 |
|
STRATEGIC team member beautifies Corona Park
|
Giving back to our community is an integral part of the spirit that drives the culture at STRATEGIC. We recognize all that the NYC community provides us and feel a moral obligation to give back when we can. On July 24, 2007 STRATEGIC took our hard work from 31st Street to Corona Park to complete our annual community service project. Under sunny skies in Queens, we spent the day improving the city park and making it a more enjoyable place for everyone. We began the day picking up trash around the property, making the park safer, sanitary, and visually appealing to the hundreds of people who use the facilities on a daily basis.
Next we grabbed some paint, rollers, and brushes and showed off our artistic abilities. While one group of the STRATEGIC staff repainted light-poles throughout the park, the other painted benches that were in desperate need of a touch up. Both groups succeeded in making the park look newer and brighter. At the end of the afternoon, we truly felt that we had left the park better than we found it.
Looking at the work we completed, Corona Park staff member Kathy Dallojacano said “this was a great group of hard working people who went above and beyond what we expected from them. Corona Park is grateful to have such great volunteers who care so much about improving our parks and our city.” We felt just as fortunate to be able to have a positive impact on such a beautiful park and give back to the city that has been so great to us. We all have work to do, clients to service, and places to be...but every once in a while we take a step back and get involved trying to improve our community by taking ourselves and our agency to a place they’ve never been.
 |
|
A great time was had by all at the Bronx Zoo
|
As an agency, STRATEGIC has consistently donated time and money to various causes like the Alzheimer’s Association and the Coalition against Child Abuse and Neglect. In 2006, we decided it was time to step up and put our love of the NYC community into action.
So what did we do?
We decided to take a group from the NY Big Brother Big Sisters to the Bronx Zoo for the day. It gave us a nice opportunity to interact with youths from our community, get everyone out in the sun in a place they wouldn’t normally be, and feel like we are making a contribution. As the day went on, the energy of our “littles” kept us going strong, and it was soon unclear who the seasoned professionals were and who were the kids. We saw a lot of monkey business, took cable car rides, and ate mounds of ice cream. In many ways, STRATEGIC staff felt this was more beneficial to us at the agency than the children we were supposed to be helping. It gave us a fresh perspective, a wake-up call, and memories of the unmistakable scent of zoo. The “littles” got the chance to ask us many, many questions about our careers, lives, and whatever was on their imaginative minds. They got the chance to have some fun and laughs while taking in the Bronx Zoo; the first time for several of the children.
All in all, the day was a huge success and both groups truly impacted each other. From the top down, only good things were said about the day. Big Brothers Big Sisters staff member Rebecca Wong commented, “All of the kids had positive things to say and it was great for them to hang out with such enthusiastic role models.” We blushed. In the end, it was another STRATEGIC success as we contributed to the community that gives so much to us.
|
