Supporter Spotlights

An Evening Celebrating Resilience

June 12, 2025 | Leave a reply

Exploring the intersection of art and impact

It was billed as a night of unforgettable art, music, and engaging discussion—and wow, did it deliver.

On June 3, The Child Center of NY hosted An Evening Celebrating Resilience. Around 300 supporters came together at the iconic Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City to celebrate the remarkable resilience of the nearly 60,000 children and families we serve, along with the unwavering commitment of our dedicated staff.

The moment guests arrived, they stepped into a world of beauty. Looking more closely, they saw that the beauty was not only because of the stunningly set tables and ambient lighting, but also in large part because of the artwork set out before them—paintings, needlework, and other artistic pieces created by teens at The Child Center Residential Treatment Facility (RTF), where the creative and therapeutic arts programming plays a vital role in their journey toward achieving wellness and their full potential.

Nina Grae, a gifted singer-songwriter who serves as the arts expansion coordinator at the RTF, was our emcee. With her extraordinary voice and firsthand knowledge of Child Center programming, she captivated the room and added meaning and emotion to her role.

At the top of the night’s program, Christajah, a teen from the RTF, set the mood with her moving reading of a poem she wrote called “My World.”*

A young woman in a light pink dress stands at a podium and microphone at Evening Celebrating Resilience, the child center gala.

Christajah

Next up was a presentation of the Russell L. Carson Visionary Award, named for Russell L. Carson, a steadfast supporter of The Child Center. The Visionary Award recognizes employees who perform above and beyond expectations, initiate creative solutions despite limited resources, and demonstrate entrepreneurship in increasing the accessibility to services and opportunities for children and families. The 2025 award recipient was Tracey Elting, director of our Escalera Head Start and Early Head Start center in Manhattan. In accepting the award, Tracey spoke about how she worked as a teacher for 20 years before joining The Child Center, where she was drawn by a yearning to contribute to an organization where she would help not only the children, but also the families.

Tracey Elting

Upon accepting the award, Tracey said, “There is no better feeling than watching the excitement in a child’s face when they catch a ball, or write the letter S, or discover what happens when they mix two colors together. That never gets old.” But, she added, “It’s not all flowers and bubbles. Working with children can also be stressful, overwhelming, and challenging.” Exuding resilience, she noted how she has covered every position from cook to custodian—whatever role needed filling on a particular day. She accepted the award on behalf of her team, in recognition of their dedication and hard work.

This year’s program included a panel on the intersection of art therapy and impact featuring Traci Donnelly (CEO, The Child Center of NY), Dr. Claire Wang (Executive Director, Make An Impact), Joseph Di Salvo (Managing Partner, Di Salvo Howard PLLC), and Drew Sora (Founder, Port Jefferson Youth Council). The discussion was moderated by Greg Alba, creator and host of The Reel Rejects. The participants discussed the personal impact that art has had on their lives and why it is such a crucial part of the work The Child Center does each and every day.

members of a panel sit in chairs on a dark stage.

From left to right: Drew Sora, Claire Wang, Joseph Di Salvo, Traci Donnelly, and Greg Alba

Following the panel discussion was a highlight of the evening: Krystal, another teen at the RTF, joined the stage with Nina to perform a song called “Underestimated.” Krystal wrote the entire section that she performed with Nina’s support. The lyrics, their meaning, and the beauty of Krystal’s voice took the audience’s breath away and led to a standing ovation.

Krystal (left) and Nina (right) singing their song, “Underestimated.”

Other honorees of the night included Joseph Di Salvo of Di Salvo Howard PLLC, who received the Voice of Resilience Award; Kristen Lonergan of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, who received the Distinguished Service Award; and the wider team at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, who received the Impact Award. We are grateful for their tireless commitment to building stronger families and more resilient communities.

