The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

education

Spiral Giving Teaches Local Children About Philanthropy

by

What makes a philanthropist? Google the word and a bevy of images of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Oprah Winfrey pop-up making us believe that a philanthropist is well known and extremely rich and that to earn the label of philanthropist one must make a huge financial impact to society. Two Chappaqua women, Sue Fuirst and Julie Gerstein, set out to show how even small donations can have a big impact on our community, and while doing so dispel the idea that only the super rich can be philanthropists.

In 2015, Fuirst and Gerstein introduced Spiral Giving as an extracurricular program to the Greeley and Byram Hills high school communities. Their program teaches the fundamentals of philanthropy through a specially designed curriculum that focuses on the value of local impact.  “We discuss the needs of our neighbors and donate money to local charities through a grant-awarding process that the students themselves administer,” tells Gerstein. Spiral Giving participants learn to embrace the many needs in and around our community and realize that they have the power to make a meaningful, measurable impact. While doing so, they gain an understanding of the nonprofit and philanthropic landscape of Westchester County.

Fuirst and Gerstein feel that service projects and volunteerism help to teach charity and benevolence, but often worry that these are seen as one-off events–something that is checked off as done, not something that one does. Spiral Giving was formed to help teens identify the social issues that matter to them and to provide them with the tools necessary to make a difference in this increasing backdrop of need.

Girls (L to R): Sami Miller, Chloe Greenstein and Natalie Bass

Leadership Opportunities for Participants

Spiral Giving also provides communication and leadership opportunities and encourages stewardship around giving back. Orestes Rellos, a senior at Horace Greely High School, is a third-year participant and Peer Leader at Spiral Giving. Rellos comments, “Spiral Giving is all about personal growth and leadership development, while learning about the needs of various segments of our community and doing the greatest good by giving back. Giving back takes on even greater meaning and personal application as we, the students, contribute the money that funds Spiral Giving grants. We request, review, and approve grant applications. Spiral Giving is about us, students learning, understanding and then helping our community.”

Over the past four years Spiral Giving has awarded 22 micro-grants to Westchester-based charities and nonprofit agencies. The students recently awarded a grant to Lifting Up Westchester, a nonprofit that assists those struggling to overcome the challenges of poverty, homelessness, and hunger, and provides support that leads to greater self-sufficiency. Anahaita Kotval, Executive Director of Lifting Up Westchester commented, “I love that Spiral Giving engages its student members to critically think about what funding an issue really means and that they are empowering young people to help those in need.” Learning about the various agencies’ budgets has exposed the students to something that was previously unfamiliar.

Bailey Todtfeld, another Peer Leader, says, “Spiral Giving is unique in that it shows us the business side of nonprofits, a side that teenagers rarely see. Learning about nonprofits as a business has taught me the importance of responsible usage of funds and the challenge of sustainability within organizations.”

Inspiring the Next Generation of Philanthropists

At the heart of Spiral Giving is the issue of how parents and educators can work together to inspire the next generation to become engaged in issues surrounding them. Spiral Giving wants the next generation to become invested in their future and to feel empathy for their neighbors.  Fuirst believes, “This is often a challenge in communities such as ours, where basic needs are small and personal wants are big.  Places where the discrepancy of wealth between towns is often large and affluence can lead to misplaced values.”

Spiral Giving illustrates how individuals can become a philanthropist.  By giving teens the power to make an impact at this formative time in their lives, Spiral Giving has the ability to alter the perception of high school students and show how each person has the potential to change a life, strengthen a community, and make an impact on the world.

Spiral Giving’s grants are funded by Spiral Giving 501c3 through student fundraising, collective giving and private donations. Please visit www.spiralgiving.org to donate or learn more.

Taking Care of Mind, Body and Spirit: District Plans new Wellness Initiative

by

BHEF 2016/2017 Board (Standing L-R): David Zimmerman, Elvis Grgurovic, Kristen Mathis, Leslie Ilany, Evan Goldman, Bart Sokol, Stefan Safaei, Nanci Keltz, Pat Bucciero, Khatija Ladhani, Lynda Baquero, Paulette Bannon (Seated L-R): Lisa Rosenberg, Elise Margolin, Nicole Stern, Jason Berland, Shari Fruhling, Cathy Kirschner, Melissa Jacobs, Melissa Tolchin
PHOTO BY NINA KRUSE FOR PINSKY STUDIO

By Janie Rosman

It was a slam dunk when the Harlem Wizards took on all-star teams of teachers from Coman Hill, Wampus and H.C. Crittenden last September, dazzling and entertaining with tricks and humorous interactive games thanks to the Byram Hills Education Foundation (BHEF).

The basketball spectacular and the spring gala are BHEF’s two annual fundraising events. Save the date, March 23, for this year’s gala, which takes place at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase.

