Mr. Pedro has been a youth advocate at Friends of the Children NY for over five years and he has upheld a high standard of service with the children paired with him as kindergartners. As a professional, paid youth advocate who works with a profile of eight of the most at-risk children, he continues to watch his Achievers grow and become more confident and positive under his influence and steady care.

His first cohort of Achievers are now approaching the sixth grade and they are starting to transition into the teen program. This means that they are able to go on group outings with their peers rather than just one-on-one outings with Mr. Pedro.This is a mixed blessing for him – he misses seeing them twice a week, but they have begun to express their appreciation of  Mr. Pedro’s positive and steady role in their lives now that they are older. This has increased his understanding of how he impacts their growth. He is excited about establishing relationships with his youngest Achievers entering the program in kindergarten and looks forward to learning about their unique needs and talents. He knows that he can continue being the steady and strong role model that many of them do not have at home.

Thank you Randy, Randy, Ann, Ehtasham, Karen, and Irene for supporting Friends of the Children NY and our life-changing early intervention model. This model breaks the cycle of poverty through an intensive and research-based approach that empowers the Achievers with the character strength to determine their future path. We appreciate your gift through SeeYourImpact.

Like all kindergartners selected into the Friends of the Children program, Durant was screened and determined to be one of the most at-risk children in his classroom. He had struggled with physical ailments and what clinicians call regulating his emotions (he may fall apart at the word “no”).  Also, he was in the bottom quartile of his class for literacy and math skills.

Once enrolled in our program, he was paired with a professional youth advocate, Mr. Eric, an expert at radiating empathy while staying calm and firm — the kind of adult support missing in his life. He wipes away the tears and reminds Durant that he can handle disappointment.

Right now, that couldn’t be more important. A few months ago, Durant’s father was killed. It’s a tragedy all too common in his New York City neighborhood, and yet unimaginable to many. Durant’s mother is struggling and Durant deeply misses this steady figure in his life.

Mr. Eric’s constant presence is critical to Durant’s success and the balance of life is shifting: more accomplishment and nurture, less violence and fear. Durant is getting the academic support he needs through our Afterschool Enrichment Program.  By the time he reaches the third grade, he will be testing at grade level – one of the most important predictors of his future success in high school and beyond.

Thank you all for your support of Durant and Friends of the Children NY.

Jeremie has been with Friends of the Children NY for four years, during which he has transformed from a challenging kindergartener to a thoughtful fourth grader.

Like all of the children invited into Friends of the Children NY, Jeremie was a kindergartener in Harlem who faced a number of potentially crippling risk factors: he exhibited recluse behavior, he was at odds with his classmates, and he demonstrated poor work habits.

Over the years, Jeremie’s advocate, Mr. Pedro, has engaged him in outings and activities that promote his social, emotional, and academic growth. Mr. Pedro has been with Jeremie since he enrolled into Friends of the Children NY as a kindergartener – he has essentially become a member of the family.

Thanks to your donation, Jeremie has participated in an afterschool program that helps him to focus on schoolwork and getting up-to-speed on basic literacy and math skills. Studies consistently indicate that children who are not reading at grade level by the third and fourth grade will be perpetually behind in their middle and high school year – therefore, it is critical that Jeremie work on these skills now.

Thank you all for your investment in Jeremie!  Because of donations like yours, his life has been redefined by the support of Mr. Pedro, who ensures that he does not slip through the cracks like so many other children in his neighborhood.

Sabrina is a middle schooler and has been enrolled in the Friends of the Children New York program for 5 years. Like all of the children invited into the program, she was a kindergartener living in Harlem who faced a number of risk factors: she demonstrated aggressive behavior with teachers and adults, poor work habits, and low academic performance.

Once enrolled in the program, Sabrina was paired with a full time, paid Youth Advocate (the “Friend”) who spent time with her in and out of the classroom each week. Over the years, the Friend has visited her in and outside of the classroom while continually engaging her in activities to promote her social, emotional, and academic growth. Friends of the Children has made a 12 year commitment to Sabrina and will help guide her throughout this time period.

