56 THE QUEENS COURIER • KIDS & EDUCATION • MAY 31, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
kids & education
SpoSnpsoonresdo rbeyd by
Astoria nonprofi t hopes to raise $10,000 for
tutoring program in the face of reduced funding
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com/@jenna_bagcal
An Astoria-based nonprofi t hopes to
raise $10,000 by June 27 to support their
tutoring program in the face of reduced
government funding.
On May 23, the Center for the
Integration and Advancement of New
Americans (CIANA) launched the
“Learning for Life” fundraiser in support
of their popular Elementary Aft er School
Tutoring program.
According to their website, CIANA,
located at 31-09 Newtown Ave., Suite 411,
is utilized by recent immigrant children
and their families with a “focus on newcomers
from Middle East, North Africa,
Latin America and South Asia.”
CIANA Program and Administration
Manager Kylen Button stated that funding
for their tutoring program and others like
it have been slashed at federal, state and
local levels. As a result, the organization
has turned to private donors to help fund
the program, which they say is “a vital part
of the children’s success in the New York
City school system, and a part of their
assimilation into American society while
staying rooted in their cultural heritage.”
CIANA started in 2012 when its founder
and CEO, Emira Habiby Browne, was
approached by a parent whose child was
failing kindergarten.
“Emira was in total shock. How could
a child be failing kindergarten? One of
our interns at the time volunteered to
tutor her a few times per week and over
CIANA plans to raise money for their tutoring program through “Learning for Life.”
the course of time, saw drastic improvements,”
Button said.
Local parents heard about the child’s
newfound success and started reaching
out to CIANA asking if their children
could also be tutored. Th e program caters
to children in grades 1 to 5, who receive
one-on-one homework help twice a week,
according to a promotional video on the
organization’s website.
Currently, the program is at capacity,
and serves 20 children from every New
York City borough, and there is a waitlist
of children whose parents want them
to receive tutoring. Th e nonprofi t plans
Photo via Pxhere
to use the money they raise to hire a program
coordinator, off er more days for
tutoring and accept more children into
the program.
In addition to the Elementary Aft er
School Tutoring program, CIANA runs
a variety of programs to benefi t “new
Americans,” including adult ESL classes,
classes and workshops to help immigrants
to gain citizenship and an aft erschool
program for middle schoolers to
participate in recreational activities.
To learn more about CIANA or to
donate to their fundraiser, visit the organization’s
website at cianainc.org.
Student Accounts- Checking & Savings
Our Student Banking Program1 is designed to fit the needs of today’s college students.
Our Student Statement Savings and Student Checking2 Accounts make it easy for
college students (depositor must be 18 years or older) to manage their finances and save
money. There’s no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirement and only $1.00 to
open the account. Student Checking even has Unlimited check writing.
Ask Us for More Details!
(877) 786-6560 • myNYCB.com
1Student Banking is available for personal accounts only and is free of maintenance and activity fees.
2Student Checking Accounts with a Visa® debit card are automatically enrolled in the Even >more Rewards
Program. For complete terms and conditions speak with a branch representative. Restrictions apply.
© New York Community Bank- Member FDIC
/@jenna_bagcal
