Mayor Pavia today announced that two City organizations, the Glenbrook Community Center and the Yerwood Center, will each be awarded $8,250 grants from New York Mets Superstar David Wright’s David Wright Foundation. “As a player in New York, I enjoy and appreciate our Stamford fan base and I think it’s important to contribute to a community that cares for its youth as much as Stamford does,” Wright stated. Last year, Wright, the consummate role model of a professional athlete, contributed to the Stamford Girls and Boys Club through The David Wright Foundation. “We chose these two organizations because they embody values that are important to pass on to young people; I’m proud to contribute to their efforts,” Wright said.

“The Glenbrook Community Center and the Yerwood Center are pillars of the community and to attract the attention and support of an amazing guy like David Wright is a phenomenal tribute to these youth programs,” Mayor Michael Pavia said. “Most of us viewed things like baseball gloves and homework help as a natural right of childhood but a lot of kids don’t have such luxuries. And without ‘all stars of humanity’ like David Wright stepping up, these kids would be forced to do without,” Pavia said. “We’re just thrilled about these grants and we hope David Wright’s example inspires others to share their good fortune with kids like these,” Pavia said.
The Glenbrook Community Center provides nursery school, preschool, after school programs, playground and day camp programs for children ages 2 –to- 12, year round. The programs, managed under the Activities for Kids, Inc. umbrella serves approximately 125 children daily on weekdays. Executive director Jerry Pia will use much of the David Wright Foundation grant money to fund the two baseball leagues run by Activities for Kids, Inc.

“This is great news at a great time. This grant will go a long way in funding a lot of the costs associated with our Jackie Robinson Baseball League. Most of these kids have never played our national pastime! None of them own baseball gloves, so I need to come up with 120 or so (baseball) gloves every year, and an assortment of baseball bats (for the different size kids),” Pia said. The Jackie Robinson league will field six teams of 9- to 12-year olds this year and play its games at Lione Park. Pia’s organization also runs the Northrop Little League for 200 players which plays at the Stark School Field.

“We cover the costs for these kids to play or they wouldn’t be able to play,” Pia said. “We have a lot of need here,” Pia stated, “so a portion of the grant money could also be used to fund Activities for Kids summer camp and/or pre school scholarships for families in need.”

Eugene Campbell, executive director of the Yerwood Center says, “This couldn’t have come at a better time: 2009 was our most difficult year ever in terms of funding, yet we still have 250 teens to serve. Our greatest concern,” Campbell states, “is to make sure these kids have the Yerwood Center as an alternative to the street. My constant challenge in these difficult times is to figure out how we can hold all this together.”

The Yerwood Center provides youth with educational and developmental opportunities designed to empower its participants to reach their potential and to ultimately contribute to society. Its K-5th grade program serves approximately 100 students each day. It includes: homework help; reading time; arts and crafts; recreation and fitness; community service; computer technology; and financial education. Yerwood’s middle school program serves 30 students and includes: homework help; civic engagement; financial education; community service work; career exploration; computer technology; creative writing; reading; public speaking and dance. Students are encouraged to participate in career exploration workshops and college tours. The Yerwood Center also works in partnership with Stamford Public Schools and other organizations on programs such as it former ALTA program which provided students tutoring, academic support and life skills training. The students studied media; leadership and public speaking skills; writing; the arts; college preparation; fashion design and business and finance. “It’s very encouraging to have people like Mayor Pavia and David Wright think that investing in Stamford’s youth is worthwhile,” Campbell said.

David Wright will present the funds to the organizations in Mayor Pavia’s office next week at a time to be determined; details for the presentation will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

Credit: Norwalk Plus