This summer, Sabrina is spending time in an Academic Summer Camp while also continuing to spend time with her Friend. The objective of this camp is to get Sabrina up-to-speed with basic literacy skills. Studies consistently indicate that children who are not reading at grade level by the time they reach the third grade will be perpetually behind later in life; it is essential that this gap is closed now before Sabrina reaches high school.

On Fridays, as a part of this camp, Sabrina breaks from the math and reading exercises in order to participate in an adventure outing. This past week, Sabrina and other children had the opportunity to go to visit the aquarium in Brooklyn. Other outings have included the Bronx Zoo and the American Museum of Natural History.

Thanks to your donation, Sabrina and children like her are able to enjoy the summer while also working on academics; they will return to school with a much stronger academic base. Your generosity has redefined Sabrina’s life. She will not slip through the cracks like so many other children in her neighborhood.

Thanks you all for your generosity!

Thank you for your generous donation, which has enabled Friends of the Children NY to provide six weeks of healthy meals to Brianne, who is enrolled in the Academic Summer Camp. Brianne and others kids like her are remaining healthy this summer while continuing to study in order to close the achievement gap.  All of these Achievers are severely behind in school, and this summer camp is an opportunity for them to catch up.

Children like Brianne are invited into the program because they are the most vulnerable children in the Harlem community. They are selected based off of factors such as vulnerability to school failure, abuse, neglect, juvenile delinquency, gang and drug involvement, and teen pregnancy. Almost all of the Achievers live below the poverty line as 99% of the children in the program qualify for free or reduced lunch. Many of the caregivers have little or no time or money to foster healthy lifestyles in their children, so the daily meals during this summer camp ensure that they are eating nutritional meals and developing healthy eating habits.

Friends of the Childrens starts early and commits to each of the Achievers in the program for 12 years. Their goal is for all Achievers to become contributing members of their community rather than a drain on the system.

Thanks to your generosity, Brianne’s future will forever be altered for the better!

Thank you for your donation towards education supplies that will be used by Marcus, who is enrolled in the Friends of the Children New York Academic Summer Camp in New York City. Marcus is five years old and he is one of the youngest Achievers to join FoC. Like all of the children invited to enroll in the program, Marcus was already in the bottom quartile of his kindergarten class and experiencing a high degree of social exclusion and anxiety.

The FoC academic summer camp has the objective of getting Achievers caught up on basic literacy and math skills. Studies indicate that children who are not reading at grade level by the time they reach the third grade will be perpetually behind during the middle and high school years. The program’s intensive focus on reading and math gives young Achievers the skills they will need to become successful in school.

In addition to the summer programming, Marcus will have 12 years of support and encouragement through Friends of the Children NY.  After the summer is over, he will be paired with a full-time professional Youth Advocate, the “Friend,” whose job is to be a source of emotional and social support. Further, he will benefit from education and social service referrals, which will enable him to be a part of other afterschool programs that fit his needs and interests.

Thanks so much for taking an interest in Marcus’ education – because of donations like yours, Marcus can learn while also having fun this summer. Your generosity has provided him with a foundation in which to build a strong academic career, and he will not fall through the cracks like so many other children in Harlem.

Like all of the children selected to enroll in the Friends of the Children program, Tamara was determined to be one of the most “at-risk” children in her kindergarten classroom. Through an extensive six-week selection process, FoC seeks out New York City area children who are most vulnerable to school failure, juvenile delinquency, and teen pregnancy. In Tamara’s case, she was socially excluded and showed no coping skills. She was also living with her grandma, as her father was absent and her mother was in-and-out of her life and often in trouble with the law.

Friends of the Children NY has made a commitment to Tamara for 12 years. They have matched her with a carefully screened, paid professional Youth Advocate, called a “Friend.”  The Friend spends four hours with her at least twice a week both in and outside of the school setting. These outings expose Tamara to the enriching opportunities that New York City has to offer and help her with much-needed socialization skills.

