Victoria Secret Angel and top model, Selita Ebanks presented New York Giants Super Bowl XLII hero, David Tyree, with the Children’s Champion Award at the Children of the City Benefit hosted by Steve Schirripa of the Sopranos and The Tonight Show, and Superstar New Jersey Net, Richard Jefferson at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York. Board member and local businessman Rocco Basile, was also a Children’s Champion Award Recipient.
Ebanks was so gracious, she not only bought a table to support the charity, but also snapped up a couple of auction items including Jefferson’s Jersey. Guests gathered at Tribeca Rooftop in support of Children of the City to help raise awareness of the educational needs and social challenges of underprivileged children in the Sunset Park community of Brooklyn. The evening featured a live auction and a silent auction with an exquisite dinner served against the magnificent décor and ambience of the Tribeca Rooftop. Also in attendance were Senator Martin J. Golden who has committed to raising support for Children of the City, and New York City Council Member David Weprin, who presented a proclamation to Joyce Mattera.
“The Night of Champions Benefit Gala is a tremendous opportunity to educate New Yorkers about the challenges these children have to face” said Joyce Mattera, the dynamic founder and president of Sunset Park-based Children of the City who has dedicated her life to helping abused and neglected children; reported cases in the state of New York rose to 13% in 2006. “With a 48% dropout rate in the inner-city and 1 out of 4 living in abject poverty, we have to act now to ensure the viability of our next generation” said Mattera.
Since 1981, Children of the City, a local nonprofit, has been serving at-risk children in the inner-city communities of New York. Starting out as a children’s prevention outreach in the early years, their services have evolved to include advocacy, after-school and summer programs, counseling, legal guardianship, parenting support, and much more to help children and their families achieve success in education, social relationships, home, financial and career. Their dedicated team of professionals and highly committed volunteers visit one thousand children every single month, providing referrals and resources, as well as on site services to hundreds of children on a daily and weekly basis. They are able to be a positive influence to the young lives they reach every day, helping to give them a better tomorrow.
For more information, visit www.childrenofthecity.org or call (718) 436-0242 ext. 18
