BTIG Commissions for Charity Day 2011
On April 27th, BTIG LLC, a premier institutional brokerage and fund services company, hosted its eighth annual Commissions for Charity Day. During firm's Commissions for Charity Day, commissions from the day are donated to support various not-for-profit organizations that "champion efforts against childhood challenges." Over the last five years, BTIG has donated more than $10 million to various organizations, including CAPP.
CAPP is very grateful to the BTIG employees and clients for their generous $10,000 donation, which will be used to support CAPP's Child Safety Workshop Program.
Very special thanks to our awesome friend and supporter, Steve Schirripa for participating on our behalf.
Schools Team Up with CAPP on Funds and Awareness Raising Projects
This year CAPP had the privilege of working with dedicated students from three schools in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Through school philanthropy programs, lower school student from
Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn and the
Little Red School House in the West Village and upper school students from
Marymount High School on the Upper East Side, helped raise awareness and funds for the prevention of child abuse in New York City.
Students Odelia, Eli, Mei-An and Martine from the
Little Red School House worked on a year-long project that included interviews with CAPP staff, the development of PSAs, the formation of a dedicated website, the maintenance of blogs to document the progress of their project, and participation in CAPP's Safe Kids 5K Run/Walk. Their project culminated in the presentation of a workshop for the students in their school. The workshop included an effective group activity in which the audience developed their own puppets and skits about child abuse to perform for the group. The presentation was a resounding success and was selected to be included at NYU's Social Justice Expo in May.
A team of students from
Poly Prep Country Day School worked with CAPP throughout the year to raise awareness and funds to support CAPP's Child Safety Workshop. Students raised over $3,000 this year by selling special fundraising bracelets and by participating in CAPP's Safe Kids 5K Run/Walk. They also helped collect and distribute clothes, toiletries and books for CAPP's Children's Clothes Closet, which provides items to children being moved to foster care through Safe Horizon's Child Advocacy Centers.
As part of
Marymount High School's Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), a group of students chose to use their considerable talents to make a presentation on CAPP's behalf to a group of independent judges. Amanda, Raeanne and Caitlin hoped to win a $5,000 grant for CAPP's Child Safety Workshop and the team worked diligently on their project, even taking time during their school break to observe the program and interview CAPP staff. Although CAPP did not win the $5,000 grant, the team was selected to give their presentation to a group of philanthropists from Bank of New York Mellon. A gentleman in attendance was representing one of the Bank's Foundations that has funded CAPP for several years. The trustee was so impressed by the presentation that he doubled CAPP's grant on the spot!
CAPP is extremely grateful for the partnerships formed this year with these amazing students and their schools. Many thanks to the students for their hard work and dedication, and the faculty and parents for supporting them in their community service and philanthropy efforts!
CAPP recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month
by offering tips on how to prevent child abuse
CAPP recognizes the need for increased awareness about child abuse and neglect, and encourages New Yorkers to provide the support families in their communities need to raise their children safely.
New York, NY - March 30, 2010 - The Child Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP) urges New Yorkers to recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month by reaching out to members of their community, and providing needed support to children and families – helping to ease the stresses of parenting, thus relieving some of the factors that lead to abusive behaviors.
While child abuse and neglect occurrences cut across all socio-economic groups, an increase in stress coupled with a lack of support is a major risk factor for abuse to occur in any family. With the widespread budget cuts for many family services underway, and with New York State unemployment at 7.8%, families are undoubtedly finding themselves with fewer resources and under greater stress – creating a greater risk of abuse and neglect. Especially in times like these, the responsibility falls on individual community members to provide families with support – and CAPP reminds New Yorkers that preventing child abuse can be easier than it seems.
Empowering Children
CAPP understands that without proper safety education, children are left more vulnerable to abuse. While CAPP educates 30,000 New York City children per academic year through their award-winning Child Safety Workshop, all children need to be made aware of their rights to be safe. CAPP recommends the following tactics for talking to children about abuse:
• Focus on what to do, not what not to do. The disheartening fact is that most children are abused by someone they know, either a family member or friend of the family. Telling a child to avoid strangers is a great start. However, teach your child that if anyone makes them uncomfortable, they should say "No," get away from that person, and tell an adult immediately.
• Teach your child to say "No." Children are taught to comply with adults, which conflicts with their ability to trust themselves when something feels unsafe. Let your child know that they are allowed to say no to a touch that makes them uncomfortable. For example, if your child does not want to greet a family member with a hug or a kiss, respect their wishes. Allow them to greet the person in a more formal way such as with a handshake, a wave, or a high five.
Engaging Families
We all understand the need to report abuse if we are aware a child is in imminent danger of being injured, but if we as individuals all take on the responsibility to help and support families in our communities, we can prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs.
• Offer a friend, family member, or neighbor some tangible support and help. Being a parent can be stressful and isolating, but by acknowledging this difficulty, and offering some support, we can help ease the job of parents. Offering to babysit, baking cookies, watching the neighbor's children while their mom relaxes for a few minutes – these are all actions any individual can take that can show families that you support them.
• If you know a family who seems to be overly taxed or stressed out, do some research as to what services exist in your neighborhood, and offer to link that family to those resources. For resources by borough, visit CAPP's website at www.childabusepreventionprogram.org.
• Discuss with your friends and family members the warning signs of abuse. When parents and family members are more vigilant and aware of what to look for, they are armed with important tools they need to be comfortable identifying abuse in their children, thus heightening the possibility for intervention.
Garnering Political Support
If you want to keep programs like CAPP's flourishing in your community, we ask that you join us in asking your local representatives to support family-strengthening legislation, and to allocate funding for prevention programs. Visit the following websites to learn more:
• NYC Council: http://council.nyc.gov/html/members/members.shtml
• NYS Senate: http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm
• http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
