L-R Jamel Davis (Director of Teen & Sports Programs at Greenpoint YMCA), Y Scholars: Tamara Brade, Shannon Cusato, Alloura Salley, Katia Daniel, Cindy Alvear (light blue shirt), Michelle Duran, Maritza Valentine, Assemblyman Joe Lentol, Lisbeth Valdera, Alvaro Lopez, Desmond Vazquez, Marty Forth (Senior Director of Teen Programs & Services, YMCA of Greater New York), Wolfgang Bent, Principal Michael Shadrick (Principal at Williamsburg Prep School H.S. 561), Keith Hicks (Executive Director, Greenpoint YMCA), Rahim Rafig, Makesha Macey, Faisal Rahman (ISY (DYCD-ISY (In-School Youth) Program Director), Tasia Brown, Neil Giacobbi (AT&T, Public Affairs), Slava Rar (Assemblyman Lentol’s office) Jeff Mann

AT&T Awards $240,000 to YMCA

On Thursday, September 13th, AT&T awarded the YMCA of Greater New York $240,000 as part of the telecommunication giant’s Aspire education initiative. The funding will be used to expand the Y Scholars Program at Williamsburg Prep, helping an additional 60 freshmen and sophomores excel in their studies and prepare for college over the next two years.

The Y Scholars program is a high school success and college access initiative for grades 6th to 12th who come from low-income households. 92.8% of high school seniors who have participated in the program have graduated. 84.2% are entering college in the fall.

At the Williamsburg Prep library, AT&T executives gladly presented the check in an event attended by Williamsburg Prep Principal Michael Shadrick, Greenpoint Y Executive Director Keith Hicks and Director of Teen & Sports Jamel Davis, Assemblyman Joe Lentol and Y Scholars. Many spoke of the need for continued support for public education in the midst of severe cuts.

“I think every kid deserves the Y, and more importantly, to be a Y Scholar,” said Lentol. “And the way we get that is through this kind of partnership. It takes groups like the Y and AT&T to create an educational experience we can be proud of. We wish we had more corporate sponsors who understood how important education is.”

Williamsburg Prep senior Alloura Salley, 17, spoke of the positive role the Y Scholars Program has had on her life. “I’ve been a part of the program for almost 2 years. The Y has pushed me into being a better person and motivated me to not just look at the world in pieces but as a whole.” Upon graduating in June, Salley plans to study childhood education at Long Island University and pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.

Since its creation in 2008, the Aspire program has given over $100 million to school programs, benefiting more than 1 million students.

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