I Scream 4 Breakfast

On Sunday, January 22^nd, nearly 100 children from the Carver Center and Blind Brook Middle School participated in a Flash Mob at the Port Chester Stop & Shop to raise awareness for Carver’s Food Pantry need for breakfast supplies.

Sarah Keilman, Caroline Levine, Julia Levine, Olivia Morrisey, Margot Schwartz, Maya Finkman and Eric Spanier – all sixth grade students at Blind Brook Middle School – participate in Destination Imagination, an international problem-solving competition. The team of seven visited Carver Center to learn how they could make an impact on their neighboring community. On their visit, the students noticed the limited breakfast supplies in the food pantry, and made this the focus of their project. The students also collaborated with local nutritionist, Joy Bauer, to come up with cost-effective, “no-cook” healthy recipes to make breakfast not only the most important meal of the day, but the favorite of our clients.

“It’s great to see the students’ enthusiasm and energy, and their commitment to making a difference for our community,” said Elizabeth Cook, Carver Center’s Development Director.

At the conclusion of the flash mob, Stop & Shop presented a check for $1,500 to Carver Center to support the needs of our Food Pantry.

Visit the I Scream 4 Breakfast page on our website for recipes and to learn more about the challenge.

Click here to read the story from the Journal News.

Village of Port Chester Selects Kerry Walsh for Humanitarian Award

On Sunday, January 15th, Kerry Walsh, Executive Director of the Port Chester Carver Center, was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award by the Village of Port Chester.

Each year, the Village of Port Chester celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and selects outstanding persons or organizations that embody the philosophies and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, the committee selected Kerry Walsh, for her efforts to provide quality services to the diversified population of the Village of Port Chester. Under Ms. Walsh's stewardship, Carver Center has meaningfully improved and expanded its programs and services to better serve the entire community.

"It has been my personal goal to create an environment in which the entire community feels that they can participate in and contribute to our programs and benefit from the experience." said, Ms. Walsh.

This award speaks volumes about Ms. Walsh's efforts, and Carver is so happy to have her lead our team as we continue to build brighter futures for the people we serve.

(Pictured: Kerry Walsh and Dinah Howland, Board President)

The Food Pantry Needs Your Help!

We continue to see a record number of families coming to Carver Center for assistance in feeding their families. Right now, our shelves are very depleted, so if you can provide any assistance, we would be most grateful!

Most urgently needed items are:

• Pancake Mix
• Produce
• Syrup
• Pasta
• Parmalat Milk
• Spices (salt, sugar, adobo, pepper, hot sauce)

Click here to learn more about our Food Pantry or contact Tarin Gonzalez at 914.305.6042 or tgonzalez@carvercenter.org.

Thank you very much for your generosity.

Carver Center Boot Camp

Carver Center Boot Camp sponsored by Hydrive Energy Drinks and Rye Health & Fitness, originally scheduled for this Friday, January 6th, has been postponed. Please check back in March for the rescheduled date!

Thank you for your understanding.

If you have any questions, please contact Britani Griffin at 914.305.6012 or bgriffin@carvercenter.org.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from everyone at the Carver Center! We wish you abundance, happiness, and peace in a new year filled with hope.

As a reminder, Carver Center will be closed Friday, December 30, 2011 through Monday, January 2, 2012. Carver will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Add Carver to Your Holiday Shopping List!

This holiday season, through the GiveBack Foundation, you can shop for your loved ones and Carver. Please use this link or the pink widget below to shop your favorite online stores and raise money for Carver. Carver will receive a percentage of each purchase you make.

P.S. Carver recently used the pink GiveBack widget and raised $135 when we purchased new furniture for the Teen Center.

Thank You Scouts!

Carver Center would like to extend a huge thank you to the scouts of Pack 19 and Troop 400 for organizing such a successful food drive! Over a dozen scouts spent their Saturday manning tables and accepting donations at the Port Chester Pathmark Supermarket. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of Pack 19 and Troop 400, Carver's Food Pantry is well stocked with plenty of non-perishable foods at the start of the holiday season. Thank you Pack 19 and Troop 400!

Help Build Brighter Futures with Carver

1.Give Time: Volunteer, share your skills. Become a tutor in our After-School Program. Stock shelves in our Food Pantry. Run a food and clothing drive to benefit our Food Pantry and Clothing Closet. Click here to learn more about our current volunteer opportunities.
2.Give Money: Donate. Make a contribution to our Annual Fund. Use the Carver Giveback widget located at the bottom of our homepage whenever you shop online.
3.Participate: Be Active. Stay Healthy. Join our Fitness Center. Encourage a senior citizen to Participate in Silver Sneakers. Take Swim lessons. Sign your child up for Martial Arts.
4.Stay Connected:Follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook to keep up with the latest photos, announcements, and news articles.