Since its formation in 1994, BHEF raised more than $4 million for more than 349 grants impacting more than 6,000 local students, thanks to the generosity and support from families, local businesses and the Armonk Chamber of Commerce and two annual fundraising events.

Its financial support to the district enables teacher and administrators to introduce creative programs and equipment beyond what is covered within the district’s annual operating budget.

Current board members after Harlem Wizards event in Fall 2017 (L-R): Jason Berland, Jamie Kahn, Melissa Tolchin, Nanci Keltz, Mark Benerofe PHOTO COURTESY OF BHEF

“One of my goals is to make people more aware of the BHEF and the integral part it plays in our school district,” emphasized Shari Fruhling, President, BHEF.

Last September, BHEF introduced a free wellness movie series hosted at the high school. The first, Screenagers, a 2016 documentary about growing up in the digital age, drew an audience of more than 300 students and parents, Fruhling said. Close to 200 people came out on a cold January night to see Angst, an hour-long film discussing and debunking misconceptions about and treatments for anxiety disorders.

“The films prompt discussions at home and at school the next day,” she said of the thought-provoking choices. A date for its third film, Finding Kind, 2001, about two friends traveling across the United States to expose truth about girl-on-girl crime, is tentatively scheduled for mid-April.

Fruhling said this year’s grant, the Wellness Initiative, “focuses on the wellness of the whole student, mind and body and impacts all four schools with a designated Indoor Creative Play space, an outdoor Obstacle Course for the elementary schools; a space for yoga, meditation and relaxation in the middle school and a lounge space for the high school.”

“These are supported by a Stanford Survey to determine stress levels and create a comprehensive and impactful way of managing and mitigating stress on our student population. The BHEF is proud to be a part of this groundbreaking change in education,” she said.

Byram Hills CSD Superintendent Jen Lamia called BHEF “integral in our district’s history and future. “In the past five years alone, the BHEF has supported projects to revitalize our libraries into 21st century learning spaces, provided 1:1 technology for all students and is now undertaking a K-12 Wellness Initiative to benefit all students.”

BHEF’s support “means that every child in every school is provided with every opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive,” Lamia said. Fruhling noted, “There are so many grants the BHEF has funded that parents sometimes don’t realize that they are not part of the district’s budget.”

These include SMARTboards, Chromebooks and Library 2.0 and, most recently the motivational speaker Shaun Derik for this past Byram Hills High School’s Wellness Day.

Two annual events–the fall Harlem Wizards’ dazzling and entertaining basketball court show and the spring fundraiser–celebrate and raise support for education.

Money raised for the spring event journal will also go toward funding the grants. Tickets are available until March 23; for information, www.byramhillsfoundation.org.

Janie Rosman is a freelance writer and editor whose work appears in local and regional publications. She chronicles the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project at Kaleidoscope Eyes

 

How the Byram Hills Education Foundation (BHEF) Rallies for Children

by

2016-17 BHEF Board of Directors
(Standing L-R): David Zimmerman, Elvis Grgurovic, Kristen Mathis, Leslie Ilany, Evan Goldman, Bart Sokol, Stefan Safaei, Nanci Keltz, Pat Bucciero, Khatija Ladhani, Lynda Baquero, Paulette Bannon (Seated L-R): Lisa Rosenberg, Elise Margolin, Nicole Stern, Jason Berland, Shari Fruhling, Cathy Kirschner, Melissa Jacobs, Melissa Tolchin
PHOTO BY NINA KRUSE FOR PINSKY STUDIO

 

There is nothing that gives parents more pleasure than the well-being of their children. And when a community rallies around to support all children, magic can happen! The Byram Hills Education Foundation (BHEF) is an outstanding example of this very alchemy.

What is the BHEF?

Created in 1994 by parents, faculty and community leaders, the BHEF crafted a mission statement “to enhance the educational experience of all children within the Byram Hills Central School District (BHCSD) by generating community support to fund innovative grants that encourage learning and personal development.”

This mission is as focused and strong today as it was at its inception. The BHEF Board consists of 35 dedicated all-volunteer members: four teachers (one from each school), the BHCSD Superintendent, two Board of Education members, one PTSA member, eight district representatives and the remainder made up of parents of current students and alumni. This group comes together to discuss and make final decisions regarding grant proposals, takes the lead in raising funds to support the proposed initiatives, and maintains an on-going supportive relationship with BHCSD administration and Board of Education.

Grants 101*

The start of the school year also marks the beginning of the annual grant-cycle. A subset of the Board, the Grant Review Committee, meets to review all teacher-submitted applications. After thorough discussion, finalists are presented to the full Board for a vote. The awarded grant is often part of a long-term plan of action, with expected implementation over a two-year period.

