News & Events

BYC Board Scheduling Anniversary Gala for February 2005!!

Preparations are underway for BYC’s first anniversary gala since we originally implemented the program in 1986. The event will, however, celebrate the end of our first year as a 21st Century Community Learning Center provider. The associated grant from the New York State Education Department has contributed greatly to our ability to expand our program and our professional staff. We are grateful for the funding and program training we are receiving as a result of this important, new partnership with State education professionals.

Summer Campers Travel to South Carolina

Attention Junior High Students! Join our 21st Century Program!

As a native of South Carolina, Earnestine is found of bringing her summer campers to the deep south for some southern hospitality, history and fun. This year’s group of nearly 60 campers traveled to Myrtle Beach, stopping along the way to learn about the Civil War and the history of this country’s African-American community. Of course, trip planners made sure that there was time for campers to enjoy one of the East Coast’s great beaches!

 

 

 

Photo On the Way!

Welcome Volvo, A Valued Funding Partner

BYC is extremely proud to welcome Volvo Cars of North America as our newest, corporate funding partner. Every day, people bring their knowledge, skills and common values together to make Volvo one of the most respected companies in the world. As part of their corporate responsibility, Volvo supports worthy causes and programs. We are sincerely grateful that we have become one of those programs.

Earnestine Russell is Named a Volvo For Life Hero, Wins Grand Prize

Earnestine Russell was named “America’s Greatest Hometown Hero” at the second annual Volvo for Life awards ceremony in Time Square on April 7, 2004. The ceremony capped off the largest-ever national search for and celebration of everyday heroes. More than 3,000 hometown heroes were nominated for the award between September 2003 and Valentine’s Day 2004. Volvo selected 100 semi-finalists and narrowed the field to the top three finalists in each of three categories: safety, quality of life and environment. A panel of eight judges—Hank Aaron, Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Lin, Paul Newman, Dr. Sally Ride, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Robert Young (the 2003 grand prize award winner)—reviewed the finalists and selected a winner in each of the three categories.

Not only was Earnestine the winner in the quality of life category for her work founding and running BYC, she was the competition’s grand prize winner, securing her a new Volvo every three years for as long as she can legally drive a car! More importantly, as the winner in the quality of life category, BYC received a $50,000 donation from Volvo, a documentary highlighting Earnestine’s work with BYC and a vast amount of press that has generated additional interest in the program. Since the announcement of her award, Earnestine has appeared as a guest on a number of national and local television and radio programs, promoting BYC and the needs of the children of the Northeast Bronx.

Earnestine was nominated for the award by BYC grant consultant, Suzanne Daycock, who says that she originally nominated her simply to let her know what she thought of her work. Suzanne says that she was thrilled to learn that Earnestine had actually won the contest!

To read about Earnestine and review the documentary produced by Volvo, visit www.volvoforlifeaward.com. Developed by Volvo Cars of North America, the Volvo for Life Awards is a national public service program that seeks out and celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Earnestine discovers that she is the grand prize winner.

Earnestine receives the key to her new Volvo from Volvo Cars of North America’s president Hans Olov-Olssen.

Baychester Youth Council, Inc.

BYC Qualifies to Offer Supplemental Education Services (SES)

If your child is receiving a free school lunch, he or she may also be eligible to receive free tutoring through the NYC Department of Education’s Supplement Education Services program. In early September, BYC received its qualifications from the NYS Education Department to provide SES services to children in the Bronx who need help with English Language Arts. Children will receive tutoring two days each week in small working groups of no more than four students. They will also receive all of the services available through our after-school program. For an application, call BYC at 718-325-9484.

NYC’s Martin’s Volvo Conducts Fall Fundraiser for BYC!

We are honored to announce that our good friends at Martin’s Volvo of Manhattan selected BYC to be the recipient of funds raised by the retailer during Volvo Drive for life Days — a weekend-long effort by nearly 300 Volvo retailers in cities nationwide to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for their local charities. Martin’s Volvo invited New Yorkers to visit its facility on October 9 and 11 to test drive any 2005 model Volvo car.  For each test-drive taken, the retailer donated $10 to BYC! On behalf of BYC’s board, staff and especially our kids, we offer our heartfelt thanks to Martin’s Volvo and to Volvo Cars of North America for their support of local programs like ours..

 

BYC Karate Academy & Our Kids Host A Major Area Tournment

Over 100 area young people gathered in the Baychester Community Center on November 6th to participate in BYC Karate Academy’s 5th bi-annual tournament. These tournaments are our way of encouraging our kids to show off all of the hard work and discipline that goes into earning their belt! Master Wes Drumgold watched proudly as BYC’s entrants bravely performed before the tournament judges, their peers from six area dojos, and a crowd of well-wishers that numbered in the hundreds - filling the gym to its legal capacity! Congratulations kids! We’re proud of you!

BYC’s Tournament Team

BYC Kids Enjoy Christmas Thanks to Program Friends!

BYC would like to thank Martin’s Volvo, the New York Yankees, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. and our good friends with the Village of Suffern Police Department for your generous donations of funding, toys and clothing this year. Thanks to your generosity, nearly 200 children will receive gifts this year. For some of them, it will be the only Christmas gift that they receive. Thank your, again, for your support from the bottom of our hearts!