GiveBack Widget

The Giveback Widget is now located at the bottom Carver's Homepage! This pink widget will allow you to both shop and outfit Carver with the rewards. Please remember to use this widget to support Carver every time you shop online!

In Memory of David E. Moore, Lifetime Carver Center Board Member

The Board of Directors and staff of the Port Chester Carver Center mourns the passing of one of our most generous and passionate Board Members, David E. Moore. His strong leadership and devotion to Carver will be greatly missed. We offer our sincerest condolences to his wife Katherine and family. His zest for life, his terrific humor and his compassion for those less fortunate made him a very special man. We will so miss him.

There will be a memorial service for David on Friday, September 16th,2011 at Christ Church in Rye.

Think Locally...Think Carver

Local gardens are in full bloom and Carver is savoring the taste!

Over the past year, Carver has meaningfully improved and expanded how we address the nutritional needs of the children and adults we serve. Last June, Carver installed a walk-in refrigerator in its Food Pantry, now the 1,200 children and adults who come to our Food Pantry each month are now supplied with fresh produce and other non-perishable food items. With the continued support of local organizations, our Food Pantry receives fresh produce all summer. In fact, God’s Green Market at Port Chester Middle School provides Carver with 100 pounds of fresh produce each week!

Just yesterday, Chris Taylor, a program director from the Rye Recreation Day Camp brought fresh carrots and beets from Rye High School's garden to our facility and today the children in our summer program will enjoy them for lunch.

Crops of lettuce, zucchini, and herbs from Carver’s Garden are used to prepare lunch and the kids anxiously await the first harvest of tomatoes and peppers. The Carver garden is an educational tool for the children, and the goal is for our children to learn the nutritional importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables, along with the pride that comes from caring for their very own garden. Every class in our Summer Program takes part in the daily maintenance and upkeep of the garden.

Carver to Earn Double Cashback from the GiveBack Foundation

13 days left to make a huge impact on Carver. Shop online and Carver will earn double cashback from the GiveBack Foundation. Visit Carver's GiveBack page today and shop at any of the 400 GiveBack retailers.

Bicycle Giveaway

On June 1st, Aspen Specialty surprised 15 children in our After-School Program with brand new bicycles and helmets at the Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook. Aspen Specialty, a leading specialty Insurance and Reinsurance Company, collaborated with True North Team Building, LLC to build these bicycles. This tremendous event became an experience to remember for the children of Carver. For many of these children, this was their first bicycle. One girl cried when she saw the bike, as she exclaimed “I can finally learn how to ride a bike!” The chance to visit Doral Arrowwood was also the first time 8-year old Jessinia visited a hotel, as she went on to ask the hotel staff about the facility, including “how many beds did they have?” Janett Grose, Manager of Children’s Programs said “this is the essence of Carver, providing children with luxuries that many consider basic necessities.”

Thank you Aspen Specialty and True North Team Building, LLC for your generosity and for thinking about the children we serve.

System Upgrade at Carver Center

Carver Center is in the process of upgrading its telephone system. While work is in progress, please contact the Front Desk at 914.939.4464 for assistance. We thank you for your patience!

Annual Benefit 2011: Sneak Preview of Carver's Wishlist!

1. New Doctor’s Weight Scale for Fitness Center-$2,000

2. Interview with Confidence! Client Grooming and Resume Package which includes attire, grooming, shoes, resume paper and 4 round trip Metro Cards- $150

3. College Tour: Send 20 high school students on a multi-day, multi-school tour!-Sold for $4,000

4. Sponsor a Carver Kid’s summer of enrichment and fun!-$500

5. Help the Carver Sharks prepare for their first swim meet by purchasing a top-of-the-line Digital Colorado Pace Clock for Training and Meets-$750

6. Help us continue to serve 20 kids who attend Carver’s Learning Zone off site with dinner every night by purchasing a full tank of gas for the Carver Van - $75

7. Send the participants in Carver’s Teen Top Chef program on an exciting field trip to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York!-$450

8. Karaoke Machine-Fun Fridays just got better for the Summer Program. “Glee Hour” is sure to be a hit this summer at Carver-$500

9. Help maintain Carver’s on-site vegetable garden with a new set of gardening gloves and tools!-$25

10. Send 40 Food Pantry clients on a memorable field trip to the New York Botanical Garden-$500

If you are interested in purchasing one of these items, please click the donate button at the top of the page!