Tamara is now nine years old and has been enrolled in the FoC program for over four years. Those around her have witnessed her slowly come out of her shell and become more confident in speaking up. FoC has also helped place her into a higher performing school, where she is receiving individual attention that she has craved. In addition to the time with her Friend, an FoC Social Worker helps to enroll Tamara in other afterschool programs that match her interests and skills.

There is no doubt that Tamara has a bright future ahead of her! Thanks to donations like yours, she has been given a chance to succeed instead of falling through the cracks like so many other children in her community. Her life has been redefined by the love and devotion of a Friend and your generosity.

Twelve-year-old Bria has been enrolled in Friends of the Children NY for over five years.  She was selected to participate in our program when she was in kindergarten.  Like all children asked to join our program, Bria displayed a number of potentially crippling risk factors.  She was disruptive in the classroom, was bullied, and had difficulty socializing with other children.  At the time, she also had an unidentified learning disability and was at the bottom of her class for academic achievement.

In addition to having implemented an Individual Education Plan with her school, Friends of the Children has enrolled her in academic tutoring during the school year and summer camp during the summer. She is also attending our own academic summer camp, which helps her to progress with basic literacy and math skills in order to close the extensive achievement gap that has followed her since kindergarten.

On Fridays, as a part of the academic summer camp, children get a break from the math and reading exercises and participate in an adventure outing.  This past week, Bria and other children had the opportunity to go to the Bronx Zoo!  Thank you for your donation to Bria and other children like her–she truly enjoyed the outdoors and the day of fun thanks to your generosity.

Five-year old Jadon is one of the youngest Achievers at Friends of the Children NY.  He was assessed this past year in his kindergarten classroom at one of our five partnership schools in Harlem.  Like all of the children invited to enroll, he was at the bottom of his class according to a number of indicators: he had low academic performance, poor socialization skills, and no positive male role models.

As a new addition to our program, Jadon has been paired with a full-time paid Youth Advocate (or “Friend”).  The role of the Friend is to provide Jadon with stability in addition to modeling positive socialization skills. The Friend will see Jadon one to two times every week both in and out of the classroom.  He will have this support system for the next 12 years, until he graduates high school.

Friends of the Children NY will also be enrolling Jadon in a number of afterschool and summer programs. He is currently enrolled in our own academic summer camp with the objective of progressing his basic literacy and math skills.  (Studies indicate that children who are not reading at grade level by the time they reach the third grade will be perpetually behind during the middle and high school years.)  In addition to the emotional and social support that the Friend offers, it is essential that Jason maintain a grade-appropriate reading level.

Thank you for your generosity!  Because of your support, Jadon will spend six-weeks of the summer focusing on reading, writing, and math skills. We are excited to have Jadon enrolled in our program and can’t wait to watch him grow and graduate from high school with a plan for the future.

Seven-year old Flora has been enrolled in Friends of the Children NY for two years.  She was selected to participate in our program when she was in kindergarten.  Like all children asked to enroll, Flora was one of the most vulnerable children in her kindergarten class and displayed a variety of risk factors:  She had a hard time expressing herself, was anti-social with peers, and was extremely shy when dealing with teachers and adults. She was also in the bottom of her class for academic performance.

Friends of the Children NY has enrolled Flora in a number of afterschool and summer programs in addition to our own academic summer camp to close the achievement gap and improve her basic literacy and math skills.  Studies indicate that children who are not reading at grade level by the time they reach the third grade will be perpetually behind during the middle and high school years. Therefore, it is essential that she reach the appropriate level by the end of next year.

Thank you for your generosity!  Because of your support, Flora will spend six weeks this summer focusing on basic reading, writing, and math skills. The summer is a critical time for her, and we are so thrilled that she will approach the third grade with a stronger academic base.  We know that great things are ahead for Flora! (By the way, she has a smile that makes your heart melt.)