Kristen Lonergan

Greenberg Traurig CEO Brian Duffy with Child Center CEO Traci Donnelly

Joseph Di Salvo

While the event has passed, there is still time to support our vital programming. Text TCCNY to 50155 or visit childcenterny.org/donate to make a donation today. If you are not already on our list, email us at fundraising@childcenterny.org to receive communications about future events and happenings so you don’t miss a thing.

See you next year!

*Lyrics to “My World”:
My world is gray.
My world is me pacing.
My world is me overthinking about my past.
My world is me overthinking about my future.
My world is me zoning out of reality.
My world is me trying my best.
My world is me trying my best to use self-control.
My world is me trying to build a good relationship with my Grandmother.
My world is me trying to build a good relationship with my parents.
My world is me trying to be there for my sister.
My world is me trying to be a better person for myself and my family.
My world is me being positive.
My world is me not giving up on myself.
My world is me knowing what’s wrong and what’s right.
My world is me believing in myself.
My world is me depending on myself.
My world is me writing poems to cope with my feelings.

Dunkin’ in Jamaica Donates to The Child Center of NY

January 31, 2025 | Leave a reply

Last month, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins in Queens celebrated the grand reopening of their newly remodeled restaurant at 187-11 Jamaica Avenue. Dunkin’ franchisee Jamaica Donuts commemorated the occasion with a generous $1,500 donation to The Child Center of NY’s Jamaica Family Wellness Center (JFWC).

Omar Kazi, LMHC, Program Director of JFWC, expressed gratitude, stating, “I am honored to receive this generous donation from Jamaica’s Dunkin’ Donuts Program on behalf of The Child Center of NY. We are a community-based organization with an extensive behavioral health program as well as a range of support services. Our mission is to strengthen children and families in under-served communities with skills, opportunities, and emotional support to build healthy, successful lives. This donation from Dunkin’ Donuts will directly benefit the same community this location will serve during the upcoming holiday season.”

Photos of the Month: The Child Center of NY’s Annual Golf Outing

September 30, 2024 | Leave a reply

A collage of photos taken at The Child Center of NY's Annual Golf Outing

Upper right photo: Emcee Rob Fishman (far left) and Honoree Christina Goerler (third from right) with fellow golfers (from left to right) Richie Cooperberg, Harris Russo, Elene Bara, and Sanije Sadiku. Bottom left photo: Child Center of NY staff; from left to right: Ricardo López, SVP, Facilities and Procurement Services; Brently Winstead, Director of Development; Stephen Donowitz, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer; Jason Bonilla, SVP, Technology; Alina Mason, General Counsel; Marie Mason, VP, Early Childhood Education; Sherri Romano, Chief Clinical Officer (front, center); Rita Shah, Director of Information Technology; Paulina Baltazar, Internal Communications Manager; Helaine Fox, SVP, Human Resources; Tricia Bayley, Employee Experience Manager; Nona Ohikaure, Assistant Program Director, Health Homes; Jessica Yannaco, Director of Human Resources; Melissa Bulshteyn, Associate General Counsel. Far right photo: Justin Moose, professional golf player.

The Child Center of NY’s 2024 Annual Golf Outing was held on Monday, September 9, at the beautiful Glen Head Country Club. Thanks to all who attended, it was a resounding success!

It was wonderful to see familiar friends reconnect and new friendships blossom on the greens and throughout the day. From the lively competition on the course to the joyful conversation during cocktails and meals together, it was a day that brimmed with golf, camaraderie, and the power to make a meaningful impact.

This year’s honoree was Christina Goerler, a dedicated supporter of The Child Center of NY, which serves more than 58,000 New York City and Long Island individuals and families each year. For the past nine years, Christina has been an active member of the planning committee for The Child Center’s Annual Golf Outing, a key fundraising event that celebrates the legacy of Raymond J. Cook, who was an exceptional advocate for the organization’s mission to end generational poverty. Through her involvement, Christina has helped raise crucial funds to support The Child Center’s programs and services, ensuring that more children have access to the resources they need to thrive. Christina’s commitment to giving back and her passion for helping others comes through in everything she does, and we were thrilled to celebrate her with this fitting tribute!

