Tag Archives: supporters

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

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

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

Link to the RTF creative arts video

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.

Photo of the Month: Welcome to the Cohen Family Wellness Center!

Ribbon cutting of the Cohen Family Wellness Center in Woodside, Queens
Ribbon cutting of the Cohen Family Wellness Center in Woodside, Queens

From left to right: Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan; Child Center of NY Vice Chair Samuel Freed; Executive Vice Chair Dick Jay; Board Chair Adam H. Schwartz; CEO Traci Donnelly; Julianna Sabra, Co-Head, Foundation and Community Engagement of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation; Alex Cohen (center, cutting the ribbon); Jeanne Melino, Executive Director of the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation; NYC Council Member Julie Won; Congresswoman Grace Meng; Child Center client Jonathan; Jane Son, Co-Head, Foundation and Community Engagement of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation; and Assemblymember Steven Raga. Photo credit: Michael Dorgan, amNewYork/QueensPost.

We cut the ribbon at the state-of-the-art Cohen Family Wellness Center (CFWC) in Woodside, Queens, this month, and we couldn’t be happier, prouder, or more grateful! Continue reading

Supporter Spotlight: Ming Szeto

Ming Szeto and his family
Ming Szeto and his family

Ming Szeto with his daughter (left) and wife (center)

The Child Center of NY is fortunate to have supporters who feel a special connection to The Child Center based on a variety of factors, from their own childhood 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. In this Q&A, supporter Ming Szeto, president of US Pacific Transport, talks about how and why he has become one of The Child Center’s most dedicated supporters. Continue reading

Children’s Yard Sale Raises Thousands for Child Center COVID Fund

COVID-19 has dramatically affected all of our lives, and clients of The Child Center have been particularly hard hit. Working in fields like food service and house cleaning, they were among the first to lose their jobs after the shutdown. Whether they originally came to The Child Center looking for shelter or job security, to get mental health or addiction treatment, or to help their children graduate from high school, they needed our services more than ever, so we created the COVID-19 Response Fund to ensure we could continue to meet their needs.

Three young supporters of The Child Center found out about the fund from their grandfather, Child Center Board President Dick Jay, and knew they wanted to contribute.

“We did a big clean out of the back shed,” explains 14-year-old Lucas, “and I thought of our stoop sales in Brooklyn. So I suggested a lawn sale for The Child Center at my grandfather’s house.”

Stein yard sale Continue reading


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