Longtime Bronxville Resident, Nancy McKenna, Sits Quietly Yet Passionately at the Helm of Destination: College
By Katharine Outcalt
Nov. 13, 2019: In the Spring of 2006, Nancy McKenna, longtime resident of Bronxville, found herself at the conclusion of her final college acceptance process with the last of her four children. Reflecting on the incredibly arduous process of college admissions, Nancy wondered how even more challenging this process must be for students who attend underserved high school and are economically disadvantaged.
It was this thought that propelled Nancy to reach out to Bob Cimmino, Mount Vernon High School’s longtime boys basketball coach, to see if there was a way that she could offer college counseling support to his players. Coach Cimmino cautiously welcomed the idea and offered Nancy the opportunity to work with one of his players who was struggling with To Kill a Mockingbird.
Additional players soon followed. By that summer, Nancy enlisted 10-12 volunteers (most of them her friends) and launched a reading comprehension program for athletes at Mount Vernon High School. From those classrooms Destination: College was born. Today it has grown to support over 200 student-athletes annually who attend Mount Vernon High School, Woodlands High School (Hartsdale), and Gorton High School (Yonkers).
The program is powered by over 65 volunteers who offer tutoring, advising, and assistance in filling out college and financial aid applications. Students enrolled in the program have access to weekly reading comprehension/vocabulary support, Regents prep, and homework assistance.
Students can also visit the Destination: College Centers in Mount Vernon High School and Woodlands High School. At these Centers, the students can get help with SAT/ACT prep, essay and resume writing, filling out college applications and financial aid forms, and navigating sports and academic scholarship opportunities.
Some of the schools that Destination: College students have attended include Cornell University, Hamilton College, Middlebury College, George Mason University, Case Western Reserve, Hofstra University, Tufts University, Marist College, Fordham University, and the University of Michigan.
Destination: College’s work does not stop at college acceptance. Realizing that getting students into college is only half the battle, a College Retention/College Success program was launched in 2018. This program is focused on helping students meet the demands of staying in college. To date, Destination: College alums have an 86% retention rate.
Nancy shies away from taking credit for Destination: College. She firmly attributes the success of its programs to the many dedicated volunteers (adults and local Bronxville students), who give their time and wisdom to the Destination: College student-athletes.
When asked where she sees Destination: College in the next 5-10 years, Nancy hopes that more volunteers and resources will allow for a broader reach of athletes.
Pictured: Nancy McKenna
Photo by N. Bower
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.
Click here to learn more
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.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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.”
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information
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
CLICK HERE to learn more.
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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