6.11.2015

EMERGENCY RED ALERT: SAVE OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION FROM DRACONIAN BUDGET CUTS

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All!

THIS IS A DIRE EMERGENCY! !
OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION IS THREATENED BY GOVERNOR CUOMO'S BUDGET CUTS!  
WE NEED YOUR HELP IMMEDIATELY TO PUT A STOP TO THIS MADNESS.  
CONTACT: 
SAM BROWN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION 
AT 212-316-7040 - 
THERE IS NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE!!!
THIS MESSAGE IS ALSO TO ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS - REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE  - MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, BRONX, QUEENS, STATEN ISLAND, CONGRESS!!
ALL OCF ALUMNI!!
ALL PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN!! 
ALL PEOPLE WHO LOVE CHILDREN!! 
ALL NEW YORKERS, AND PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER!

SAVE OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION!!

Now that I have your attention,  let's talk:

Our Children's foundation was founded 47 years ago by Sam Brown, who at the time was a social worker in Harlem.  He was working in communities were at risk children were surrounded by drugs, apathy, no recreation facilities, and either lived in a single parent family, where there was  working mom or, mom on welfare as head of household; or where both parents worked, but the child came home to an empty house after school, with no adult supervision - a sure fire formula for delinquent activities.

In 1968, when the Black community was being flooded with drugs, Sam Brown implemented a concept and a dream that he had been working on for years - OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION - an organization that provides after school and year round activities for at risk youth -free of charge - 365 days a year, from 9:00am to 9:00pm!  His theory was that drug dealers didn't take holidays - they were out there trying to addict our youth 365 days a year, so Our Children's Foundation, in order to be affective, also had to provide 365 services in drug prevention and keeping OUR CHILDREN off the streets - if they were to be affective in changing the paradigm!  

Using a combination of grants, including that of the DEA, and other private and public foundations, Sam Brown took an abandoned building and transformed it into an urban oasis of learning and personal development for inner city kids - who come as far as the Bronx and other boroughs to be a part of his program.  He was out to change the stigma and stereotype so many have had for OUR CHILDREN.  He was determined to change the paradigm.

And change the paradigm he did!!!  Not only has he maintained that policy for providing services and keeping the doors open 365 days a year - INCLUDING HOLIDAYS -  for 47 years; his staff are held to the highest standards of integrity and behavior.  They have to be role models for the children of Our Children's Foundation: NO PROFANITY! NO GUM CHEWING! NO SLOPPY CLOTHING! POLITENESS AND PATIENCE, BUT FIRM DISCIPLINE AT ALL TIMES!  And it works - and has been working for 47 years (I said that already, didn't I? Well it's important - it goes to the effectiveness, the dedication and success of his methodology).

So why is Governor Cuomo trying to short circuit a program that works by cutting their budget, while there are so many other bogus programs out there that are sucking up money and only look good on paper, but have little to no impact, and very little to show in the way of accomplishments?  Good question!  I think it might be because no one has informed him of the tremendous success of OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION!  Maybe we've been too quiet about the most successful program not only in Harlem, but in the world.  

Sam Brown is not one to toot his own horn.  He's more focused on delivering on his promise  there is NOTHING TOO GOOD FOR OUR CHILDREN, WHO MAY BE 10% OF THE POPULATION, BUT ARE DEFINITELY 100% OF OUR FUTURE!  

As a result of his efforts and dedication, Sam Brown, and OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION, have taken children from the threat of low self esteem and failure, to that of self-empowerment, academic and educational excellence; youth who might have been doing drugs, are instead making contributions to their community.  Every year Sam takes some 400 youth to Black College Tours, and a two-week "vacation" to historically Black sites - where they stay in top hotels, thereby dispelling the concept that they aren't good enough, or can't enjoy the finer things in life.  OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION staff teach etiquette, study skills, elocution, and proper comportment (that's what they used to call it when I was in school) so that, instead of a rowdy bunch of adolescents, you have young ladies and gentlement that are welcomed and respected everywhere they go.

Twenty years ago, Sam Brown's OUR CHILDREN FOUNDATION took 360 students to Selma, Alabama, to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, after a month long study of the Civil Rights Era - that's twenty years before the Fiftieth Anniversary Commemoration!!! When the movie came out, the first person I thought of was OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION - I wondered if they had been included in the movie.  They certainly should have been.  But, no matter, the experience, the significance and the memory will last those children a life time - as will the principles upon which Sam Brown established OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION.

