The Pleasantville Cottage School opened a new exercise room, funded by the United Jewish Appeal (UJA)-Federation of New York, which aids local students from difficult backgrounds.
On November 2, 2010, the United Jewish Appeal (UJA)-Federation of New York‘s Harrison-Purchase Women’s Philanthropy and residents of the Pleasantville Cottage School attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the school’s new exercise room. Volunteers from the Westchester area raised more than $30,000 to provide the room and equipment – including treadmills, elliptical machines, weight training, and body-toning equipment – through the UJA Federation’s Share a Mitzvah program.
Pleasantville Cottage School is a unique, residential co-ed treatment center run by the Jewish Child Care Association (JCCA). Students at the school come from difficult backgrounds, many because their families are unable to care for them, or because they’ve been neglected, abused, or traumatized. The center is a haven for them, providing the tools they need to lead productive, independent lives once they are out on their own.
The UJA-Federation of New York helps to fund the JCCA, and for the past seven years, volunteers have visited the center to support the young residents, spending time with children who may not have a female role model to look up to at home. In addition to their efforts to raise money for the new exercise room, volunteers share lunch, stories, projects, and ultimately, a piece of themselves with the students. “Our wish is that our time spent together has given the residents a sense of their own worth, because in each of them there is true promise,” said Amy Hughson of Harrison during the dedication. “Likewise, we hope that the exercise equipment here will empower them to understand that with real effort and determination, they can build strength and resiliency. We’re excited to hear about their progress and support them in that endeavor,” she said.
For more information on UJA-Federation’s community-based organizations, visit www.ujafedny.org.
