Press Releases
Contents:
- 03/01/2010 - Yonkers Partners in Education Joins Yonkers Public Schools for First Annual “World Read Aloud Day”
- 02/23/2010 - Yonkers Partners in Education Opens New College Center at Yonkers High School
- 01/14/2010 - Yonkers Partners in Education Offers College Prep Series for Spanish-speaking Families
- 09/24/2009 - 25,000 Stars Shine Brighter-2nd Annual YPIE Gala Debuting High-Tech “Mobile” Pledging
- 05/27/2009 - YPIE Seeks Donors by Highlighting Yonkers’ 24,000 Students as Worthy Investment
- 04/17/2009 - Yonkers Partners in Education Expands Family Story Power Literacy Program
- 12/16/2008 - Yonkers Partners in Education Welcomes New Board Member
- 12/02/2008 - Yonkers Partners in Education Launches YonkersReads! Literacy Program
- 11/12/2008 - Yonkers Partners in Education Welcomes Five New Board Members
- 11/07/2008 - Roosevelt High School Opens College Center
- 09/24/2008 - Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation Donates $50,000 to YPIE
- 09/15/2008 - Yonkers High School Students Score Big With SAT Prep Classes
- 01/01/2008 - Mayors Bloomberg and Amicone to Kick Off Yonkers Education Summit
- 12/07/2007 - Ronald McDonald House Awards $17,500 to Yonkers Partners in Education
- 08/10/2007 - Yonkers Partners in Education Names Director
Yonkers Partners in Education Joins Yonkers Public Schools for First Annual “World Read Aloud Day”
Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), in partnership with Yonkers Public Schools, is extending its literacy initiatives by participating in World Read Aloud Day on March 3, 2010. Created by LitWorld, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing literacy education to vulnerable communities, this global event is intended to motivate children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, and especially those words that are shared from one person to another. In participating in World Read Aloud Day, Yonkers is joining organizations in the U.S. and in at least 15 nations around the world, including India, Ghana, Australia, and Austria.
YPIE has provided all Yonkers Public Schools pre-K through fifth grade classes with a copy of the book Listen to the Wind, the inspirational true story of Greg Mortenson and his tireless efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson's adult version of the book, Three Cups of Tea, is a worldwide bestseller. Classroom teachers will read Listen to the Wind aloud with their classes and discuss the power of reading in their community and throughout the world.
“We are thrilled to participate in such an important initiative. Every student deserves the right to an education and reading is the most essential component,” said Wendy Nadel, YPIE Executive Director. “This inspirational story will provide a launchpad for students to share their own experiences and become aware of the worldwide challenge for literacy.”
About YPIE: Yonkers Partners in Education is a public education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
About Yonkers Public Schools: The fourth largest school system in New York State, Yonkers Public Schools is a global district of 24,956 students in grades Pre-kindergarten through 12 from more than 109 cultures, backgrounds, and nationalities, and speaking 72 languages. Yonkers Public Schools are committed to raising the college-going expectations of students and their families, and to focus attention on the value and importance of equal access to quality education programs.
About LitWorld: LitWorld’s mission is to cultivate literacy leaders worldwide through transformational literacy experiences that build connection, understanding, resilience, and strength. LitWorld works with teachers, parents, community members, and children to support the development of literacy and the redemptive power of story in the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Yonkers Partners in Education Opens New College Center at Yonkers High School
A perfect example of a public-private partnership at work, Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE) and the Yonkers Board of Education (YPS) will cut the ribbon on a new College Center at Yonkers High School, an International Baccalaureate World School, on February 25th at 8:30 am in the Yonkers High School Library. Funded by Related Companies, the College Center will serve the 1020 students who attend Yonkers High School with the goal of enhancing the school district’s efforts to increase the number of students who attend four year colleges, expand students’ college possibilities, and serve as a hub within the school for students and their parents to come for college-related information and exploration.
