Yonkers Partners In Education
Wendy R. Nadel, Executive Director
(914) 377-4882
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 23, 2010
For More Information Contact: Wendy Nadel
Email: wrnadel@ypie.org
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.
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