One Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, NY, December 24, 2018: Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams thanked Brooklynites who participated in his annual holiday collection drive, which collected more than 2,500 new books and more than 1,100 pairs of new pajamas for children ages 3 to 11 at family shelters across Brooklyn. The donation drive, which was jointly organized with One Brooklyn Fund Inc., was conducted from Tuesday, November 6th through Tuesday, December 18th, highlighted by a Christmas tree lighting on Wednesday, December 12th where underserved youth attended an exclusive party at Brooklyn Borough Hall with holiday refreshments and interactive entertainment; members of Girl Scouts Troop 6000, which specially serves thousands of girls living in shelters across New York City, helped Borough President Adams light the 30-foot-tall tree in Columbus Park. Borough President Adams’ holiday drive was made possible through the support of community and corporate partners, as well as the generosity of Brooklynites dropping off items at a variety of area banks, businesses, cultural institutions, libraries, and schools. As Borough President Adams delivered books and pajamas yesterday to children at Flatlands Family Residence in Canarsie, as part of his ongoing “Adopt-A-Shelter” initiative that engages local businesses, houses of worship, and community organizations to provide resources and support for shelters in their neighborhoods, he underscored the value of giving back.
“When I was a kid, groups like the Salvation Army and local churches made it possible for my family to celebrate the holiday season,” said Borough President Adams. “As Brooklyn borough president, I’m proud that our Adopt-A-Shelter initiative harnesses the power of community to support our homeless neighbors in need. All of our young people, regardless of their circumstances, deserve warm pajamas to wear at night and good books to inspire their imaginations as they dream.”
“We are humbled by the support that One Brooklyn Fund Inc. received this holiday season to support underserved children and families,” said Lori H. Luis, executive director of One Brooklyn Fund Inc. “It is our hope that this generosity and corporate citizenship continues beyond the holidays and extends into a brighter 2019 for all Brooklynites.”
Borough President Adams’ holiday collection drive was sponsored by East West Bank; National Grid; Radio 103,9, and Target. Brooklyn Borough Hall’s Christmas tree was sponsored by Mardi Gras Productions. Partners on the donation drive and tree lighting celebration included Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond and World Market at BEYOND Liberty View; Delivering Good; Footprints Café; Green-Wood; Movers, Not Shakers; Sears, and The Girl Friends®, Inc. In addition to Brooklyn Borough Hall, holiday collection drive drop-off sites included Alliance of Resident Theaters/New York’s LuEsther T. Mertz South Oxford Space; PS/MS 492 Academy of Arts & Letters; Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM); Brooklyn Public Library’s Bay Ridge Branch, Central Branch, Clinton Hill Branch, Crown Heights Branch, Macon Branch, and Midwood Branch; The Corcoran Group’s offices on Bedford Avenue,. Fulton Street, Lafayette Avenue, Montague Street, and Pierrepont Plaza; Flushing Bank locations on Third Avenue, 13th Avenue, Avenue J, Havemeyer Street, and Montague Street; Investors Bank locations on Atlantic Avenue and Court Street; as well as Ponce Bank locations on 86th Street, Ralph Avenue, and Smith Street.
“The staff at Barnes & Noble Park Slope has been hard at work since November 1st to collect donations from customers to support One Brooklyn Fund Inc.’s books and pajamas drive as part of our annual holiday book drive, now in its 20th year!” said Caitlin Johnson, community business development manager at Barnes & Noble. “We look forward to participating in this year’s tree lighting and sharing our love of reading with a special story time featuring Dr. Seuss’ ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas.’”
“Footprints Café is proud to partner with Borough President Adams and his staff in this year’s holiday tree lighting and donation drive,” said Robert Gordon, president and CEO of Footprints Café. “As ‘Brooklyn’s Kitchen,’ we are thrilled to help bring holiday cheer to Brooklynites during this festive season.”
“In the season of giving, the Brooklyn Chapter of The Girl Friends®, Inc. is honored to annually support Borough President Adams’ holiday drive, and warm the hearts of children throughout Brooklyn,” said Lisa Stenson Desamours, president of the Brooklyn chapter of The Girl Friends®, Inc. “We are proud of the work that One Brooklyn Fund Inc. does across the borough to uplift our communities.”
“Our staff looks forward to being a part of this wonderful program every year,” said Richard J. Moylan, president of Green-Wood. “We’re so pleased to help collect and also distribute the gifts on behalf of Borough President Adams. We wish everyone in Brooklyn a wonderful holiday season.”
“The annual lighting of the Brooklyn Borough Hall Christmas tree is a very special time of the year to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends,” said John Bruckner, president of National Grid New York. “I’m proud of our Power to Serve employee volunteers for their commitment and support in collecting books and pajamas to ensure that children in our local community can enjoy the wonder and miracle of the holiday season.”
“There’s nothing better than ending a day snuggled in warm pajamas while a good book fills the mind with imagination,” said Thomas Song, director of partnerships for Sears. “Sears and Kmart are honored to help Borough President Adams ensure more children can have this magical experience.”
“Target is proud to participate with Borough President Adams in bringing joy to children and their families in our community,” said Kelly McGarrity, New York Metro community engagement and volunteer coordinator for Target. “A warm pair of pajamas and a new book can not only promote literacy but will help children create a bedtime routine that helps them transition to a more restful sleep. The benefits of a restful sleep are so important to their overall health and well-being.”
“Reading gives children the opportunity to travel beyond the confines of their daily lives and builds skills to last a lifetime,” said Peter Meyer, NYC market president for TD Bank. “TD is grateful to play a part in providing cozy new pajamas and books for children to cuddle up with during the holidays.”
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