Bronxville High School Hearts to Home Raises Funds and Builds Bikes for U.S. Troops and Their Families
By Grace McSherry, Student, Bronxville High School
Jun. 5, 2019: The Hearts to Home Club of Bronxville High School continued its spring tradition and sponsored several events to show its support and appreciation for United States servicemen and women and their families.
On Wednesday, March 27, Bronxville students gathered after school hours to participate in a Hearts to Home phone-a-thon to raise funds for a spring build-a-bike event. Students made calls to people in the local area seeking contributions.
“The student volunteers really stepped up and had fun, and the donors were really enthusiastic about supporting the cause,” said high school student Caroline McGrath.
Separately, on Friday, April 26, approximately 50 students assembled at the Bronxville School for kids bingo, a fun night of bingo and fundraising.
Thanks to the success of these events, Hearts to Home raised over $4,500 to purchase unassembled bicycles and helmets.
A few weeks later, on Saturday morning, April 27, Hearts to Home held its annual build-a-bike event. Student volunteers including members of the golf and tennis teams joined the fourth-grade Girl Scouts from troops 1506 and 1509 and other members of the community to roll up their sleeves and assemble 40 bicycles.
Members of the USO of Metropolitan NYC also were in attendance to show their support.
“What a fantastic event. It’s inspiring to see members of the Bronxville community of all ages come together to support and appreciate military families,” said Bronxville native Didi Romley, the USO’s chief development officer.
These events could not have happened without the leadership of Pam Kohlhoff, a third-grade teacher at Bronxville Elementary School. “Organizing the annual bike build each year has been a highlight of my career. I love working closely with the USO and the Bronxville students to prepare for this event. I believe it is very important to recognize the work done by our military and to help support their families. Men and women who serve in our military serve a very important role in our nation’s security and make enormous sacrifices to do their job both here and overseas. There is nothing more important,” said Mrs. Kohlhoff, who will be retiring this year after 23 years teaching in Bronxville. Her leadership and enthusiastic support of Bronxville’s Hearts to Home Club has been instrumental to the success of the group’s mission and has had a significant impact on the community.
In 2008, a group of Bronxville high school students founded the Hearts to Home Club with the goal of helping American servicemen and women to keep in contact with their families during deployment by sending them prepaid telephone calling cards. More recently, Hearts to Home has broadened its mission to provide support to members of the military returning from active duty and local military families.
Pictured here: Participants in the bike build, which was held on April 27 at the Bronxville School.
Photo courtesy Pam Kohlhoff
Editor's note: As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes articles from local institutions, officeholders, and individuals. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.
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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