Help a Child Heal this Holiday Season

The New York Center for Children is an organization very close to my heart because they provide free therapy and services to children who’ve been abused and their families. Every day the Center offers hope and healing to kids from all five boroughs who otherwise might not be able to get the help and support they need to heal. Each holiday season The Center throws a holiday party with games, food and crafts for their clients. Santa even comes! Best of all, every child receives special gifts. The children’s wish lists are coming in now, so I’d like to offer you the chance to bring some joy to a young New Yorker’s life this  holiday season.

Based on the children’s requests, the folks at the Center have put together a wish list on Amazon.com where you can donate a gift that will be sent directly to the Center. If ordering online isn’t your thing, they are also in need of new books for children and young adults and $25 gift cards. They especially want gift cards from these stores: Bath & Body Works, Barnes & Noble,  H&M, GAP, Starbucks, Macy’s, Old Navy, Target and Game Stop.  Please books and gift cards to: Sarah McNamara, The New York Center for Children, 333 East 70th Street, New York, New York 10021. Or drop them off at the office. If you’d like  a receipt for tax purposes, please email ehans@newyorkcenterforchildren.org with a list of your donations.

Thank you from me and everyone at The New York Center for Children. We wish you a wonderful, healthy, joyful holiday season and we are so very grateful for your support.

 

Two Ways You Can Help Abused Children

Recently, I’ve become involved with an amazing organization, The New York Center for Children, which provides free therapy services to children  and their families. In the month of October, NYCC is partnering with the  Polished Man Campaign, an international awareness and fundraising campaign to help the 1 in 5 children who experience violence worldwide.

The Polished Man Campaign challenges men (and women) to paint one fingernail Polished Man Blue to represent the 1 child that dies every 5 minutes as a result of violence worldwide. Hopefully, that nail starts a conversation, which leads to a donation, which leads to prevention and healing.

All funds raised by the Polished Man Campaign support trauma recovery and trauma prevention programs for children around the world. This is the third year in a row that the New York Center for Children is the sole U.S. beneficiary.

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I know firsthand how much therapy and support it requires to heal from this kind of trauma. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I would not be here today, writing this blog, if I hadn’t been able to access the lifesaving therapy that kept me sane and safe as I struggled to face and process traumatic memories of being abused by my father. That’s why I am so deeply inspired by NYCC, whose clients receive their therapy completely free of charge in a uniquely warm, nurturing and supportive environment. And that’s why I’ve started a fundraising team to support NYCC and The Polished Man Campaign.

There are two ways you can help

1) Donate: Please use this link to join the Generations Fitness and Friends Team. Help us reach our goal of raising $1000 to serve abused kids around the world.

2) Spread the word:

• Like them on Facebook at Polished Man campaign and the New York Center for Children.
• Like them on Instagram at Polished Man and the New York Center for Children.
• Follow them on Twitter at Polished Man and the New York Center for Children.
• Share this blog and any other related posts and use the hashtags: #PolishedMan, #IPreferAPolishedMan, #NailItToEndIt.

Thanks in advance for your generous support!