Kids Front & Center to honor three outstanding community leaders

The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will host Kids Front and Center, a virtual event, on Sunday, October 24 at 10am. The livestream will support JCC programs that help kids find new beginnings academically, socially, and emotionally during and after the pandemic.
 
At the event, the JCC will recognize three outstanding community leaders, Lt. Rafet Awad, Rose Kerr, and Miriam Prat-Jerez, for their work benefiting children.
 
“We are so proud to honor Lt. Awad, Rose, and Miriam for their transformative work with children. Their tireless efforts have improved the quality of life for so many kids and families in our community,” noted Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC.
 
Recognizing the toll the pandemic has put on children and families, the JCC has created programs to help children struggling with schoolwork and social interactions. Throughout the 2020-2021 school year, the JCC hosted five Learning Bridges sites to provide in-person support for families during remote school days. These programs mirrored a normal school day by offering academics, socialization, and recreation, allowing children to thrive as if they were in a normal school setting. The organization also provided in-person after school programs, camp, sports, and music classes throughout the past year.
 
Lender continued, “While many others were forced to close their doors, we were able to serve hundreds of children with in-person programs throughout the past year and a half. Our programs were a lifeline for families of essential workers struggling to find childcare options. Kids Front & Center will benefit our programs for kids and will make sure we can keep them running throughout the rest of the pandemic and beyond.”
 
Jozette Carter Williams, Bryn Biren, and Linda Brill, are the event co-chairs.  Virtual tickets are complimentary, but preregistration is required. Raffle tickets for the event are also available. For more information, visit sijcc.org/kidsfc.htm