Child Care Council of Westchester Selects Janett Grose for a JOEY AWARD

Carver Center is proud to announce that our Manager of Children’s Programs, Janett Grose, was selected to receive a Child Care Council of Westchester’s JOEY Award. The JOEY Award is presented to individuals who make exceptional contributions to the child care and early education field in Westchester County. Janett Grose was recommended by Danielle Marino (Responsive Classroom Teacher) and Annie Villacress (Youth Educator). “This award is a testament to the effort and excellence Janett and her staff place into our Children’s Programs.” said Kerry Walsh, Executive Director.

The mission of the Children’s Programs is to successfully contribute to the learning and healthy development of children. All activities offered by Carver Center align with school standards but are typically activities not offered by schools due to decreased funding and increased focus on student performance in mathematics and language arts. By providing children with a broad range of activities that fall under three program areas – academic support, enrichment programs, and recreation – we seek to both complement and distinguish ourselves from school.

Congratulations Janett, Carver Center is proud to have you apart of our team.

Fundraising Conference

Today's Fundraising Conference will take place as scheduled, starting at 8:30 AM.

Congratulations PCHS Varsity Cheerleading Team!

For the third year in the row, the Port Chester High School Varsity Cheerleading team is headed to the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) National Cheerleading Competition, and Carver Center would like to congratulate the entire team!

Two cheerleaders, Kiara Boden and Imani Cooper, have been active participants in our Teen Programs for the last 3 years. Kiara and Imani worked this past summer as Classroom Assistants in our Summer Program and Summer Dance Program. Everyone at Carver is proud of their accomplishments and is anxious to see their future success.

Kiara and Imani, Carver wishes you and your teammates all the best as you prepare for nationals. Go Rams!

The national event is held in Orlando, FL at Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports from February 9 - 14, 2011.

In Memory of Christine Stiassni Gerli

It is with Carver Center's deepest sorrow to announce the passing of one of our dearest friends, Christine Stiassni Gerli. Christine Stiassni Gerli, known to many as a wonderful friend, impeccable hostess, inspirational teacher, creative entrepreneur, and loving, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, died peacefully on Thursday, December 2 after a brief struggle with stroke. She was 83. For over 40 years, Christine was a major supporter of Carver's programs and services, with a particular interest in developing a dance program at Carver. In 2009, Christine's vision came to fruition with her plan to underwrite and create the Feffi Stiassni Dance Studio at Carver Center, named for her deceased daughter, who loved to dance. Through the Feffi Stiassni Dance Studio, young boys and girls will have a venue to hone their dance skills. In the weeks before her passing, Christine helped organize a field trip for the 25 children enrolled in our Saturday Ballet Program to see the New York City Ballet's production of The Nutcracker Project. On December 18th, these 25 budding ballerinas will witness the magic of George Balanchine’s masterpiece. Carver Center will ensure Christine's vision of encouraging and nurturing the youth's interest in the fine arts for decades to come.

Please click on the following link to see one of the many videos presented to Carver by Christine Stiassni Gerli and her family. Knowles Multimedia: The Carver Center.. Dance Studio.. (c) knowles media 2010

"Leap for Joy" Holiday Appeal

Through the GiveBack Foundation, you can do all your holiday shopping online and donate to Carver Center’s “Leap for Joy” Holiday Appeal. ALL AT NO COST TO YOU! Through our GiveBack campaign, we hope to raise $2,000 to purchase 40 Leap Frog Leapster 2 handheld educational toys for our kindergarten and 1st grade.

This is how it works-simply go to GiveBack.org and set up a foundation account. All you need is a username, email address and password. As a bonus for signing up! Your account will be credited for $5-this you can give you Carver immediately. Once you create an account, start shopping! Each retailer has committed a percentage of each purchase to GiveBack which will go directly into your personal GiveBack Foundation account. Please note that it will take approximately 30 days for your shopping rewards to be credited to your account. Once your account is credited, you can direct your donation to the Carver Center. It’s that simple.
Please take a moment and check out Carver Center’s page at GiveBack.org for a more detailed description of our holiday appeal. Click on “Find a Charity” tab and type in Port Chester Carver Center.