Downtown
Flip those dogs and raise those hands in high-fives to Nathan’s Famous for its generous grant to the Kaboom! Imagination Playground in Coney Island.
The greenbacks will be used towards nutritional snacks and groceries for the children during their time at the program, which teaches them life skills, including cooking.
Children living in Coney Island have had few opportunities to play and limited recreational space since Hurricane Sandy, claimed Wayne Norbitz, president of the hot dog giant.
“These Imagination Playground systems will bring the kids one step closer to having the childhood they deserve,” he said. “Nathan’s, along with other members of the Coney Island Alliance, want to ensure that our community is healthy and thriving.”
HeartShare St. Vincent Services was nominated for the Imagination Playground experience.
“It further enhances the physical, emotional and social benefits of at-risk children and teens participating in our youth programs,” said Dawn Saffayeh, HeartShare’s executive director.
The donation meant a lot to students who spend time at HeartShare programs, added director Diana Greco.
“Our youth programs offer a variety of academic, recreational and arts-based hands-on programs that reinforce academic concepts,” she said.
HeartShare Human Services of New York (12 Metro Tech Center, at Myrtle Avenue in Downtown, (718) 422-4200].
Windsor Terrace
Cream of the crop
Congratulations are in order for Saint Saviour High School student Katherine O’Donnell, recipient of the “2015 James McKeon Memorial Scholarship” sponsored by the Municipal Credit Union.
Board members Mario Matos and Joy Schwartz, chairwoman Sylvia Ash, Loretta Jones, Shirley Jenkins, credit union president and chief executive officer Kam Wong, S. Nana Osei-Bonsu, Beryl Major, and James Durrah presented the scholarship to Katherine at a June 4 gala in Manhattan.
The Municipal Credit Union awarded more than $66,000 in scholarships to college-bound, graduating high-school seniors: eight memorial scholarships of $5,000 each and 13 grants of $2,000 each. Eligibility was open to any MCU member, child or grandchild, based on academic performance, extracurricular, and community activities, letters of recommendations, and an essay about personal goals.
Katherine, who was one of eight students awarded the grants, plans on attending the State University of New York at Binghamton in the fall as a biomedical engineering major.
Standing O wishes Katherine good luck in her college career, and can’t wait to give her another shout out when she moves over those tassels at her college graduation.
Saint Saviour High School [588 Sixth St. at Prospect Park West in Park Slope, (718) 768–4406].
Williamsburg
Save the date
All month long riders of the East River Ferry will view photos of local L.G.B.T.Q. foster children in need of permanent homes. The initiative is hosted in conjunction with the non-profit group Heart Gallery and United Photo Industries, based in DUMBO and culminates with the first annual North Brooklyn Pride Festival to bring together the communities of Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick on June 20, noon to 9 pm.
The East River Ferry is a private commuter ferry connecting Hunters Point in Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Dumbo with E. 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan and Wall Street/Pier 11, and Governor’s Island during the summer.
North Brooklyn Pride Festival (N. 11th Street between Wythe and Kent Streets in Williamsburg; www.eastr
Manhattan
Head
The Scleroderma Foundation is hosting the annual Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma at Riverside Park on June 14 at 10 am.
The pre-walk registration fee is $20 for participants 16 years and older, $5 for children ages 5 to 15, and free for children under 5. Same day registration is $25 for participants 16 years and older. All registered participants receive a T-shirt, and awards are given to the individual and team that raise the most money.
The Scleroderma Foundation Tri-State Chapter works to support patients and families, and has advocated for resources to help find a cure for the chronic autoimmune disease which makes the immune system attack the body.
Riverside Park [West 96th St. and Riverside Drive, (800) 867- 0885; www.Scler
