On Thursday, May 19th, Family Center Board members, Leadership Council members, Buddies, volunteers and supporters gathered together to celebrate The Family Center Buddy Program and raise funds for its important work providing at-risk New York City children and youth with responsible, adult mentors.
From left to right: Buddy Pair Julian and James with James’ mother Monique and Family Center Executive Director Ivy Gamble Cobb. Like Pauline and Odette, Julian and James did an outstanding job recruiting mentors for The Buddy Program!
Guests heard from Pauline and Odette, a Buddy pair that sprung out of Pauline’s production of Remember the Sun. Odette’s older sister Sibia had a mentor, when Pauline met her family, but Odette did not. Pauline and Odette just clicked. Pauline poignantly told guests that she sees The Buddy Program as different than our Executive Director Ivy, who introduced her. Pauline said that the children in The Buddy Program are doing a community service by hanging out with busy, New York City adults who often forget how to slow down, have fun and enjoy the simple things in life, like ice cream and roller skating.
The Family Center is grateful to our mentors like Pauline -and to everyone who turned out to support BLOOM. Thanks to our corporate sponsors, our auction item and gift bag donors, URE our dynamic DJ, and everyone who made BLOOM 2016 possible, The Family Center Buddy Program will continue pairing children with mentors for years to come.
Click here to see who generously sponsored the event -and patronize their businesses throughout the year if you can!
Here are some of the photos from the night’s events