Each day, after their regular school day is completed, the children come to the foundation.  They have to check in. They are not allowed to lounge on the streets outside the building.  Their first task is to complete their homework.  OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION coordinates with the schools to make sure the children are progressing appropriately in their classes. Completion of homework is the key to participating in the myriad of activities they provide. But it doesn't stop at homework - each child has to have signed a pledge upon being accepted into the program to participate fully, be polite and respectful of the other students there, to have a major project of interest that they are required to complete and present - this is about self development - not just sports.

They learn table manners,  public speaking, project management, dance, music - I could go on - but right now THIS IS AN EMERGENCY RED ALERT TO SAVE OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION FROM GOVERNOR CUOMO'S DRACONIAN BUDGET CUTS!!

THEIR SUCCESS RATE THUS FAR HAS BEEN 99.44/100% - NOBODY'S PERFECT - BUT THEY COME CLOSE ENOUGH!

OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION has been instrumental in the college education of at least 1,200 students over it's life time, as well as helping countless others complete their high school education and go on into careers of their choosing.  

THIS IS NO FLY-BY-NIGHT ORGANIZATION 

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL GOVERNOR CUOMO - Keith Wright, Charles Rangel, Denny Farrell, Bill Perkins, Charles Barron, Eric Adams, Letitia James, Latrice Walker, Yvette Clarke,  Gregory Meeks, Ruth Hassell Thompson, Inez Dickens, Jose Serrano, Andrea Stewart Cousins, Carl Heastie, Annette M. Robinson, Walter Mosley III   -  
HANDS OFF OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION!   
This has absolutely nothing to do with political territory - this has to do with the very lives, the very future of our youth.  So don't stand on ceremony and pontificate about where your constituency is.  When it comes to OUR CHILDREN your constituency is the whole of New York!!

A rally will take place in front of OUR CHIDREN'S FOUNDATION, which is located in Harlem at  527 W. 125th Street in Harlem - but there so much more that needs to be done to drive the point home that, instead of cutting the budged to OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION, Governor Cuomo should be rewarding them by increasing the budget and giving them the support they need to do even more.

NOTE:  (Please do not confuse them with another organization "Caring For Our Children Foundation" - they are two totally different organizations).,

Save Our Children Foundation - New York, New ... - Facebook

Save Our Children Foundation is on Facebook. To connect with Save Our Children Foundation, s
ign up for Facebook today. Sign UpLog In.
 
Or call to offer your assistance - 212-316-7040 - Ask for Sam Brown, or one or his competent staff 
members,  who will be happy to update you on the status thus far.

Or call/write/email Governor Andrew Cuoma immediately, if not sooner - for your convenience, I've replicated
a form from Governor Cuomo's contact page; but you can feel free to utilize other methodologies - like TWITTER,
FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, or even A PERSONAL VISIT TO ALBANY!
 
Far too often, organizations that are essential in the Black community are overlooked by the larger superstructure,
not necessarily because they're not doing a good job, but because it's a widely held secret in the community,
but not as well known in other circles.  THE NECESSITY FOR OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION is 
even more critical than ever before.  They have proven that their methodology works - to destroy them would
be a critical blow to the future of the children of Harlem - and evidence that there is little to no concern or regard  
for the welfare, wellbeing and future of our youth.
 
AGAIN, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY RED ALERT - IT REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND
ACTION - SAVE OUR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION FROM THE STATE'S DRACONIAN BUDGET CUTS - stop
them from trying to balance the budget on the backs of OUR CHILDREN. 
 
NOW THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
CALL THE GOVERNOR

1-518-474-8390
Office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm
 


WRITE LETTERS


The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224


Stay Blessed & 
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson 
www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com/ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS

Send a Message to the Governor

If you are requesting information under the Freedom of Information Law, you will need to complete a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Request.
Please note that we will be unable to process incomplete or inaccurate entries. An asterisk* indicates that the question is mandatory.
(I COPIED THIS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S CONTACT PAGE - IF IT DOES NOT WORK,
FEEL FREE TO GO ON HIS WEBSITE AND FILL OUT AN ORIGINAL FORM - THANKS!)
 
 
 
 
 
 
        
 
    
 
          
 
 
 
    
 
Contact us by phone
1-518-474-8390
Office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Contact us by mail
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224



 
 
 





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