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
Bronxville Beautification Council
Organized in 1982 and incorporated in 1993, the Bronxville Beautification Council (BBC) is a not for profit organization administered by a Board of Directors. Its mission is to enhance and maintain the natural and man-made beauty of Bronxville Village, with emphasis on the downtown business district of Bronxville. The BBC uses the dollars raised in its annual spring solicitation letter to residents to fund the mum, tulip and summer flower plantings downtown and at traffic intersections, as well as the summer hanging baskets. Every few years the group spearheads such major endeavors as the renovation of Leonard Morange Square on the west side of the railroad tracks and the beautification of the Lawrence Hospital traffic circle, which included the addition of plants and the building of the fountain that now makes a gracious western portal to our town. The BBC also works with other civic groups to monitor the aesthetics of retail signage, the consistency of sidewalk materials, and litter and graffiti. During Beautify Bronxville Week, the BBC sponsors a poetry reading and works with Scout groups on the annual village clean-up.
Bronxville Beautification Council
PO Box 127
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-779-6123
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.”
There are several Boy Scout Troops in Bronxville, including Troops 1, 2, 4, and 5.
Bronxvillle 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.”
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
The Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded in 1998 to further the understanding and appreciation of the history and current life of the village. The Conservancy furthers its mission through the presentation of programs, publications, lectures and special events that foster an awareness of the village's architectural, artistic and cultural heritage, and lends its support for projects designed to strengthen and preserve those legacies. Anyone who is interested in the Bronxville and its history can become a member; varying levels of membership are available.
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
PO Box 989
Bronxville, New York 10708
http://bronxvillehistoricalconservancy.org/
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 Foundation raises money each year through donations from school families, community members, and alumni, among others.These contributions fund grants that provide cutting-edge technology, innovative programs and curriculum and other resources that are beyond the scope of public school funding.
177 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-395-0515
https://www.bronxvilleschoolfoundation.org/
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
www.bronxvillewomensclub.org
Bronxville Youth Council
The Bronxville Youth Council provides volunteer and leadership opportunities for high school students in the village of Bronxville.
177 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-395-0500 ext 1789
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
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
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.
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 mission of the Rotary Club of Bronxville is to “encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and to encourage and foster (1) the development of friendships within the community as an opportunity for service, (2) high ethical standards in business and professions, (3) the application of the ideal of service of each member to his personal and business and community life and (4) the advancement of international understanding, good will and peace through a world fellowship.”
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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