745 Children Visited During Holidays

We had a very hectic couple of weeks prior to Christmas - starting with all the toy deliveries by different individuals and organizations over several days, and three nights in a row of gift wrapping with the help of 89 volunteers from a number of organizations throughout Brooklyn, as well as out of state. There were 44 volunteers from Ohio and Virginia who helped our staff visit all the families on our roster, which included about 745 children visited.

Hundreds of children and families came through the Children of the City doors to pick up gifts and groceries. The charity's executive director, Joyce Mattera said she is really pleased with the outcome and the great connections that were made through the Christmas project.

Children of the City serves the children and families of Southwest Brooklyn, and has for more than twtwenty years. Families have overcome welfare and poverty, substance abuse and lifestyles of violence and gang activity. And they are now pouring back into the community and volunteering their time into this organization.

In fact Joyce Mattera, the executive director of Children of the City was interviewed by Sandra Bookman from channel 7 Eye witness 5:00 news. Here's the link.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/media?id=5845687

A Dark and Stormy Night at Children of the City

Here is a great story about how sometimes things don't always go our way. The original story was also posted by another one of our Children of the City board members, Julia Masi.

"As the days grow shorter and darker, it’s wise to live by Murphy’s Law. Children of the City’s annual toy drive made a wrong turn onto an obstacle course last Monday when scheduling problems caused a benefactor to push back the delivery date on a pledge for 300 toys," said Masi.

Children of the City's Daniel Ramos had worked very hard on this year's toy drive -- securing donations and organizing a series of gift wrapping events that started last Wednesday. Most of the toys were scheduled to arrive by Thursday, so on Friday he arranged for a dozen volunteers from NYCares, along with Board Members like me, who were supposed to help contribute the toys. Daniel had everything planned so that each volunteer would have plenty to do at each event.

But Mother Nature had other plans. Grey skies and stormy clouds caused further delays on Thursday, as snow, sleet and rain hit the tri-states. Not even half of the deliveries made it to our headquarters that night. Although only a few volunteers bailed out of we had 60 willing and able gift wrappers from Volunteer NYC, Old Navy, and several high school students, who patiently waited as a few of the toys trickled in.

The organizers tried tricks like stalling and feeding the gang with a buffet of buffalo wings and all the extras. Plus they told favorite home visit anecdotes. But all said, things were looking pretty bad until I asked everyone to come outside and help.

Our Basile family car had become Santa’s sleigh with 12 Razor scooters and a number of hot toys purchased by my very generous friends, relatives and The Basile Group business associates. All the volunteers were so excited while they got busy wrapping Hannah Montana, Barbie and Bratz dolls.

In fact, I would love tho thank everyone who was generous enough to donate toys to me. You really saved the day! Sometimes you don't realize how much of an effect you have. I'm here to tell you that your generousity was a blessing for the volunteers, Children of the City and especially all of the children that were fortunate enough to receive your gifts.

To read Julia's blog post, go to: Children's Charities

Children of the City Toy Drive

This last weekend included the last night of gift wrapping parties for the Children of the City Toy Drive. It's been a great week - wrapping presents and giving out the gifts. We still will be giving out more presents this week. Some of the neediest families from the younger group that came in on Saturday will be able to pick up an additional presents, and the group will also be distributing more toys to after school kids this next Wednesday. Saturday was amazing! It was packed. The upstairs session included the 8-14 group of kids, while ages 2- 7 were downstairs.
As you can see, we got some great photos too! It was wonderful to see how good people felt by participating.

I spoke briefly with the charity's Executive Director Joyce Mattera who said that this has been a powerful time. She mentioned that the first floor fellowship hall was filled with parents and a woman who represented State Farm was there to speak with them. The parents were all talking about their challenges and getting encouragement, advice and much needed support from her, plus our staff, who all hail from silimlar backgrounds.

Some time this week we will know how many toys were raised, how many kids benefitted, and how many volunteers we had.

People who are interested in helping out or donating can go to ChildrenoftheCity.org

Help us with Just One Gift

It's that time again. The annual "Just One Gift" campaign at Children of the City just launched.

Each December, hundreds of children who are at-risk children gather and get to receive a new gift. Every year, during the holiday season people from New York and around the country open up their hearts and generously partner with us so that we can bring smiles to young people.

Here's the thing. It would be really nice if your company or organization could help too, by partnering with us to secure toys. The festivities are this Saturday, December 15th. If you would like to help get toys for the kids, just email info@childrenofthecity.org and mention my name -- Rocco Basile.

Or anyone is welcome to drop off a brand-new unwrapped gift also if they are in the neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY! If you can't donate a toy but would like to make a donation, then all you need to do is simply click here. You can donate right from our website. It's fast, secure, and easier than mailing a check. You won't have to worry about your privacy, because PayPal keeps your account information safe, and you don't need a PayPal account to use it.
Thank you.

Child Abuse in Brooklyn NY

Did you know that there are 17 thousand cases of child abuse in Brooklyn? 48 percent high school drop out rate. Of the 30 thousand students, 15 thousand are dropouts. One out of every three families lives below the poverty line. Some kids wear sandals in the winter. There are drugs, disease, gang violence, and crime. There are about a thousand deaths per year.