Through an introduction made by Ellen Lynch, President and CEO of the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (IDA), YPIE formed a relationship with Related Companies and Related Affordable’s Senior Vice President for Affordable Housing, Matt Finkle. “Our chairman, Mayor Amicone, and the Yonkers IDA know that when business leaders consider where to locate their companies, a key consideration is the quality of local schools. A good public school system is a magnet for families and the businesses that hire them. For Matt Finkle and Related, supporting our public schools is consistent with their own mission to enhance the quality of life for people living in Riverview and other inner city developments. This project is a terrific way for Related to do just that and I was delighted to help bring them and YPIE together,” Lynch said.
After the Fall completion of the rehabilitation of Riverview II, an affordable housing development Related acquired and revitalized on Riverdale Ave, Finkle got to work. In addition to renovating an existing space at Yonkers HS, Related has made a three-year commitment to fund the College Center, which bears the company’s name. “Helping kids have a better life is a perfect way for us to give back to the city. The College Center will provide important information to students and families and will make it easier for them to navigate the road to college,” said Finkle, who has since joined the YPIE Board of Directors.
“This is YPIE’s fourth College Center to open in Yonkers," said Wendy Nadel, Executive Director of YPIE. “Through the College Centers that exist, YPIE has been working in partnership with the Yonkers Public Schools to increase the number of students who attend college and our efforts are beginning to make a significant difference. We are thrilled that Related Companies has become such an important partner in this work,” she said.
According to YPS Superintendent of Schools Bernard P. Pierorazio, “YPIE’s College Centers are an important strategy to the work we are doing throughout the district - to increase student access, aspiration, and admission to college. It’s been a great partnership that has had a direct impact on increasing our students’ acceptance to colleges.” Yonkers High School principal Ralph Vigliotti added that “Our students, with the support of our guidance staff, have had some great successes over the past few years. I see this new College Center as an integral component of our school, helping us leverage more college and scholarship opportunities for our students.”
About YPIE: Yonkers Partners in Education is a public education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
About Related Companies: Formed over 37 years ago, Related Companies is a fully-integrated, highly diversified real estate firm with experience in virtually every aspect of development, acquisitions, management, finance, marketing and sales. Headquartered in New York City, Related has offices and major developments across the nation and its existing portfolio of real estate assets, valued at over $15 billion, is made up of best-in-class mixed-use, residential, retail, office, trade show and affordable properties in premier high-barrier-to-entry markets.
About Yonkers IDA: Chaired by Yonkers Mayor Philip Amicone, Yonkers IDA is a public benefit corporation that provides a wide range of business development incentives to companies that choose to locate or expand in Yonkers. Since 1982, the IDA has generated millions of dollars in private investment within the city. Yonkers IDA induces companies to invest their capital in major economic development projects that create jobs and increase the city’s tax base, thereby improving the quality of life for all Yonkers residents.
About Yonkers Public Schools: The fourth largest school system in New York State, Yonkers Public Schools is a global district of 24,956 students in grades Prekindergarten through 12 from more than 109 cultures, backgrounds and nationalities, and speaking 72 languages. We are committed to raising the college going expectations of our students and their families, and to focus attention on the value and importance of equal access to quality education programs.
Yonkers Partners in Education Offers College Prep Series for Spanish-speaking Families
Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), with support from Westchester County, will offer a five-part series for Yonkers’ Spanish-speaking families, Coaching for College: A Program for Latino Parents. Of the 25,000 public school students in Yonkers, 51% are Hispanic and many live in homes where English is not their primary language. As Latino families approach the decision of applying to college for their children, they face uncertainty and misinformation regarding the process and the opportunities available to them. This program will inform and coach Latino parents on what they need to know as they navigate the complex college admissions process. The overview symposium and four workshops will run exclusively in Spanish.
