The Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA and North Brooklyn YMCA held a fundraiser to benefit the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign at the Sugar Hill Supper Club in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, with entertainment from a jazz quartet featuring Cliff Lee on trumpet, Chris Haney on bass, Will Terrill on percussion and Paul Odeh on piano.
The afternoon’s theme was “Guiding Strong Kids to a Strong Future,” and many came out to support the community service organization, which promotes positive values through programs that build body, mind and spirit, welcome all people, strengthen communities, improve New York City’s health and well-being and courageously takes up the challenges of our city’s pressing human needs.
Executive Director of the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Dordy Jourdain said, “The YMCA of Greater New York has created three defining priorities, one for each core area that will be a response to community challenges and will identify both how we will address the issues and establish measurable outcomes, and they are youth development [Y Schools], healthy living and social responsibility.
“Our mission is [to be] a community service organization that promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body, welcoming all people, with a focus on youth.”
A special birthday celebration was also held for Israel Velazquez, board manager for the North Brooklyn YMCA for the past 15 years.