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| September
2009 |
MAYOR'S FUND TO ADVANCE NEW YORK CITY
NEWSLETTER
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Sixth
Annual Fete de Swifty
On Wednesday, September 23, the Mayor's
Fund will host its annual benefit. The 2009 Fete de Swifty
event will support the NYC Family Justice Center Initiative,
providing services to victims of domestic violence and their
families. For more information or to purchase tickets, go
to www.nyc.gov/fund or
call (212) 788-7794. Also make sure to check out the online
auction on www.charitybuzz.com from
September 15 to October 1 to bid on fantastic prizes including
unique New York experiences, fashion and sports events, travel
packages and more. |
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MillionTreesNYC
Fall Planting Day
On Saturday, October 24, help plant more than 20,000 trees
in one day as part of the MillionTreesNYC volunteer planting
event in collaboration with It's My Park! Day. Go to
www.milliontreesnyc.org to sign up to help out at a site
near you, or go to www.nyc.gov/service to find out about
other upcoming volunteer opportunities. |
| HELP
TREES DAMAGED BY RECENT STORM |
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On
August 18 severe storms caused serious damage to more than
1,500 New York City trees in Central Park, Riverside Park,
Randall's Island, Thomas Jefferson Park and other
locations. The Mayor's Fund
is accepting donations to distribute to organizations aiding
the affected landscapes. To support the clean-up and restoration
efforts please contact the Mayor's Fund. |
| MAYOR'S
FUND JOINS FACEBOOK |
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We
are increasing our fan base by the minute since creating
a new facebook page. Visitors can get updates on City initiatives,
view pictures, browse links to relevant news stories, and
receive details on upcoming events. To become a fan or
view our page, please visit us at www.facebook.com and
search: Mayor's Fund. |
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INSIDE
THIS ISSUE:
- Mayor's
Fund Announces MillionTreesNYC Stewardship Corps
- MillionTreesNYC
Training Program Participants Graduate
- NYC
Service Dispatches NYC Civic Corps Members
- Financial
Empowerment Centers Expand
- $aveNYC
Pilot Shows Positive Initial Data
- “Bike
in Style Challenge” Picks Winning Designs
MILLIONTREESNYC STEWARDSHIP CORPS TAKES ROOT
 The
MillionTreesNYC campaign has yielded more than 248,900 trees
planted since its launch in October 2007. These newly planted
trees require ongoing maintenance and care to survive in New
York City's urban environment. In response to this growing
demand, the Mayor's Fund launched the MillionTreesNYC
Stewardship Corps in conjunction with the Department of Parks & Recreation
and New York Restoration Project (NYRP). Partners in this five
borough effort include Trees New York, Brooklyn Botanic Garden,
Queens Botanical Garden, New York Botanical Garden, Greenbelt
Conservancy, GreenThumb, and City Parks Foundation. Program
partners are charged with recruiting community-based tree stewards,
distributing stewardship toolkits and developing incentive
and recognition systems to promote long-term engagement in
tree care. The Stewardship Corps is one of the many programs
of NYC Service, Mayor Bloomberg's initiative to promote
volunteerism in New York City. To sign up to be a tree steward,
visit www.milliontreesnyc.org.
FIRST CLASS OF MTTP PARTICIPANTS GRADUATE
 On
May 29 an inaugural graduation ceremony was held at The Arsenal
in Central Park for the first class of the MilllionTreesNYC
Training Program (MTTP). First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris,
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and NYRP Executive Director
Drew Becher presented the 25 participants with their graduation
certificates. The seven-month MTTP curriculum combined classroom
and field work instruction in arboriculture, ecological restoration,
and garden design and management. The graduates completed over
1,000 hours of training and educational activities that assisted
the MillionTreesNYC initiative. As a result of a $2 million
grant to the Mayor's Fund from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, members of this year's class were placed
in paid positions at the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation,
NYRP, Bronx River Alliance, Central Park Conservancy, Prospect
Park Alliance, Wave Hill and the New York City Housing Authority.
The MillionTreesNYC Training Program is gearing up to welcome
its second class of participants this fall.
NEW CIVIC CORPS MEMBERS SWORN IN
 NYC
Civic Corps was launched as part of NYC Service on April 20.
A partnership with the Corporation for National and Community
Service and its AmeriCorps VISTA program, NYC Civic Corps members
are dedicated to the mission of increasing meaningful service
throughout the five boroughs. On July 30 Mayor Bloomberg swore
in the inaugural class of 183 Civic Corps members. These members
have been assigned to help 59 public and non-profit organizations
for one year with the goal of developing sustainable volunteer
programs and helping to increase organizational capacity. To
find out more and to get involved in NYC Service, please visit www.nyc.gov/service.
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS OPEN IN MORE LOCATIONS
 Following
the success of the pilot Financial Empowerment Center in the
Bronx, which opened in June 2008, the Mayor opened three new
centers in May 2009. Co-located at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration
Corporation's Restoration Plaza in Brooklyn, the Northern Manhattan
Improvement Corporation in Washington Heights, and Catholic
Charities/HomeBase location in Jamaica, the new centers offer
free, one-on-one financial education and counseling to low-income
New York residents. The bi-lingual help offered by counselors
at these centers include money management, budgeting, financial
planning, credit counseling, finding affordable banking services,
government benefit screenings and referrals to other services
and organizations. The Mayor's Fund is seeking funding
to support additional centers in Brooklyn and Staten Island
expected to open later this year.
$AVENYC SHOWS PROMISING INITIAL FINDINGS
 On
August 6 the Department of Consumer Affairs released the first-year
results of the $aveNYC Account Program pilot supported by the
Mayor's Fund. Initial findings revealed that, contrary
to previous assumptions, individuals with low incomes can and
will save when given simple and safe banking products. The
pilot was open to families earning less than $45,000 and individuals
earning less than $20,000 who filed their taxes at participating
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites. Individuals who left
the initial deposit in the accounts for one year received a
50 percent match, up to $250, in addition to the 2 to 3 percent
interest the savings accounts earned. The pilot revealed that
61 percent of program participants contributed at least $500
to their $aveNYC Account, totaling more than $73,000 in savings
by the end of the first year.
"BIKE IN STYLE CHALLENGE" ANNOUNCES WINNER
 On
June 2 First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris joined LVMH Chairman
Renaud Dutreil, Designer Donna Karan, and Actresses Hilary
Duff and Marion Cotillard to announce the winner of the “Bike
in Style Challenge.” The challenge asked students from
the Fashion Institute of Technology to design a unisex poncho,
jacket and travel bag—three essentials for New York City
bicycle commuters. Jessica Velasquez, 21, was awarded first
prize and prototypes of her winning collection were presented
in conjunction with this year's Summer Streets event.
To
support any of these or other innovative public projects,
please visit www.nyc.gov/fund.
Together
we can make a difference.
Mayor's
Fund to Advance New York City
One Centre Street, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10007
Phone (212) 788-7794 - Fax (212) 669-8484
www.nyc.gov/fund
Rob
Speyer, Chair • Megan Sheekey, President
For general NYC information call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov |
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