Employees of 17 Different Organizations Lend a Hand in May and June
July 23, 2012 - By Astrid Corvin-Brittin
As the Lower East Side welcomed warmer weather, volunteers from 17 different corporations and organizations helped Henry Street Settlement shine. Following on the heels of Microsoft's Week of Service in April, volunteer activities in May and June such as gardening and painting gave makeovers to Henry Street's program sites this spring, while activities like arts and crafts brought extra joy to clients.
American Express
Continuing its strong support of Henry Street, American Express volunteers gave back six times during May and June. Their efforts included working alongside volunteers from NY Cares to make Henry Street founder Lillian Wald's Birthday Block Party on May 6 a resounding success.
Kickstarting springtime gardening at Henry Street, spirited volunteers from American Express worked hard to beautify Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the gardens at the Community Consultation Center. Pulling up weeds, mowing grass, trimming hedges and planting spring flowers, the volunteers gave the park and gardens a much-needed facelift.
Maintenance of Henry Street's facilities got another helping hand as volunteers painted at the Settlement's headquarters.
American Express employees also brought their skills and compassion to the Settlement's diverse clients, reading stories to children at the Day Care Center, serving meals to seniors at the Good Companions Senior Center and helping job seekers polish their resumes and brush up on their interviewing skills at the Workforce Development Center.
Allen & Overy LLP
In its tireless support of Henry Street's Boys & Girls Republic (BGR), a team from Allen & Overy gave back to the children in BGR's after-school and evening program in May. After finishing their weekly involvement with the trial class — a key component of BGR's unique self-government model, which enables young people to take an active role in shaping their "society" — volunteers sent by the Allen & Overy Global Foundation served donated Chinese and American food to children during dinner.
In the spirit of summer, teamwork and positive social interaction, Allen & Overy volunteers returned to BGR in June to organize a volleyball tournament for youth in the evening program. After playing an exciting tournament with equipment donated by the firm, the winners showed off their hard-won medals and enjoyed a dinner also provided by Allen & Overy.
Morgan Stanley
During their company's global volunteer month, volunteers from Morgan Stanley brought joy to children in Henry Street’s after-school program and valuable career advice to job seekers at the Settlement’s Workforce Development Center.
Rewarding Henry Street after-school participants for a year of hard work, Morgan Stanley put on not one but two exciting carnivals.
On the last day of the after-school program, the carnivals were set up at Henry Street's Youth Services headquarters and the Boys & Girls Republic. Youth enjoyed an array of activities, including bouncy houses, face painting, obstacle courses and crafts. It was a wonderful way to end the school year and kick off the summer.
Matching the diversity of their skills with the diversity of Henry Street's clients, Morgan Stanley volunteers worked with program participants at the Workforce Development Center, helping them hone their interview skills and improve their resumes.
Credit Suisse
Longtime Henry Street partner Credit Suisse went above and beyond this June as it supported the Settlement’s clients and community.
Credit Suisse generously hosted an Alumni Night for clients of Henry Street's Workforce Development Center (WDC), creating a professional environment for Credit Suisse volunteers to work with WDC clients on resumes, identify transferable skills and review interview questions.
Giving back to the Henry Street community, enthusiastic interns from Credit Suisse helped transform the garden at the Abrons Arts Center. The volunteers cleaned up weeds and debris and planted vibrant spring flowers.
Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks
In its fifth year as a Henry Street partner, the Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks (CTW) volunteer initiative brought Goldman Sachs employees to Henry Street to help foster community spirit.
Gardening in Martin Luther King Jr. Park, CTW volunteers helped enliven the community garden, which is used by area residents of all ages and backgrounds. Planting flowers, from marigolds to snap dragons, the volunteers helped the garden look its best.
Moody's
Henry Street gives the volunteers from Moody's an AAA rating for their wonderful work at the Settlement in May. Three groups of volunteers gave back to Henry Street, painting program space in the Youth Services building and helping job seekers at the Settlement's Workforce Development Center with writing their resumes and improving their interview skills.
Calvin Klein
The men and women at Henry Street's 290 East Third Street Residence got a pleasant surprise this May when volunteers from Calvin Klein beautified the building's back yard.
Weeding and trimming the garden's green plants, the group from Calvin Klein planted colorful lilacs and African violets in flowerbeds and hung pink impatiens from the fences. In memory of past residents, the volunteers planted rose bushes.
Deloitte and In Demand
Gardens at Henry Street's Urban Family Center and Abrons Arts Center got the attention of green thumbs with the help of Deloitte and In Demand.
The two groups of volunteers wowed Henry Street with their diligence in making the Settlement’s program spaces beautiful and inviting for clients living in the agency’s transitional housing and children and adults who benefit from the arts center's wealth of creative opportunities, such as music, theater and visual arts classes.
Adconion Media
In celebration of Mother's Day, Adconion Media helped the children at Henry Street’s Boys & Girls Republic (BGR) make gifts for their mothers and grandmothers through a special craft project.
BGR's youngest clients could hardly contain their joy as they worked with the Adconion Media volunteers to paint adorable bee pots and plant beautiful marigolds. Their excitement was clear as they finished their pots and immediately gave the presents to their parents when they were picked up.
Assurant, Russell Reynolds and Associates, and DTCC
At the Workforce Development Center, volunteers from Assurant, Russell Reynolds Associates and DTCC helped job seekers improve their resumes and practice interviewing, graciously giving their time and expertise to the many men and women to access the center daily.
