Bronxville Students and Parents Bring Holiday Joy to Children of Graham Windham School
Jan. 15, 2014: Each year several holiday traditions, all sponsored by Bronxville students and residents, bring Christmas to the residents of Graham Windham, a special home in Hastings-on-Hudson for children, youth, and families affected by abuse, neglect, and delinquency.
Bronxville Middle School seventh graders, for example, have, over the last 20 years, purchased and wrapped toys, games, stuffed animals, and much more for the children at The Graham School who have nowhere to go on Christmas Day. The gift-giving effort for the kids comes out of the seventh grade advisory. The kids earn money by doing chores around the house, babysitting, or doing anything they can think of, and then the money is brought to the advisor. This year they earned $1,500.
After all the money has been collected in each advisory, the kids go out in groups and purchase appropriate gifts for the children. The gifts are wrapped during an advisory period and brought to the Graham Windham van and taken to the school. According to teacher and organizer of the project Gene Orsenigo, "It is a meaningful experience for our kids, and it is something they really enjoy doing."
Another tradition, the Graham Windham stocking tradition, is made possible with the help of the Bronxville Youth Council (BYC). Members of the BYC executive committee (made up of high school students) ask for donations from the community, and interested high school students are invited to help stuff the stockings.
Each year the students receive more than enough goodies to fill approximately 50 stockings. These stockings are for residents who must remain on campus during the holidays. This year over 50 high school students joined the BYC to stuff the stockings. "Much care is put into the stuffing of each stocking. It is a really great chance to give a small amount of time and make a big difference to the GW kids' Christmas mornings," according to Brigid Buendia, the parent volunteer who spearheads this effort.
Lastly, the Adopt-a-Cottage Program brings the holidays to the campus. For over 20 years, a group known as the Bronxville Friends has been led by board chair and Bronxville resident Georgia Wall Gogel. In 2004, the group kicked off its annual Adopt-a-Cottage project at the residential campus in Hastings-on-Hudson.
Each holiday season, the Bronxville Friends decorates cottages on the campus with the kids and provides gifts. The Adopt-a-Cottage chairs--Fran Eigendorff, Andre Koester, Jennifer Mackesy, Cindy Randall, Jennifer Russo, and Georgia Wall Gogel--are extremely grateful to all of our Bronxville friends and youth volunteers for making the season merry and bright . . . and for all that they do year-round for these children!
To learn more about Graham Windham, please visit the website: www.graham-windham.org.
Pictured here: Bronxville seventh grade students after wrapping toys for Graham Windham students.
Photo courtesy Jennifer Mackesy, Member, Bronxville Graham Windham Committee
Community Service Organizations Directory
HOME & GARDEN
Bronxville Beautification Council
Organized in 1982, the Bronxville Beautification Council (BBC) is a not-for-profit organization administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The mission of the BBC is to enhance and maintain the natural and man-made beauty of the village of Bronxville, with an emphasis on the downtown business district.
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Boulder Ledge Garden Club
Founded in 1966, the Boulder Ledge Garden Club is rooted in a mission to inspire a deeper appreciation and love for gardening and flower arranging. The club is dedicated to fostering and promoting interest and knowledge in gardening.
The Club maintains Bronxville’s Bicentennial Park and other civic gardens. In 2019–2020 the club raised $18,000 to replace trees in the village, reflecting its active role in community beautification. It also holds garden therapy projects and educational garden trips for members.
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Bronxville Giving Garden
The Bronxville Giving Garden is a community-centered garden that donates organic produce to Eastchester Community Action Partnership in Tuckahoe and Community Service Associates in Mount Vernon. The garden is also a gathering place where school children and volunteers can discover the joy of tending plants and growing food.
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Bronxville Green Committee
The Bronxville Green Committee is a volunteer organization that is part of the Village of Bronxville. It proposes and implements environmentally sustainable programs in our community.
You can contact them HERE.
SCOUTING
Bronxville Boy Scouts
The village of Bronxville has a long tradition of scouting. “The troops and packs of Bronxville have maintained the finest scouting organizations and have taught the boys of the Bronxville area to be leaders and outstanding members of the local, national and global communities.”
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Bronxville Girls Scouts
The Girls Scouts is “the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.” In Girl Scouts, “girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Through the many enriching experiences provided by Girl Scouts, they can grow courageous and strong.”
Here is more information about girl scouts.
HISTORY
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
Inspired by the highly successful Bronxville Centennial Celebration in 1998, the Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded to record and preserve Bronxville's history and life in the village today.
BRONXVILLE SCHOOL
Bronxville School Foundation
The Bronxville School Foundation, founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization independent from the school with the sole purpose of supporting the school.
The mission of the Bronxville School Foundation is to enhance the quality of public education in our community by engaging the support and energies of educators, citizens, parents, students and alumni.
The Foundation awards grants for projects
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LECTURES, EXHIBITS, CONCERTS
Bronxville Women's Club
The Bronxville Women’s Club offers lectures, exhibits and concerts. It also has a beautiful clubhouse which is available for rental for events.
135 Midland Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3252
Concordia Conservatory
Concordia Conservatory, a preeminent center for music education in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, is a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.
The Conservatory’s mission is to inspire, instruct, and enrich lives through music offering excellence in education and performance.
CLICK HERE for more information.
COUNSELING
Counseling Center
Founded in 1971, the mission of the Counseling Center “is to provide a wide range of psychotherapeutic and counseling services to individuals, couples and families by a staff of highly trained, experience and dedicated psychotherapists.
The Counseling Center
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-3388
www.counselingcenter.org
SERVICE & VOLUNTEERISM
Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe
The mission of the Community Fund is “to support broad social services in Bronxville 10708, Eastchester and Tuckahoe through grants and technical support to local agencies and community projects. All money raised here in our community stays here in our community.”
15 Park Place
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-8808
www.thecommunityfund.org
Junior League of Bronxville
The Junior League of Bronxville is “an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.”
Rotary Club of Bronxville
The Rotary Club of Bronxville is part of a national network of 1.25 million problem-solvers. They see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
READING & LEARNING
Friends of the Bronxville Library
The Friends of the Bronxville Library is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to focus attention on the “Library’s services, facilities and needs” as well as sponsor projects and provide materials that are beyond the reach of the Library's regular budget and perform other services.
SENIORS
Gramatan Village
Gramatan Village is a unique community model offering programs, services and social connections that help members continue to live independently in their homes as they age. In addition, GV offers one-on-one consultations and counseling with our experienced staff to guide members through life’s transitions.
Senior Citizens of Bronxville
Senior Citizens of Bronxville is a not-for-profit organization that provides services and programs to seniors within the 10708 zip code area. “Programs cover a wide range of activities from educational seminars and cultural enrichment to community services, bridge classes and exercise.”
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