Additionally, the BHEF supports a monthly grant opportunity known as Insta-Grant. This forward-thinking option provides teachers with up-to-the-minute flexibility for quick projects and initiatives; Insta-Grants may not exceed $2500 and must be used within six months or before the end of the academic year.

Recently, annual grants have revolved around technology: 2012/13 laid the groundwork for digital programming, 2014/15 saw One-to-One mobile learning which provided Chrome books for district students, 2015/16 expanded earlier tech initiatives with Full STEAM Ahead!, and this year’s awards include Fall’s Reinvention of the Library Experience at Coman Hill, Wampus and H.C. Crittenden MS as well as Spring’s recent approval for two BHHS grants: Professional Development for Global Competency Initiative, plus TV and FILM Curtained Production Area with Cyclorama: a curved green screen wall and lighting system.

Also worth noting: The Debra Leipman Yale Memorial Fund (DLYMF) was established with the Yale family as a meaningful way to honor the life and memory of devoted wife, loving mother and five-year Board Member (including two years as Chair) Debra Leipman Yale. Contributions to this fund are used towards future grants, with the Yale family working in collaboration with the BHEF to select and approve a grant in honor of Debra.

As Debra was passionate about the foundation and its cause, this fund offers Yale family members and friends a meaningful memorial.

*For full details, please see the BHEF website.

Dr. Powderly

Fundraising

The BHEF takes a three-part approach towards raising the funds that help to support and sustain the innovative programming for which the Byram Hills Central School District is renowned.

There is a fall “annual appeal” mailing to all community members. In recent years, this appeal has added the opportunity to allow for “directed giving.”

Dr. Donohue

According to former BHEF president and current Board Member Leslie Ilany, “Donors want to designate where their donations go; having a choice greatly appealed to the community.” With a goal of 100% participation, the foundation proudly notes that so many step up to contribute. Another popular fundraiser is the annual fall visit of the Harlem Wizards; this event particularly appeals to young families and tickets often sell out within hours.

Finally, there is the annual Spring Gala, a fun-filled evening featuring highly anticipated auction items as well as giving opportunities. This year’s recent gala, held at Brae Burn Country Club in nearby Purchase, was a smashing success. Honoring both retiring and beloved School Superintendent Dr. William Donohue and H.C. Crittenden’s Dr. H. Evan Powderly, the community turned out in force. Close to 300 people joined together to celebrate and support the foundation’s important work.

The BHEF welcomes all community members to get involved. Says Ilany, “Getting involved offers so many opportunities; the chance to meet many wonderful people–teachers, administrators and other parents. I hope this article helps spur others to take advantage of a great and meaningful experience.”

Assemblyman Buchwald Helps Secure Significant School Aid Increase for Local School Districts

by

“Ending Era of Gap Elimination Adjustment”

For release, from Assemblyman David Buchwald’s office:

After years of suburban school districts in New York State falling victim to state budget cuts, Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-White Plains) announced that public schools in his State Assembly District will see a substantial increase in state aid for the 2016-17 school year. The increase in state aid was led by the end of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (also known as the GEA). Of the nearly $1.5 billion in overall additional state education aid in the budget, $434 million has been appropriated for the end of the GEA. In addition to ending the GEA, $627 million has been included in the state budget to boost Foundation Aid, a broad-based level of aid for school districts. In total, there is an additional $8.9 million in new state aid earmarked for public schools based in Buchwald’s Assembly District, which encompasses all or part of nine school districts in central and northern Westchester.

“Since I entered the State Assembly three years ago, I have made it my mission to make sure that our local schools are appropriately funded and that our children can get the education they deserve,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “With the full restoration of the GEA, school districts can more confidently plan their yearly budgets, thereby ending an era of uncertainty for the education community and taxpayers. I have received thousands of letters solely on this issue, and I am happy to report back to my constituents that we have repealed the GEA. Although we have scored this major victory for students, parents, educators and taxpayers across the state, I will always be fighting on behalf of our local schools.”

A breakdown of school aid increases within Buchwald’s Assembly District are as follows:

· Bedford Central School District – $754,077, a 13.2 % increase in aid.
· Byram Hills School District – $ 272,189, a 8.3% increase in aid.
· Chappaqua School District -$954,262, a 15.0% increase in aid.
· Harrison School District – $498,032, a 13.3% increase in aid.
· Katonah-Lewisboro School District – $1,112,813, a 17.7% increase in aid.
· North Salem School District – $206,997, a 10.2% increase in aid.
· Ossining School District – $1,150,904, a 7.0% increase in aid.
· Valhalla School District – $140,486, a 3.1 % increase in aid (a $379,000 increase from ending of GEA, less changes in expense-based school aids).
· White Plains School District – $231,119, a 1.1% increase in aid (a $401,000 increase from ending of GEA, plus a $104,000 increase in Foundation Aid, less changes in expense-based school aids).

