Announcements
In 2010, Lydia M. Pitts, Esq, one of Steinway’s dearest friends and strongest supporters, passed away. At the time of her death, Ms. Pitts was Vice Chairman of SCFS’ Board of Directors and had served on that body for nearly 25 years. She was also Vice President and General Counsel for AXA Equitable. Ms. Pitts brought an extraordinary range of skills to her work at Steinway. Her knowledge, wit and her extraordinary humanity is sorely missed by the entire Steinway family. To honor this major figure in Steinway’s history, the agency established the Lydia M. Pitts Memorial Fund. Contributions can be made by CLICKING HERE.
News
Xcel University and Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) donate $65,000 to Steinway Child and Family Services in Long Island City, Queens, NY
New York, NY (September 27, 2011): At a press conference held on Wednesday, September 21st at the Clive Davis Theater at the Grammy Museum, Los Angeles, CA, Metta World Peace (formerly known as Ron Artest) and his nonprofit, Xcel University, announced a donation of $65,000 to Steinway Child and Family Services, in Long Island City, NY.
Mary D. Redd, President and CEO, accepted the donation and stated that “the grant will help enhance our youth living in our community residence as they make the transition from the hospital to community care. Our work involves working not only with the child and his/her family but with our community partners, schools, community centers and faith based organizations. The goal is to have every youth function at optimal level. We will further enhance our ability through this grant to work more intensely with the youth in our Teen Peer Educational Program which helps youth ages 16-21 to understand the importance of making choices. For every choice there is consequence. The goal here is to be proactive, not reactive. The Queensbridge Community loves you, Metta World Peace and says thank you for remembering, and I, on behalf of Steinway, thank you so much.”
Steinway’s donation was the largest among eight gifts totaling $299,000 that Mr. World Peace and his nonprofit organization, Xcel University, is making to mental health providers throughout the country.
The donation was made possible from the proceeds of the “Win My Bling” raffle, where Mr. World Peace raffled off his 2010 LA Lakers Championship Ring and pledged that the proceeds would be donated to benefit mental health charities nationwide.
Other health care providers benefiting from the donation include:
- Child Center of New York, Woodside, NYo Centers for Youth and Families, Little Rock, AK
- Cleveland Christian Home, Cleveland, OH
- Centerstone of Central Tennessee, Nashville, TN
- Community Health Network, Indianapolis, IN
- Families Reaching Out for Rainbow, Indianapolis, IN
- Reach for Youth, Inc., Indianapolis, IN
About Steinway Child and Family Services, Inc.
Steinway Child and Family Services, Inc. is a voluntary, non-sectarian and non-profit human services agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for its clients which include children, families and adults, by restoring them to their optimal level of functioning. To counter the effects of poverty, family breakdown and other social pathologies experienced by many New Yorkers, we provide a wide range of human services within the City of New York.
Our programs provide a full range of mental health and social services including psychiatric examinations, on-going treatment and referrals – all designed to meet client needs which may include acute situational disorder, chronic mental illness, family breakup, domestic violence prevention, substance abuse and AIDS/HIV services and prevention. It is our abiding goal to meet the needs of the people we serve regardless of their ability to pay. It is through the generous donations of individuals and institutions that we are able to accomplish this during these difficult economic times.
About Xcel University:
The Mission of Xcel University, established by Ron Artest, is to encourage children and teens living in high-poverty and high-risk environments to complete their education, get good grades, and encourage students to become community leaders by volunteering their time and giving back to their communities. Xcel University works with community centers and schools to identify high-risk students and give these students tools and incentives to live a positive, healthy lifestyle.
MARY D. REDD TO RECEIVE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE AWARD
FROM HARLEM HOSPITAL ADVISORY BOARD
Contact: Ana Tejada
718 389-5100, Ext. 115
Mary D. Redd, SCFS President and CEO, will be honored by the Harlem Hospital Center Community Advisory Board at its Annual Public Meeting on Saturday, April 30th. She will receive the Committee’s Community Health Service Award. It will be presented at the Board’s 2011 annual meeting in the Herbert G. Cave Auditorium of Harlem Hospital.
As the Director of two Steinway’s two Harlem-based programs for older African Americans, the Grandparents Empowerment Movement or GEM program and the Esplanade Gardens NORC-type program, Ms Redd has focused on the health and wellness of minorities.
Ms. Redd says “I have become very assertive about fostering wellness among GEM and NORC members. Because older Blacks are less healthy and more prone to chronic disabilities than the elderly population as a whole I want to make GEM and NORC a model for preventive care and for dealing with disability.
Steinway’s statistics indicate the importance of this effort. Over 90% of GEM and approximately 75% of NORC members live with mild to severe chronic disabilities.
Because of Ms. Redd’s work, GEM and NORC members are now regularly screened for diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate cancer and cholesterol levels. They also get annual flu and pneumonia vaccines. Women are encouraged to get mammograms. All of this is possible through a partnership with Harlem Hospital that Ms Redd was instrumental in creating.
GEM serves grandparents with child care responsibilities. Members care for the children of their children. The NORC, which is short for a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, serves older residents of Esplanade Gardens through recreational, cultural and educational activities.
Ms. Redd notes that “my involvement with these two programs makes the Advisory Board’s award so important to me. I thank everyone at the Harlem Hospital Center who made this possible.”
Recently, Ms. Redd’s numerous contributions to improving health and human services for those in need have been recognized by both the Mid-Manhattan Branch NAACP and the Human Services Council.