“We are delighted to offer this information to Yonkers’ Spanish-speaking parents. They are at an extreme disadvantage because they do not have access to critical information that will enable their children to attend college and lead a more successful life. Our goal is to remove language and cultural misunderstanding as a barrier to college access,” said Wendy Nadel, Executive Director of Yonkers Partners in Education.
The Latino Parents series’ opening symposium will be held on January 21, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Yonkers Riverfront Library atrium and auditorium. Channel 47 anchor, Jorge Ramos will deliver the keynote speech about the importance of a college education. Additional speakers will include Edwin Quezada, Principal of Lincoln High School; Jose Flores, Vice President of Enrollment at Manhattanville College; and several Yonkers students and parents, who will discuss their own experiences. Subsequent workshops, to be held at churches and community centers throughout Yonkers, will address following: completing the application process; finding and securing financial aid; conquering gender and other cultural stereotypes; and helping middle school parents plan ahead.
YPIE Program Coordinator Bettina Weil noted the great need for the college prep series, the first of its kind in Westchester. “This program will help even the playing field for Yonkers students, many of whom are the first in their families to apply to college.”
To sign up for the free series, parents should call 914-219-7929. Four buses will transport parents to the library from different locations in Yonkers.
About YPIE: Yonkers Partners in Education is a public education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
25,000 Stars Shine Brighter-2nd Annual YPIE Gala Debuting High-Tech “Mobile” Pledging
Of the 25,000 public school students in Yonkers many live in homes where significant obstacles limit their dreams. In an effort to change this, Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), a not-for-profit organization that works to support the Yonkers Public Schools, is using advanced mobile technology and traditional fundraising tactics this year to solicit donations at its 2nd Annual Gala on Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 6:00pm, at Empire City Yonkers Raceway. The gala will honor Ed Sheeran, President of Palmer Economic Development Inc. in Yonkers and feature a gourmet dinner prepared by local celebrity chef, Peter Kelly of the famed restaurant X20, who will also premier a signature dessert “starring” chocolate designed expressly for YPIE. Ralph Viglioti, Principal of Yonkers High School will receive this year’s Leadership Award.
YPIE is debuting “mobile pledging” in Westchester with Text to Pledge, a program that allows attendees to text message a donation amount via their personal handheld device. Donations will be broadcast on screen in real time at the event. For those who cannot attend, Text to Pledge will be live the day before and the day after the event. This technology opens a new chapter in fundraising. It is eco-friendly, convenient, and simple to use. It also engages new donors (students, families, and individuals) in the process. Nancy A. Shenker, CEO of theONswitch and YPIE board member, assisted by a team of “tech-savvy” students, will present Text to Pledge at the gala. In further efforts to be environmentally sensitive, YPIE will feature a video journal rather than a paper one.
“Whichever way donors choose we are appreciative because every dollar counts. A five dollar donation provides a student with a new book. A twenty five dollar donation offers an online SAT prep class for a student and just fifty dollars more gives a whole family the opportunity to attend a six week literacy program,” says Wendy Nadel, YPIE’s Executive Director.
As is tradition, the gala will feature a much anticipated silent auction with an array of exclusive, appealing donations. “Don’t miss out on the opportunity to bid on a private Halloween party at Beyond Costumes in Yonkers, a chance to see a on stage opera star, Dawn Upshaw of Yonkers, or go on a fishing charter for two donated by former Saunders High School Grad, Captain John Lucka of Long Run Fishing Charters,” says Leslie Heineman, YPIE director of Special Projects.
All net proceeds from the evening will benefit the Yonkers Public School children. Proceeds from last year’s gala enabled YPIE to accomplish goals like opening two College Centers (with a 3rd on the way), offering scholarships for SAT prep classes and providing books to all K-3rd grade children through YonkersReads.
About YPIE: Yonkers Partners in Education is a public education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
About Text to Pledge: Text to Pledge, is an eco-friendly method of donation allowing fundraiser attendees to pledge any amount to the cause using their personal hand held device and the text message feature. All copy within an attendee’s text message is broadcasted on screen in real time at the event, creating a social network. The program has raised nearly $2 million since its inception in mid-2007.