The Annual Golf Outing is a cherished tradition here at The Child Center, not only because it’s always a fun time, but also and most importantly, because it’s an opportunity to make a difference. The funds raised through the event support The Child Center’s vital programming, from early childhood education to therapy for teens to direct cash investment initiatives that provide resources for adults to build the strong, fulfilling lives they always knew they could.

Thank you to all who attended, and to the dedicated members of our 2024 Golf Committee: John Cook, the committee chair, and members Kris Amato, Paul Avvento, Sam Freed, Jennifer Milacci, Maura Nicolosi, Joanne Persad, Brian Tabackman, Gary Tabackman, and, of course, our honoree, Christina Goerler. We also want to give a special shout-out to Rob Fishman, who served as emcee, and this year’s golf entertainer, professional golfer Justin Moose, who showed us how it’s done!

If you were unable to attend this year, there’s still time to show your support. We hope to see you next year!

Photo of the Month: Our Client Speaker at The Child Center of NY’s inaugural immersive play at Lincoln Center, “Outside In”

May 31, 2024 | Leave a reply

Child Center Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) client Jonah with Talia Banks, RTF creative arts coordinator, at Outside In at Lincoln Center

Photo credit: Anthony Artis

Meet Jonah, our brave, smart, funny, and insightful client who shared their story with more than 200 Child Center of NY friends and supporters on May 7—National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day—at “Outside In.”

Instead of celebrating with a traditional gala this year, The Child Center of NY joined forces with the Emmy award-winning minds at Giant Step and the Emmy-nominated team behind Disney’s “Growing Up” at SoulHouse to create “Outside In,” a unique immersive play at Lincoln Center that explored mental wellness with an engaging interactive performance. “Outside In” highlighted The Child Center’s progressive approach to mental well-being by inviting audience members to be an integral part of the experience.

There were three shows during the night, and each was filled to capacity. Each one was a dynamic adventure where guests influenced the narrative, making each performance a unique reflection of its audience. The night offered an intimate look at the challenges facing our youth, in no small part because of clients like Jonah, who chose to tell their story.

Jonah is a client at The Child Center Residential Treatment Facility (RTF), a place where youth who have had multiple psychiatric hospital stays, as well as juvenile justice-involved youth with psychiatric disorders, can get the support and fresh start they need to address their mental health challenges and begin to build the lives they see for themselves. At “Outside In,” Jonah spoke candidly and movingly about their mental health journey. They ended with wisdom beyond their years by saying to the audience, “There’s a lot I would like you to know, but because of time I can give you this one thing: Be kind, be sensitive, and try to listen.

See the RTF creative arts program in action in this powerful video.

This Photo of the Month features Jonah with Child Center team member Talia Banks, the RTF’s creative and therapeutic arts coordinator. As Jonah confided in the audience, Jonah finds their glimmer in being able to express themselves through art, writing, and drawing. Jonah has even merged these passions into a comic book they are creating. You can see in this photo the rapport that Talia has developed with Jonah, who is building confidence in their own abilities every day with the help of Talia and the rest of the team at the RTF.

Also featured in this photo is the night’s vocal talent, FCBC Worship Ensemble Choir of Hope Center Harlem, led by Tamish Bates, and Nina Grae, musical director and composer for “Outside In.”

Jonah is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do here at The Child Center: provide more than 58,000 New Yorkers each year with the support they need to build the healthy, fulfilling lives they are capable of.

“There are many things ‘Outside In’ meant to me,” Jonah said. “One thing it meant to me was that it was insightful and it was uplifting. I hope that the audience took from the experience that whatever demons you’re facing inside are not stronger than the light outside.”

While “Outside In” was a one-night-only experience, there is still ample opportunity for people to join us in making mental health history. The Child Center began in 1953 as a children’s counseling center, and a commitment to mental health remains at the heart of everything we do. In our post-COVID reality, this commitment has never been more important, and the need for innovative solutions has never been more urgent. That is why The Child Center is launching the groundbreaking Innovation Collaborative, which will convene the brightest minds in mental health, technology, art, community work, and science and serve as an incubator for a new paradigm in mental well-being solutions—one that is dynamic, inclusive, and revolutionary.

