2021 Adjusting to the "New Normal"

Similar to last year, What About The Children’s main focus was on helping the community deal with the impact of Covid and its variants. We continued to provide PPE, cleaning supplies, food and support to those in need. Our Program Director, Johnnymae Robinson, along with a group of volunteers, tirelessly worked to reach out to the community with provisions and help as the pandemic spread.

What About The Children collaborated with the Farm Stand to bring a weekly farmer’s market to Ocean Hill Brownsville. With donations from The Fashion Foundation, headed up by Amanda Munz, we happily distributed thousands of pajamas. Also, in conjunction with Burlington and Delivering Goods, we were able to provide 2,000 winter coats to the needy.

While some of our regular events had to be postponed due to Covid mandates, we were able to spread joy through the lighting of the Christmas tree in Hill Top park and our holiday toy event. With the help of the NYC Parks Department, we brightened up the park and the community’s spirit with the warm and colorful lights of a beautiful tree. We also brought holiday smiles to children in shelters and substandard living conditions as we distributed Christmas toys to them.

On a more somber note, it is with sadness that we announce the passing of Priscilla Lawrence, one of our board members. Her dedication and support of What About The Children and her loving spirit will be missed.

2020 A Multitude of Challenges

It was a catastrophic year, but What About The Children persevered. With the aid of corporations, community based organizations, religious groups, foundations, and volunteers, we were able to provide PPE, food, assistance, warm coats, clothes, toys and school supplies for so many people in our community. We felt blessed to partner with and be supported by so many groups. With their support and the support from members in our community, we provided help and hope for those in need.

Covid 19 brought devastation in many forms - illness, death and loss of jobs, income and housing - and had severe impact on minority communities such as ours. As the nation struggled to contain the spread of infection, Johnnymae Robinson, Program Director for What About The Children, along with Collective Fare Catering and Whitfield Catering and Events, LLC (under grant contract with World Central Kitchen) spearheaded the delivery of food, produce, masks and PPE supplies throughout the Ocean Hill Brownsville community. Their efforts were carried out by a group of energetic and compassionate volunteers. Together they delivered over 4,000 meals and hope to seniors and families in the Ocean Hill Brownsville community and beyond. As their efforts continue, we applaud and thank them for joining the ranks of the elite “Essential Workers”.

A typical day for Johnnymae …

A typical day for Johnnymae …

2019 A Year of Growth

The year ended with What About The Children, Inc. delivering warmth and happiness to members of the community through our warm coat initiative and our Secret Santa event. Burlington provided us with over one thousand coats that we distributed to those in need. In conjunction with a luncheon arranged by PS 178 for families in temporary housing, What About The Children, Inc. distributed Christmas presents to the delight of the children.

What About The Children, Inc. hosted a clean up event at Hill Top Community Park that was well attended. Neighbors and community organizations joined in with summer youth to spruce up and beautify our park. What About The Children, Inc. was recognized for the leadership role that it played during the organizing and renovation process.

The Fashion Foundation, a sponsor of What About The Children, Inc., helped build a library for PS 155 filling it with over $10,000 worth of brand new books. We attended the dedication ceremony in March.

In conjunction with The Brooklyn Museum, What About The Children, Inc. arranged a private tour of the special exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power for a select group of middle school students.

As part of the College Access For All program, we conducted 4 college tours - Iona College, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Mercy College and Bard College at Simon’s Rock - for middle school students.

What About The Children, Inc., courtesy of The Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance (DBNA), hosted a family outing at the Nassau Coliseum - The Longines Masters of New York, a top ranked equestrian competition.

We organized and escorted a group of students to view the screening of “Tell Them We Are Rising: The History of Black Colleges and Universities” at the Weeksville Heritage Center.

Moriah Cody, a member of our Youth Advisory Board and part of the Dorill Initiative, organized a pop-up art show series called Fade to Black. What About The Children, Inc. hosted a group of students to the event.

2018 A Strong Beginning and Joyful Finish

What About The Children, Inc finished 2017 with many achievements for our youth and community.  As we head into 2018, we're off to another great start.  We received the support of the Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance (DBNA) with a grant to fund our efforts with our youth initiatives.  In addition, the New York City Parks Department awarded us a grant to further our community involvement with our newly enhanced park.  We also facilitated 5 college tours for Mott Hall IV Middle School - two CUNY colleges, one private college, one SUNY college and one HBCU. We wrapped up the year with our Secret Santa and warm coat drives. It was truly a phenomenal year for our coat drive. Thanks to Johnnymae Robinson, our Project Director, this year’s coat drive was a huge success on many levels: in terms of the number of community based organizations that partnered with us, in terms of the numbers of coats that were donated, and in terms of the number of people that were kept warm by those coats. As always a big thanks to Burlington Stores for their continued generosity.

 

Community Enhancement

After almost a year of hard work, the newly renovated Saratoga Ballfield was opened to the community.  This was a joint project between the NYC Parks Department and the Oceanhill Brownsville community.  What About The Children, Inc. spearheaded the initiative.

January 2017

2017 - Off To A Good Start

We kicked off 2017 with a lot of flare.  What About The Children, Inc. was featured on Good Morning America (ABC, Ch 7) on Monday, January 23, along with our sponsor, KIDS/FASHION DELIVERS, Burlington.  We were being recognized for our good work in distributing thousands of coats to the needy of our communities.   Zora Hardamon, Executive Director, and Johnnymae Robinson, Project Coordinator, represented our organization.

 

Year End 2016

It just keeps getting better with another phenomenal year of giving.  Some highlights ...

Our warm coat drive was a huge success.  We were able to distribute many thousands of coats to schools, faith based organizations, shelters, community centers, family and friends.  Thanks to our sponsors, especially KIDS/FASHION DELIVERS, Burlington, and the many groups that held coat drives - PS312, MBOOTH, Resolute Digital, J. Gallery, PS101 and ABC Disney volunteers, and to our corporate sponsor,  Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, and to the many, many volunteers that helped is so many ways.

We were able to bring joy, toys and clothing to children and families through our Secret Santa project.

What About The Children, Inc. partnered with AmazonSmile to help raise funds for our charitable organization. 

The Fashion Foundation, headed up by Amanda Munz, sponsored our school, PSIS 155, with art and school supplies, in addition to participating in our park initiative.

What About The Children, Inc was awarded a $1,000 grant from the NYC Parks Department to raise community involvement and awareness for the renovation of the Saratoga Ballfield.  

Our college tour was well attended by over 60 students from several of our local schools. 

Year End 2015

What About The Children, Inc. wrapped up another successful year of giving to the community.  Our Secret Santa project put smiles on many faces as we distributed gifts to almost 60 children.  Our coat drive provided warmth of body and spirit as we handed out about 2,000 coats.  Our partnership with the Fashion Foundation contributed over $4,000 in uniforms, supplies and gym equipment to the children in PSIS 155.

Gaining Momentum!

A Big Thank You to Atlantic Yards/Nets/DBNA for the generous grant of $5K! We will surely be putting this dontation to great use. 

Making History! Bringing 23 Community Based Organizations together to collaborate as a unified group under the vision of Pastor Herbert Daughtry and his daughter Sharon Daughtry of the Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance. This new group is called the "First 23" and our goal is to bring supportive services to our community.


Keeping our Children Warm

A grandmother in California saw our name WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN on a website that has over 500 names, she chose us. She wrote this letter and hand made the scarves and hats for us to ensure that some young child is warm.

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