YPIE Seeks Donors by Highlighting Yonkers’ 24,000 Students as Worthy Investment
Yonkers Partners In Education kicks off its first annual appeal this month with a campaign that acknowledges the economic climate by combining grassroots and online fundraising.
The school year may be coming to a close, but for Yonkers Partners In Education, school is in session 24/7 as the agency kicks off its most ambitious fundraising campaign since its inception in 2007, with a mandate to boost educational opportunities for Yonkers’ 24,000 public school students through private investment.
The fund has already been tremendously successful with numerous programs underway that foster literacy and at home reading, and enhance college access. Most of the programs are funded through private grants. Yet in its first annual campaign, YPIE (as it is affectionately known by students and supporters) attempts to broaden its appeal by reaching out to parents, alumni, and large and small businesses with a variety of opportunities to “invest”.
Taking a page from the wildly successful Obama fundraising “playbook,” YPIE is employing an integrated social media campaign along with the more traditional community grass-roots efforts that encourage gifts as small as $5. YPIE also hopes to capture supporters through Facebook and on its website www.ypie.org, which features a “success stories” video with children who have benefited from YPIE.
“Despite tough economic times, local businesses continue to show their generosity and support,” says Executive Director, Wendy Nadel. “Our kids have benefited from donations of everything from furniture for our college centers to complete production of our website video. All of our efforts will continue to benefit from our community and business supporters.”
Increased support from the business community has also brought two new YPIE board members, Nancy A. Shenker, CEO and founder of theONswitch, a boutique marketing consulting company, and Carl Petrillo, President and CEO of Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc. They join forces with longtime board members including David Westin, President of ABC TV News and Richard Fitzgerald, Chair of the Board and CEO of Yonkers-based Sound Associates.
YPIE achievements to date include:
- Opening college centers in 3 Yonkers high schools.
- Providing Kaplan SAT prep classes that have increased SAT scores and
- Implemented YonkersReads! a book exchange program that takes place in all K-3rd grade classrooms throughout the District.
- Started a city-wide student newspaper, The Yonkers Student Grapevine, in partnership with the Yonkers Public Schools and Rising Publications.
Yonkers Partners in Education is an education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
Yonkers Partners in Education Expands Family Story Power Literacy Program
Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), the non-profit education fund working to support the Yonkers Public Schools, has launched its innovative Family Story Power literacy program in seven sites throughout Yonkers. Family Story Power is a six-week program that enables children and their families to read culturally-sensitive literature, learn techniques for getting more out of a book, and create their own stories together. YPIE developed Family Story Power in partnership with LitLife, a company specializing in developing school curricula and professional development. The program was generously funded through a two-year grant from The Edith Glick Shoolman Children's Foundation. The grant also covers dinner for the participants and babysitting services for younger siblings.
“Family Story Power teaches parents and children to communicate through literacy," says Program Coordinator Bettina Weil. “They discuss books, ideas, their values, and their culture. Regardless of their level of education or background, families come together to read and talk about a story, and then learn to tell their own stories. It is fascinating to see the growth of the participants in just six weeks.”
Classes are held at locations that are familiar to the families, such as their local church or community center, and can be run in both English and Spanish, depending on the needs of the families. Volunteer facilitators attend a three-hour training session and are assigned to work in a site for the full six-week program.
YPIE piloted Family Story Power in Fall, 2008, at two sites: Nepperhan Community Center and Riverfront Library. This Spring, YPIE is launching the program at five additional Yonkers locations: San Andres Church, Westhab, Cedar Place Elementary School, Kingdom Baptist Church, and Montessori School 31. Eight to twelve families will participate at each of the seven locations, with classes taking place either after school or on week-ends.