Learn more in our press release, and see all the fabulous photos from the event in our Facebook album.

The Child Center’s 70th Anniversary Gala: Building Brighter Futures Together

May 31, 2023 | Leave a reply

Emily Moreno, a student at Civic Leadership Academy, performs at the 70th anniversary gala.

Emily Moreno, a student at Civic Leadership Academy, performs at our 70th Anniversary Gala.

The Child Center celebrated a remarkable 70 years at our 70th Anniversary Gala: Building Brighter Futures Together at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on May 25. Our first in-person gala in four years was truly a memorable one, with a program that entertained and moved the spirit. Continue reading →

Photo of the Month: Giants Quarterback Daniel Jones Joins a Different Kind of Team

May 31, 2023 | Leave a reply

On Thursday, May 11, The Child Center of NY, BOSS, KABOOM!, NY Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, and Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council joined together at The Child Center Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) to build a 9,000-square-foot outdoor playspace designed by the youth themselves. Continue reading →

Supporter Spotlight: Soles4Souls

August 18, 2022 | Leave a reply

“New shoes!” was the rallying cry

It was an 80-degree summer day, but Tanya Krien was researching organizations that provide winter coats to children.

“Winter coats are always a huge need with our families,” Tanya, a vice president of early childhood education at The Child Center of NY, explains.

That’s when she came across Soles4Souls—a nonprofit organization that provides not winter coats, but footwear, which is another ever-present need for families with children in a Child Center early childhood education program, such as Head Start and Early Head Start. Continue reading →

A Night with the NY Mets during Black History Month

March 2, 2022 | Leave a reply

Mets reps from the Black Professionals and LatinX Employee Resource Groups connect with Queens youth at our Basie Beacon program at M.S. 72

Introducing youth to new possibilities is a key way The Child Center of NY works to increase high school graduation rates — one of The Child Center’s central goals — and get young people excited about preparing for their future.

On February 5, The Child Center of NY collaborated with the NY Mets and the Queens District Attorney’s Office to host a career panel at our Basie Beacon Program at Catherine and Count Basie Middle School 72 in Jamaica. Continue reading →

Supporter Spotlight: Rocco Sacramone

February 25, 2022 | Leave a reply

Chef Rocco Sacramone at Trattoria L’incontro in Astoria.

The Child Center received a unique and generous donation just in time for the holidays from local restaurateur, Chef Rocco Sacramone.

The Child Center of NY is fortunate to have supporters who feel a special connection to our mission based on a variety of factors, from their desire to support their local community to their confidence in our results-based approach — and, always, their belief in our guiding principle: that every family and community deserves access to the skills, opportunities, and emotional support they need to build healthy, successful futures.

Late last year, The Child Center received a unique and generous donation just in time for the holidays from local restaurateur, Chef Rocco Sacramone.

Our clients truly felt the support of their community and enjoyed a special gift for the holidays.

Since 1999, Chef Sacramone’s family has run Trattoria L’incontro, an Italian eatery just 15 minutes from our Early Childhood Center in Astoria.

Every year, Chef Rocco donates frozen turkeys to various charities. Rocco and his team came across The Child Center of NY after a conversation with a customer at the restaurant. Upon learning about our work supporting children and families and our powerful community presence, they knew we were a perfect fit.

Chef Rocco graciously hand delivered 30 frozen turkeys to our Early Childhood Center in Astoria. His wife, Debbie, also sent a gift set of 100 stuffed animals for the children to take home. Thanks to their generous donation, our clients truly felt the support of their community and enjoyed a special gift for the holidays.

“We’ve been in the community all my life actually. My family came here in 1970 from Italy, we’ve always worked in Astoria,” Chef Rocco said. At the end of the day, everything is about the kids. When I saw the kids, that’s what it’s all about.”