The above amounts and percentages do not include building aid, which is focused on capital expenditures and fluctuates from year to year. For some districts, additional building aid significantly increases the total aid amounts – for example in Ossining, where total aid including building aid went up $2.9 million, or 16.7%. Jumps in building aid also bring up the Valhalla and White Plains total aid figures.

Assemblyman Buchwald co-sponsored two pieces of legislation in the State Assembly that would have repealed the GEA: Assembly bills A.2271-C and A.5365. Buchwald has also attended various school board meetings and education forums across his Assembly District where he spoke on developments within the legislature on school funding issues.

###

MUSIC & MILES: CHANGING MINDS

by

MusicAndMilesFinal-2-4

A pre-show benefit reception to raise funds and awareness about mental health and suicide prevention among young adults with a special appearance by members of the funk band Lettuce

Saturday, January 23, 2016 Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY

Tickets Go On Sale Friday, November 20 at Noon

Friends, family, and members of Westchester County’s music-loving community will gather for MUSIC & MILES: CHANGING MINDS, a pre-show benefit reception supported by the funk jam band LETTUCE in Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY on Saturday, January 23, 2016 from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

MUSIC & MILES: CHANGING MINDS is an evening to celebrate life and support music education and performance while bringing attention to the importance of emotional health and suicide prevention among teens and young adults.

All proceeds from the reception benefit The Jed Foundation and The Miles Applebaum Music Scholarship Fund at Lagond Music School, established to honor and remember Miles Applebaum, 21-year old jazz guitarist from Armonk, NY and former Lagond student, who suffered from depression and took his life in 2014.  The scholarship will help provide disadvantaged aspiring musicians an opportunity to ignite their passion and study music at Lagond where Miles received his training.

“As a teenager, Miles found a passion and haven in music at Lagond that set him on a life time direction, ” says Rosanne Lana, Executive Director – Lagond Music School. “He was inspired to continue his studies at Temple University’s Boyer School of Music and Dance in Jazz Guitar and performance. Mental illness cut his life short, but his passion and memory can live on. Miles’s story was felt throughout the county and beyond. Unknowingly it touched all the people we have asked to come together for this very special event.”

MUSIC & MILES: CHANGING MINDS benefit reception takes place in Garcia’s and includes an appearance by members of LETTUCE in advance of their headlining performance at The Capitol Theatre that evening, open bar, silent auction, gourmet food and live music by Lagond Music School faculty and students with special guest artists plus a General Admission or Reserved Loge ticket for the LETTUCE concert. Benefit tickets are $125 (GA) or $200 (Reserved) and available online at Ticketfly.com, by calling 877-987-6487 or in person at The Capitol Theatre Box Office.  Tickets go on sale Friday, November 20 at Noon.

Rosanne Lana continues, “I want to thank the JED Foundation, Lettuce Band, C3Management and Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre for acknowledging the need to get information out in the hands of those in need and to keep the legacy alive of a beautiful but brief life.”  

About The Jed Foundation (www.jedfoundation.org) A leading nonprofit working to protect the emotional health of teenagers and colleges students. Our programs are inspiring a new national dialogue on mental health, encouraging millions of young people to speak up and take action, and changing the way academic institutions create healthier campus communities and prevent substance abuse and self-harm.

About LETTUCE: (www.LettuceFunk.com) Formed in 1992 at Berklee College of Music in Boston, LETTUCE have brought a new vitality to classic funk, matching their smooth and soulful grooves with a hip-hop-inspired urgency and mastery of beat. They have developed into a can’t miss festival act with a worldwide reputation for highly danceable rhythms, infectious energy, exceptional songwriting and explosive live performances. Founded on a shared love of legendary funk artists like Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power, LETTUCE is currently touring in support of its newest album, Crush. The band is drummer Adam Deitch (Pretty Lights), guitarists Adam Smirnoff and Eric Krasno (Soulive), bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes, keyboardist Neal Evans (Soulive), saxophonist Ryan Zoidis (Soulive), and trumpet players Eric Bloom (Pretty Lights) and Rashawn Ross (Dave Matthews Band).

About Lagond Music School: (www.Lagondmusic.org) Located in Elmsford, New York, Lagond Music School is a charitable not-for-profit organization dedicated to music education and live music performance, serving a diverse community of students throughout Westchester and surrounding counties.

 

MUSIC & MILES: CHANGING MINDS

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Benefit Reception:   6:00 – 8:00pm

Garcia’s  at The Capitol Theatre

149 Westchester Avenue  – Port Chester, New York

For additional information, please visit www.musicandmiles.org