Everyone benefits from this program: the students, their parents, and even the facilitators. “It was a privilege to serve the community and I really enjoyed myself yesterday,” noted Silvia Lopez, one of the facilitators at St. Andres Church. After completing the class last Fall, Rubelina, a parent, commented, "Thank you so much. With you, I had the opportunity to take the time to read and write with my son."
Yonkers Partners in Education is an education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
Yonkers Partners in Education Welcomes New Board Member
Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), the non-profit education fund providing programs to the over 24,000 Yonkers public school students, is pleased to announce the that James J. Veneruso, Esq. has joined the Board of Directors. Before joining the Board, Jim served as the organization’s counsel. “Jim brings a great knowledge of the law, as well as a sincere desire to help our City and its schools,” said Richard Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Board.
A member of the law firm of Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz, and Curto based in Yonkers, Mr. Veneruso’s professional and business associations include the New York State Bar Association Florida Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association, Columbian Lawyers’ Association, and the Hudson Valley Bank Business Development Board. Additionally, for several years he served on the Board of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp and as Associate Editor of the Corporate Law Review and the Editorial Board of the Westchester County Bar Journal. He served as a founding member of the Board of Editors of the Pace Law Review and served as President of the John Marshall Honor Society.
Jim is very active in civic and charitable organizations. In addition to serving on the Yonkers Partners in Education Board, he also serves on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity, the Generoso Pope Foundation and is a founding Board member of Heartsong Inc. which provides music and art therapy programs for children with disabilities.
Yonkers Partners in Education is an education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
Yonkers Partners in Education Launches YonkersReads! Literacy Program
YonkersReads!, a new literacy program launched today by non-profit organization Yonkers Partners in Education, will put thousands of books into the hands of Yonkers elementary school students. Kindergarten through third graders in all 29 Yonkers elementary schools—over 8,500 students in 292 different classrooms—will have access to a wide range of books to read outside of school. Built on the success of the Yonkers Public Schools' existing Parent/Child Book Bag program, students will be given a bag of new books each week, accompanied by bi-lingual instructional materials for parents and caregivers, to bring home, read, and return to the classroom.
Yonkers Partners in Education has already secured over nine thousand books, and new titles are being delivered every day. Businesses and families throughout Westchester are donating books for the program, from Barnes & Noble via the YPIE website, providing an ongoing stream of valuable learning materials. YPIE hopes to engage the public in supporting this literacy program through the purchase of new books.
“By providing books for children to read at home, YPIE is increasing the overall literacy in the Yonkers community and improving its children’s chances for future success,” said Executive Director Wendy Nadel.
A 2007 National Endowment for the Arts study found that students who read for fun nearly every day perform better on reading tests than those who read hardly at all. Access to books is a pivotal factor in ensuring lifelong literacy. Reading out loud to children helps them improve reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words, and helps increase their desire to read independently. And, increasing the types of reading materials in the home leads to increased reading proficiency scores.
Yonkers Partners in Education is an education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
Yonkers Partners in Education Welcomes Five New Board Members
Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), the non-profit education fund providing programs to the over 25,000 Yonkers public school students, is pleased to announce the addition of five new members to its Board of Directors: Joseph Curto, Jr., Edward Fergus, Ph.D., Anthony Gallinari, Thomas Smith, Esq., and Nick Sprayregan. Business and community leaders, they will bring strategic thinking and fresh perspectives to YPIE’s leadership.
“These five professionals will enhance our Board with a wealth of legal, financial, business, and educational expertise—all which are essential to meeting the needs of the Yonkers public school students,” said Wendy Nadel, Executive Director of Yonkers Partners in Education. “We look forward to their guidance and energy as our organization grows and strengthens.
Joseph Curto Jr. is the owner and operator of Yonkers Tennis Center, and is also a partner in Curco Operating Company and JoMale Realty Corp., Yonkers-based real estate management and development companies. He is an active member of his Cold Spring, NY community, currently serving on the Haldane Central School District Board of Education, the Haldane School Foundation, and the Board of Trustees of the Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library.
