On Dec. 14, Children of Promise,
NYC(CPNYC) distributed brand new
winter coats and winter necessities to
CPNYC youth. There was also a banner
thanking Clint Georges who donated
the coats. S
Sharon Content, the founding president
of Children of Promise, NYCI,
praised Georges for donating 150
Christmas came early for hundreds
of children in the Bronx this year as
Morris Heights Health Center hosted
their annual toy giveaways across six
of their site locations.
MHHC’s President and CEO, Mari
G. Millet, partnered with Assemblywoman
Yudelka Tapia, of District 86,
to distribute toys to families in the
Morris Heights section of the borough
on Dec. 15. The annual event took
place at the health centers main location
on 85 West Burnside Ave. from 2
p.m. to 4 p.m., where approximately
200 families participated. The annual
toy giveaway was open to the public
and toys were distributed on a fi rst
come fi rst serve basis. Families in attendance
were greeted by Santa Claus,
and his helpers, who welcomed them
with hot chocolate and cookies. Children
waited in line to snap a photo
with Santa after graciously accepting
their gifts. This year, children had the
opportunity to choose from a variety
of toys that range from barbie dolls to
game boards.
The annual toy giveaway initiative
is an extension of the organizations
“The Sharing Place” campaign, which
was developed out of a need to combat
social and health inequalities that
plague many Bronx communities. Every
brand new coats at Children of Promise,
NYC (CPNYC) in the Bronx and
150 coats in Brooklyn. Children of
Promise, NYC (CPNYC) is an organization
that provides support to the
children of incarcerated parents and
their families through “child-centered,
trauma-informed programming
and activities.”
year, MHHC partners with local
organizations and community leaders
to donate gifts during this time of
the year to children in the community.
Thanks to this year’s generous donors,
MHHC was able to create a memorable
holiday season for over 1500 families
through their annual events.
-Bronx Times
Santa at the toy giveaway with Assemblywoman
Yudelka Tapia and MHHC President
Mari Millet Photo courtesy MHHC
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, DEC.BTR 31, 2021-JAN. 6, 2022 31
Phipps Neighborhoods, a nonprofi t
social service provider in New York
City, announced earlier this month
that 120 Bronx students successfully
completed its STEAM Club this semester.
STEAM Club is a free, 10-week
after-school digital inclusion program
in the Bronx for elementary
and middle school students designed
to help them hone their digital literacy
skills. Students participated in
virtual and hands-on coding, ecoengineering,
LEGO robotics and 3D
design activities using Scratch and
Tinkercad with facilitators from
MakerState. STEAM Club scholars
held culminating events this week
showcasing projects such as robotic
hands, periscopes, digitally designed
rooms, student-built video games and
more. STEAM Club will be expanding
its programming to serve secondgrade
students at P.S. 110, located in
the Crotona Park West section of the
Bronx in winter 2022.
“Phipps Neighborhoods’ STEAM
Club offers students new inspiration
to dream bigger and the technical
knowledge needed for long-term success,”
said Andre D. White, executive
director and CEO at Phipps Neighborhoods.
“Digital literacy and STEAM
have become the foundation students
need to thrive in classrooms today
and in tomorrow’s job market. We’re
proud to continue providing access
through our partnership with Verizon.”
As part of a two-year grant provided
by Verizon under Citizen Verizon, the
company’s responsible business plan
for economic, environmental, and social
advancement, Phipps Neighborhoods’
STEAM Club launched during
the winter of 2021 to combat the digital
divide by providing Science, Technology,
Engineering, Arts and Math
(STEAM) programming to students at
seven different sites across the Soundview,
West Farms and Melrose sections
of the Bronx.
“Now more than ever, it’s imperative
that youth have the skills and
access to technology they need to be
prepared for today’s digital workforce,”
said April Horton, director, Verizon
State Government Affairs. “Together
with Phipps Neighborhoods,
Verizon continues to invest in New
York’s youth through our support of
the STEAM program, deepening the
students’ engagement in STEAM projects
while honing their digital literacy
skills.”
A 2020 report from the Mayor’s Offi
ce of the Chief Technology Offi cer
found that nearly one in fi ve New York
teens cannot fi nish their homework
because of the digital divide, the opportunity
gap created when families
do not have equal access to technology
and the internet. The report also
found nearly 29% of New York City
residents do not have home broadband,
and the Bronx has the greatest
percentage at almost 38%. To address
the gap in digital access youth in the
Bronx experience, the STEAM Club
developed engaging in-person activities
and exposure to online applications
to improve students’ technology
profi ciency, develop their social-emotional
and problem-solving skills, and
increase their interest in STEAM-related
fi elds.
“This year, we were excited to
add hands-on engineering to the program,”
shared Allison Jeffrey, director
of Digital Access at Phipps Neighborhoods.
“STEAM isn’t just digital
technology; it’s about solving problems.
Everyone learns differently, and
these new project-based challenges
built the foundational problem-solving
skills students need for coding.”
Eighty fi ve students from across
the Bronx completed the STEAM Club
program for the 2021 school year. An
additional 120 students participated
during Phipps Neighborhoods’ Summer
Camp. In its fi rst year, STEAM
Club proved to be a valuable resource
for students and families by equipping
young Bronxites with the skills and
knowledge needed to succeed in their
future careers.
-Bronx Times
Sharon Content, the founding president of Children of Promise, NYC watches the children
wearing their brand new coats with joy.These kids are ages 6, 7,8 and 9.
Photo Jewel Webber
Bronx students who successfully completed Phipps Neighborhoods STEAM Club. Photo
courtesy Phipps Neighborhoods
Children of Promise, NYC distribute
coats and winter necessities to youth
Bronx students complete STEAM
program at Phipps Neighborhoods
Morris Heights Health Center
holds annual toy giveaway