“Without The Boys’ Club of New York, I would not be in the situation I am in today. I was given the opportunity to grow in terms of baseball ability as well as academically. Boys’ Club helped me a tremendous amount and I appreciate it. BCNY gave me the opportunity to go to boarding school. This helped me mature as a person and a player. In addition to baseball and a good education, I got used to being away from home and it prepared me for ‘real life.’ ”
— Anthony Hewitt, Philadelphia Phillies 2008 First-Round Draft Pick
“I’m a grandmother doing my best to raise three young grandsons on my own. Like many struggling single parents today, I work three jobs to provide for my family. Sometimes there is simply not enough of me to go around and I need a helping hand. That’s why every day I take my grandsons to The Boys’ Club of New York.”
— Susie Lee Haskins, Parent
“As I have visited the various clubhouses, I have observed that same special interaction between staff and members that existed in our day—engagement that was challenging, encouraging, and, at the same time, respectful.”
— Vernon C. Manley, Alumnus
“You had kids from Poland, from Turkey, from Italy, from you name it. That was the beauty of the Lower East Side, but it was crystallized here in The Boys’ Club. In The Boys’ Club you met people from all cultures and you became friends. There’s a life lesson. You get to know that we’re human beings and it’s great to be able to converse with people and share memories.”
— Luis (Louie) Perez, Alumnus
“We were poor. It really didn’t cost that much money and [my mother] knew it was an active place where I could stay off the streets. This neighborhood was a pretty tough place. A lot of my friends, and I use the word loosely, are/were in jail. The Boys’ Club kept me in a safe environment.”
— Nicholas (Nick) Gaetani, Alumnus
“His track coach at The Boys’ Club checks his report cards and my son knows that if there’s a problem in school, he can’t run.”
— Derek Grant, Parent
“All around us we see rising test scores, passing grades, scholarships and academic honors. You would be thrilled to see what our boys are accomplishing…”
— Edward J. Rappa, President
“At this age, you want to make sure the kids are having fun. We want them to keep coming back, so we have a lot of fun activities for them here at BCNY.”
— Kalif Person, Coach
“This neighborhood was so tough, I learned street smarts before I learned to count. Coming to The Boys’ Club was like walking into a candy store of activities. Who ever had seen a swimming pool in Manhattan? The gym had wooden floors and actual nets on the basketball goals.”
— Michael Goldberg, Executive Director of the NBA Coaches Association
“I was a club member in the 60’s, so I know BCNY is a good place. Your organization helped me out when things were hard, but thanks to The Boys’ Club, I’m here today.”
— Robert Taylor
“During my intership all of the R.W. employees were very welcoming and sincere. They made my job easier and made sure to go out of their way to talk to me and make me feel like one of them. All of your colleagues are truly great people to work with and made my time there exciting.”
— Shaakir Samuel, who spent 4 weeks as an intern at R.W. Pressprich, where Board of Trustees President Edward J. Rappa is the CEO