Edward Fergus, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation at the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, New York University, has spent his professional career working on education reform. He has conducted research on education policy, analyzed issues plaguing low-performing public school districts, and advised numerous school districts throughout the country. Dr. Fergus currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Hunter College and on the Board of Directors of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University.
Currently VP of Acquisitions for First Hartford Realty, a real estate development company based in Manchester, Conn., Anthony Gallinari has extensive experience in all forms of retail development. He served as President of the Music Conservatory of Westchester from 1996 through 1999, where he oversaw the acquisition, financing, and construction of a new school facility and earned a Kresge Challenge Grant for its successful capital campaign. A graduate of New York Law School, Mr. Gallinari is a member of New York State and Connecticut Bar Associations. Mr. Gallinari is also a member of International Council of Shopping Centers.
Thomas Smith Esq., Partner at Smith, Buss and Jacobs, specializes in commercial read estate development and urban retail redevelopment. Mr. Smith has served as a member of the New York Attorney General’s Martin Act Task Force and as the former Chairman of the Mount Kisco Zoning Board of Appeals. He is a founder and the current secretary of the Council of Westchester Co-ops and Condominiums (CWCC) and has served on the Board of the Southern New York Chapter of the Community Associations Institute. He currently serves as a member of the Board of The Westchester Bank, which opened in Spring 2008.
Nick Sprayregen has expertise in both the real estate and publishing industries. Since 1992, he has been a general partner at Tuck-It-Away Associates, L.P., a commercial real estate company specializing in self storage properties. In 2006, he also became a managing member of Rising Development Co., specializing in residential and commercial real estate in downtown Yonkers. And, in 2007, he added the role of President and Publisher of Rising Publications, a nine-newspaper weekly chain of weekly publications. Nick also sits on the Board of Directors the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, Police Athletic League, and Downtown Waterfront BID.
Yonkers Partners in Education is an education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
Roosevelt High School Opens College Center
Yonkers Students Gain College Prep Services
November 7, 2008, Yonkers, NY — Today Roosevelt High School opened the doors to a new College Center which will provide valuable resources to students and help them navigate the complex road into college. Staffed by a professional college advisor, the Center will offer a range of college planning services, much like those that are available to more affluent families. The Roosevelt College Center is a result of a partnership with the Nepperhan Community Center’s Gateway Academy (funded by a 21st Century Learning Communities grant) and is also funded by a grant from the New York Life Foundation. Yonkers Partners in Education is driving the College Center program and hopes to open Centers in each Yonkers high school.
Thrilled to have the first College Center at Roosevelt High School, Principal Jade Sharp said, "We are confident that this will assist in encouraging our students to apply to more competitive colleges, seek out more scholarships, and explore different careers. For first generation college-going students, the Center’s services will lend a hand in equalizing college access."
YPIE’s College Access initiative will help foster a college-going culture and increase college acceptance for Yonkers public school students. To assist students and families in successfully tackling the college admissions process, College Centers will provide: one-on-one supporton the college admission, acceptance, and selection processes, similar to services provided by private college admission counselors; financial aid and scholarship assistance to educate both parents and students about aid and scholarship opportunities; college explorationseminars for parents and students at local Westchester colleges; and college fairs and tours to expose students and parents to a variety of college options.
“YPIE’s College Centers will help even the playing field for Yonkers students,” said YPIE Executive Director Wendy Nadel. “In today’s competitive environment, these students need and deserve access to the same college planning services as students in other districts.”
Yonkers Partners in Education is an education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation Donates $50,000 to YPIE
High School Students Will Receive Free SAT Prep Course
Thanks to the Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation, 150 low-income high school students in Yonkers will significantly improve their chances of attending college by participating in a free SAT prep course. The twelve-week program, sponsored by Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE) and administered by industry leader Kaplan SAT Prep, provides Yonkers students with the same opportunities for SAT preparation as their peers in wealthy Westchester communities. In a district where only 66% of students graduate from high school and only half of those graduates go on to attend college, resources such as the YPIE SAT Prep Program have measurable impact on students’ future opportunities.
