The joy of giving was in full force on Giving Tuesday, December 3rd at Samaritan Daytop Village’s Young Mothers Program, with the reveal of a donated dining room renovation for mothers on the road to recovery from addiction, featuring a new play area for their children.
The Young Mothers Program is an intensive residential substance use disorder treatment program where up to 36 young women live with their newborn and toddler children while working on their recovery. This early holiday present to them was made possible by the generosity and handiwork (with some donated professional help) of the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and volunteers from Cantor Fitzgerald, and the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children’s Bright Spaces initiative and volunteers from Bright Horizons.
Bright Horizons volunteers from centers in Tribeca, Jersey City, Newark and Citi Children’s Center came early to put the finishing touches on the dining room, as volunteers from Cantor Fitzgerald’s Network of Women gathered with donations of clothing and toiletries that they had collected for Samaritan Daytop Village’s young mothers and their children.
Mitchell Netburn, President & CEO, Samaritan Daytop Village; Mary Lou Burke Afonso, COO of Bright Horizons, North America; and Lori Pennay, Global Head of HR & Partnership for Cantor Fitzgerald, cut the ribbon for the official opening of the cheerful and inviting space as the program’s mothers and babies, volunteers and guests looked on.
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“The Cantor Fitzgerald family is proud to be a partner and ally of Bright Spaces by helping to provide young mothers with the support and care they need. Through our Network of Women, we look forward to continuing to serve our communities,” said Ms. Pennay.
Funding for the project was provided by the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and executed by the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children through its signature Bright Spaces program. Bright Horizons and the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children have worked with Samaritan Daytop Village’s Young Mothers Program for over a decade, beginning with the creation of a “traditional” child care space. This is the first dining room renovation that Bright Spaces has undertaken.
“With the support of great partners like Samaritan Daytop Village, Cantor Fitzgerald’s Network of Women (NOW), the Bright Horizons teachers and many volunteers, we have created our fourth Bright Space for the Young Mothers Program,” said Ms. Afonso. “The Bright Spaces at Samaritan Daytop Village’s Young Mothers Program provide children and families in need with a safe and supportive environment where children can play, build resilience and bond with their families and other caring adults. The renovated rooms make whatever challenges they are facing seem a little easier and as a result brighten their day.”
The dining room renovation ribbon cutting was followed by a festive tree trimming party where volunteers, moms and babies mingled as they decorated for the holidays and enjoyed seasonal treats.
About These Organizations
Samaritan Daytop Village: For nearly 60 years, Samaritan Daytop Village has been improving the quality of life for New Yorkers. We are nationally recognized for our treatment of substance use disorder as well as for the veteran-specific approach we pioneered. Our continuum of services includes health and mental health care, transitional and supportive housing, educational and vocational assistance, peer-assisted recovery, and specialized programs for adolescents, families and seniors. Annually, Samaritan Daytop Village serves over 33,000 people at more than 50 facilities throughout New York City, Long Island and upstate New York, and they continue to grow.Advertisement
Bright Horizons Foundation for Children: The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children is a nonprofit organization focused on brightening the lives of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness and other crises. We do this by creating and supporting Bright Spaces; warm, safe, enriching spaces in homeless shelters and other agencies for children and youth to build caring relationships, heal from trauma through play, and experience the joy of childhood. There are now more than 300 Bright Spaces located in shelters in more than 41 states around the country and Europe, serving 130,000 of children each year. More information can be found at www.brightspaces.org
Bright Horizons: Bright Horizons is trusted by families around the world to provide care and education for their children. Operating approximately 1,100 child care centers, Bright Horizons cares for approximately 120,000 children annually in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and India. Used by more than 1,100 of the world’s best employers across industries, Bright Horizons back-up child and elder care, tuition program management, education advising, and student loan repayment programs support employees through every life and career stage, and help people succeed at work and at home. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com
