There’s been a lot in the news lately about making sure all New Yorkers have an equal opportunity to succeed in this great city. This year, Riis Settlement decided to showcase our role in that process by having some of our participants talk directly to our friends and supporters about why it’s so important to support Riis Settlement as we work to address inequality and build self-sufficiency among the 1,800 individual lives we touch each year. Our 2013-2014 Annual Appeal emails included stories from volunteers, seniors and immigrants who have come through the doors of Riis Settlement. Thanks in part to their help, we are well over half-way towards our goal for raising critical operating funds for the year. In case you missed the emails, here’s a little bit of their stories. And don’t worry – there’s still time for you to make your donation!
Volunteer Kim Kullmer talked about the young people she works with:
“ … I have been working at Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement’s Ravenswood site for nearly 5 years as a volunteer through Riis Settlement’s partnership with NY Cares. A few of the girls there are dancers. They aren’t just dancers, they are extremely talented dancers with precise spins and beautiful lines. The sweetest thing for me has been watching some of the older kids engage with the younger ones, teaching them tricks and turns. They have even tried to teach me (although, I’m pretty sure I will be forever uncoordinated!) and the other volunteers from NY Cares. Friends of mine are often shocked at my dedication to the program because it happens every Saturday. The truth is, I can’t imagine not being involved. … I can only hope the kids are half as inspired as I am when I leave.”
Honorina Moran shared how Riis Settlement’s Senior Center gave her an ID card so she finally had something to prove her eligibility for a reduced bus fare. Her daughter, Martha Moran, talked about the “ugly feeling” she got when people said they couldn’t understand her English, and the fear that caused, especially when it came to trying to find a job to support her and her son. Martha Moran took English classes at Riis Settlement, and her mom participates in exercise classes at the senior center. They both marched for comprehensive immigration reform this year. “There are many people like myself with fear,” she told us. There is the fear of being misunderstood, of being harassed, and the fear of trying something new. … I’d like to encourage people to support,” she said. “I’m not afraid now.”
This is what happens when you support Riis Settlement. If you have not made a donation yet, please help us reach our goal for this year so we can continue to provide comprehensive services for the youth, seniors, immigrants and families of Western Queens. From sending our youth off to Denmark for our cultural exchange program and engaging local and community volunteers, to simple things like taking exercise classes and receiving an ID card, Riis Settlement helps people make the connections they need to pursue future success. Please donate now.