Yonkers Partners in Education teams with Yonkers educators and local organizations to offer a range of educational and community-based services to the over 25,000 public school students in Yonkers, the fourth largest city in New York State. In the 2007/2008 academic year, 300 Yonkers juniors and seniors received full scholarships for the YPIE SAT Prep Program. The results were impressive: students’ scores increased by an average of 152 points, and 80 students increased their scores by 200 to 500 points.
"The outcome of the program during the last school year was clear— SAT prep makes a huge difference for students,” said YPIE Executive Director Wendy Nadel. “It is great to provide this opportunity and build a college-bound culture in Yonkers schools.”
The $50,000 grant from the Carvel Foundation will support expanded programming in 2008/2009, in six Yonkers high schools and for twice as many students. "We are pleased to support Yonkers Partners in Education’s work to increase college access for all students. Programs like SAT Prep are critical to helping students achieve their dreams," said Bill Griffin, Chairman of the Board of the Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation.
Yonkers Partners in Education is an education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.
Yonkers High School Students Score Big With SAT Prep Classes
Free Prep Courses credited with significantly increasing average SAT scores
Yonkers, NY - Throughout the 2007-2008 academic year, 395 Yonkers high school juniors and seniors participated in a free SAT Prep Class, that enabled students to increase their SAT scores. by an average of 155 points. The program measured scores from the first diagnostic test taken to the final SAT. Eighty students in the program increased their scores by 200 to more than 400 points.
The program, sponsored by Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE) with partial funding from the Ronald McDonald House Charities, provided an opportunity for Charlyn Brea, a 2008 graduate of Lincoln High school, to increase her SAT score by 400 points and gain acceptance to Dartmouth College. Brooke Spaight, who will graduate from Yonkers High School in 2009, increased her score by 470 points, prompting her to remark, “Now I can actually apply to schools where I never had a shot of getting in before I took this course.”
The access to college provided by YPIE SAT Prep has been important to Yonkers students because, in the words of YPIE Executive Director Wendy Nadel, “It has enabled them to compete equally with students who receive comprehensive preparation before taking the SAT. Research has shown that such preparation makes a significant difference in score outcomes and consequent college admissions.”
Prior to this year, most students attending the Yonkers Public Schools came into the SAT test having taken just the PSAT, with no other means of preparation due to the steep fees associated with SAT courses and/or private tutors. Previous scores reflected this lack of preparation and have prevented many Yonkers students from competing for slots at the nation’s more competitive colleges. “As important as the score increases, is the tremendous impact on the students’ self-confidence and outlook for their futures,” continues Nadel. “Programs such as this help Yonkers students see their possibilities.
Yonkers Partners in Education, in partnership with the public and private sectors, strives to ensure that all children who attend the Yonkers Public Schools have access to a quality education that prepares them for high school graduation, college, work, and success in life.
Mayors Bloomberg and Amicone to Kick Off Yonkers Education Summit
Conference to Bring Together Community, Business, Government, and Others to Address Public Education Needs
Education Summit 2008 will bring New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to Yonkers to address Westchester County business leaders and Yonkers community members on the importance of community involvement in education. Sponsored by the recently established Yonkers Partners in Education, the event will kickoff on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 with a fundraising breakfast for business leaders at Yonkers waterfront restaurant, X20 Xaviars and will feature Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone and Mayor Bloomberg.
The Mayors will then join community leaders, parents and education advocates at the Riverfront Library to inspire a series of breakout sessions. The groups will all be asked to address the question, “What resources from your stakeholder group would be essential to promote the academic success of all Yonkers Public School students?”