I decided eight years ago to join the Board of an organization called Children of the City - to help do something about these statistics. This is happening right in our own back yard in Sunset Park. There are hundreds of people in need of intervention, children in need of education, and families in need of counseling, and hope. And our motivational quote is that Children of the City "is an organization making a difference."

This group was founded in 1981, and is a volunteer-based outreach that connects these people in need with basic services, educational and employment training, health care, counseling, and many opportunities for personal growth.

If you are familiar with my work (Rocco Basile) then you already know that I am helping to reach children at risk and who can be resilient if they are given the right intervention and education. In fact if you would like to help, please join us at http://www.childrenofthecity.org/

Why we Should Spend Time Helping to Educate Students with Learning Disabilities

Aside from working with my family at the Basile Builders Group, I spend time working on organizing The Joe DiMaggio Award Gala, which is the major fundraiser for Xaverian. By the way, its programs for students with learning disabilities, including the Ryken Program, is presently adopted by the New York State Regents as the model of all such endeavors.

Xaverian High School offers the very best in secondary education not only in New York City, but throughout New York State. The school serves young men from disadvantaged backgrounds, boys with learning disabilities and students that are in financial need. In fact, if it were not for the generosity of alumni, parents and friends, many of these students would not be able to afford a quality, college-preparatory education.

Approximately 10 percent of the Xaverian enrollment includes students with learning difficulties, but Xaverian is one of only four schools, and the only Catholic school, to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Created for the children of diplomats, students who graduate with an IB Diploma may be eligible to enter Ivy League schools as sophomores. Of the Class of 2005, 25 percent matriculated to Ivy League schools or the equivalent.

The Joe DiMaggio committee that I am on raises money to help financially challenged families give their children a good education. I have been part of this group of community minded individuals who donate time for eight years.

Another influential person in my life has been Deepak Chopra. I have read many of his books and enjoy the fact that Chopra talks about the Law of Dharma and how we are here to discover our higher self or spiritual self.

This prompted me to ask myself, “Who is Rocco Basile and what is his talent?” How can I serve? I decided that I can serve by sharing my experiences and showing others how to live a life of ethics, morals and a strong sense of principal. There is tranquility and happiness in a life that you can be proud of.

One of the elements that I realized is so critical to this process is that it begins with education. I firmly believe that educating our youth and being a role model gives them an understanding of this principal.

Feeding 400 Families

In November, we helped with donations to feed 400 families (or 800 people) at the Children of the City (childrenofthecity.org) annual Thanksgiving food drive. Children of the City has reached thousands of children at home, school, and on the streets and playgrounds since its inception in 1981. Julia Masi talks about it in her blog post here.

It's pretty cool -- this year we went to different food distributors and asked them to donate turkeys and canned foods. We obtained enough food to feed more than 800 people, which my family and I, and other members of Children of the City helped distribute to the families. We had fun, and it felt great.

I know that it is possible to effectively reach and change the lives of many families with support like this -- improving their quality of life by breaking the cyclical effects of poverty and giving them future hope.

This charity serves underprivileged children and families in the inner-city communities of Southwest Brooklyn, helping them to overcome welfare and poverty. Many of them have turned away from lifestyles of violence, overcoming substance abuse.

During the year the organization maintains current information on over 500 families in the community, giving them encouragement and resources, and hoping to give them a better tomorrow.

Rocco Basile: Spending Time with Children of the City

I went to Xaverian High School, which offers the very best in secondary education throughout New York State. The school primarily serves young men from disadvantaged backgrounds, and boys with learning disabilities. Approximately 10 percent of the Xaverian enrollment includes students with learning difficulties.

I spend my charitable time working on organizing The Joe DiMaggio Award Gala, the annual fundraiser for Xaverian High School. Proceeds of this event are shared for the greater good of the community. The school is rooted in Brooklyn, NY, and Xaverian primarily has a strong Italian-American swing.

I am also on the Board of Directors of Children of the City, where I recently helped with a food drive over Thanksgiving. Since 1981, Children of the City has been serving the underprivileged children in the inner-city communities of Southwest Brooklyn. Our team includes many certified professionals, along with 50 highly committed and trained volunteers who visit about one thousand children each month. During the year we maintain current information on over 500 families in the community, giving them encouragement and resources, and hoping to give them a better tomorrow.

Aside from working with my family, The Basile Builders, I have been spending more and more time with my charities in recent years. Why? Because I read a passage from Steven Covey's book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey asks you to begin with the end in mind and suggest that you imagine a funeral. Then as you approach the coffin, you realize that it’s your own funeral. Your friends and family will be giving eulogies. What will they say? Did you live a life that you could be proud of? What kind of father and friend were you?

The book also speaks of an emotional bank account and how when you do good things for others you are making deposits in the emotional bank accounts of others. As these deposits grow, your relationships grow. There may be times that you make a withdrawal, like a broken promise or a hurtful statement, but if your emotional bank account is full from past deposits, you will be forgiven. This concept has helped me repair my personal relationships and has changed the way I treat others. I firmly believes that educating our youth and serving as a role model gives them an understanding of this principal.