pontip Rasavong Development Director

Theresa Morelli Youth & Families Senior Programs Manager

Guadalupe Lucero Communications Manager

Julie Cerny Upstate Garden Manager Benia Darius Teen Programs Manager

David Chase Data and Development Associate Operations Stephanie Diaz Finance and Operations Administrator

Jayne Marzello Upstate Programs Manager

Current as of October 2024

27

2417 Third Ave., Suite 301 Bronx, New York 10451 Katchkie Farm Kinderhook, New York

28

info@sylviacenter.org | www.sylviacenter.org