Convened by the Yonkers Partners in Education, a public/private partnership working in collaboration with the Yonkers Board of Education, the Summit is designed to engage the community in a conversation about public education and enable participants to work together to take positive action that will support public school children’s achievement. The result will be a Blueprint from the Community presented to the Yonkers Board of Education. “Education Summit 2008 provides a great opportunity to engage the Yonkers community in conversations about education. All sectors have an important role to play. They have resources available to advance and enrich the learning of Yonkers children,” says Wendy Nadel, Executive Director of Yonkers Partners in Education.
“Mayor Bloomberg has been a dynamic force for positive change in one of the largest public school systems in the country, and we couldn’t be more pleased to welcome him to Yonkers to share his model of success,” says Yonkers Mayor, Phil Amicone, founder of the Yonkers Partners in Education. Superintendent of Schools, Bernard P. Pierorazio agrees, “New York City is a hub of school innovation and inspired learning, a gathering point of ideas from which educators across the nation benefit.”
Yonkers is the largest public school district in Westchester and a member, along with New York City, of the state’s most populous districts, known as the “Big Five”. The event is being sponsored by Homes for America’s Holdings and Hudson Valley Bank.
Yonkers Partners in Education, in partnership with the public and private sectors, strives to ensure that all Yonkers public school students receive a quality education that prepares them for high school graduation and life success.
Ronald McDonald House Awards $17,500 to Yonkers Partners in Education
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the New York Tri-State Area (RMHC-NYTSA) recently awarded $17,500 to Yonkers Partners in Education. This grant benefits students of the Yonkers Public School System by supporting the Yonkers Partners in Education SAT Prep Program. The program enables over 300 low-income students to attend a twelve session SAT Prep course given by Kaplan Test Prep, an industry leader in helping students to prepare for standardized tests.
Funding from the RMHC-NYTSA will support 50 students, preparing them for the upcoming SAT tests in May, 2008.
“We are so excited about the worthwhile programs that we are able to fund this year,” said Gerald McCoy, RMHC President of the New York Tri-State Area. “It’s wonderful to partner with not-for-profit organizations working to better the community and to support programs that benefit children.
“We are thrilled to have Ronald McDonald House Charities as our partner in this endeavor. For the students who go through this program, we expect that it will provide the edge needed for them to attend the college of their dreams,” said Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), Executive Director, Wendy Nadel.
YPIE is an education fund that works in partnership with the Yonkers Board of Education to insure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college and success in life.
Yonkers Partners in Education Names Director
Growing Organization Taps Seasoned Philanthropic/Education Expert to Run Public/Private/Community Partnership
Wendy R. Nadel has been appointed Executive Director of Yonkers Partners in Education; it was announced by Richard Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Board.
In her new role, Nadel will be responsible for developing an overall strategic plan for YPIE and overseeing its implementation. The newly formed organization’s mission is to tap into the vast resources of Yonkers’ thriving business community and active parent and school board communities, to take the area’s public education to a higher level of achievement.
Under Ms. Nadel’s leadership, the organization will partner with Kaplan Test Prep, to provide in-school SAT tutoring to over 300 high school juniors and seniors. In the fall the organization will also implement a “junior journalists” program enabling students to “report” on positive news within their school.
“My vision is to make significant lasting changes in the education system,” says Ms. Nadel, “Together, we will create an organization that works in close partnership with the Yonkers Public School district and the vibrant Yonkers community.”
Ms. Nadel has a long history in education and philanthropy. Most recently, she served as the Chair of the Byram Hills Education Foundation. In 2000, she authored Save the Children’s publication "The Web of Support; Developing Safe and Nurturing Learning Environments During Out-of-School-Time," a guide for organizations and school districts serving youth during the out of school hours.
A planned ribbon-cutting ceremony for the organization’s new headquarters at 86 Main St. in Yonkers is planned for September 6.
Yonkers Partners in Education is a public-private partnership between Yonkers public school educators and members of the business community. Its mission is to ensure that all children, regardless of means, have the same opportunities to get a high quality education.
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