GOTO Winter Galas and Halloween Spooktaculars come and go; and we have our personal reasons to attend or volunteer or devote time out of our extremely busy schedules. But when the time comes when we meet the scholars and their families, and most especially hear personal testimonials from the young scholars themselves – we all come to realize the value of our action and how decisions can influence, and dramatically change many lives.
Clementina Nyarko, a former 3 year scholar, recently wrote a personal letter to share her sincerest gratitude to GOTO NYC for selecting her as a scholar. It’s because of scholars like Clementina that GOTO continues to do what we do best.
Dear GOTO Volunteers,
The other day I realized that for the past 3 years, around this time I would be filling out applications for summer camp. When I had that thought I also realized that if it wasn't for all of you, I would not have had such great opportunities and blessings. It really is amazing what you all do: you give kids like me who don't come from a rich background an opportunity of a life time. You send us to such amazing camps such as Appel Farm and give us a chance to be free from all expectations placed on us at home. While I was at Appel Farm I got the chance to be a kid, make new friends, and even try new things (such as Fashion Design and Photography). I really cannot express enough how grateful and thankful I am for what you have done and given me--especially considering the economic status our country was in awhile ago. This program gave me the chance to grow as a person and even help others to come out of their shell and try new things. This letter does not even come close to the gratitude I owe you. From the bottom of my family, friends and my own heart I really want to say thank you and if there's anything I can do so that another child can have an experience like mine, please let me know. I also hope and pray that all the time and money you spent shall be tripled so that you all can continue to do this for many kids.
Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Clementina Nyarko
Monday, March 28, 2011
Update from GOTO alumnus, Kristina Williams
I attended Appel Farm from 2004-2006, since then I finished highschool at Fiorello H. Laguardia H.S. last year, and I am now studying acting and working professionally. In the past year I have been on NBC's 30 Rock, I did a commercial for MTV and Britney Spears for her Radiance fragrance (below). I've also participated in various Off-Broadway productions in Manhattan's Theater District. THANK YOU GOTO for giving me the opportunity seven years ago. Going to Appel Farm has not only allowed me to meet life long friends, but it also helped me discover who I was as a performing artist!
Britney Spears "Radiance" New Year's Eve Spots from Diana Levine on Vimeo.
Directed by E.J. Mcleavey-Fisher / Produced by MTV
GOTO Semi-Annual Summit
GOTO New York kicked off 2011 with our Semi-Annual Summit, which brought together a wide gamut of the GOTO family. Founders, current committee chairs, seasoned and new volunteers, a GOTO alum and a couple current campers and parents joined us in discussing recent successes and our goals for the future.
We learned about how Gigi Koch and CK Khandekar, our two new Events Chairs, and the Events team put together a great sold out Halloween event and kept it $5K under budget, allowing even more proceeds to be allocated to scholarships. Evan Raggi and Heather Calvano, two other first year Chairs, informed us that over $35K was earned during the 2010 Annual Appeal. A great job by these Committees, as well as James and Catherine Holahan and the Marketing Committee, to help us raise scholarship funds!
Michelle Hunter showed us that our current campers had a great time this past summer, and many volunteers got to see the fun in action during a visit to Appel Farms. We also found out that over the past year the Scholarship committee was able to improve the application process by creating online forms for teachers and parents, as well as create introduction letters in Spanish and Chinese so all parents are able to learn and understand our mission. Kevin Costello recapped a fun DJ Scratch Academy Mentoring event where we had private DJ lessons for GOTO mentees and mentors. We look forward to gaining a new class of campers in 2011 and keeping our alumni involved in the GOTO family.
The day undoubtedly reached its high point when the Mother of Kayla, one of our current campers, stood up and gave us her very heartfelt gratitude for giving Kayla the chance to attend camp and be part of the GOTO family. She told us about how the experience has allowed Kayla to gain confidence in herself and greatly improve her grades. Both our current campers in attendance, Kayla and Crystal, and Alanna, our alum in attendance, then also shared how GOTO has been so special to them. Seeing and hearing that all of our work has touched the lives of these kids and their families surely let everybody in the room know that all we’ve done has had great results, and energized us for a great 2011.
New in 2011 we can look forward to more volunteer interaction with regular GOTOgethers, a new Google workspace for volunteers to help them stay informed, and of course many great Events! We are looking forward to everybody to being involved.
We learned about how Gigi Koch and CK Khandekar, our two new Events Chairs, and the Events team put together a great sold out Halloween event and kept it $5K under budget, allowing even more proceeds to be allocated to scholarships. Evan Raggi and Heather Calvano, two other first year Chairs, informed us that over $35K was earned during the 2010 Annual Appeal. A great job by these Committees, as well as James and Catherine Holahan and the Marketing Committee, to help us raise scholarship funds!
Michelle Hunter showed us that our current campers had a great time this past summer, and many volunteers got to see the fun in action during a visit to Appel Farms. We also found out that over the past year the Scholarship committee was able to improve the application process by creating online forms for teachers and parents, as well as create introduction letters in Spanish and Chinese so all parents are able to learn and understand our mission. Kevin Costello recapped a fun DJ Scratch Academy Mentoring event where we had private DJ lessons for GOTO mentees and mentors. We look forward to gaining a new class of campers in 2011 and keeping our alumni involved in the GOTO family.
The day undoubtedly reached its high point when the Mother of Kayla, one of our current campers, stood up and gave us her very heartfelt gratitude for giving Kayla the chance to attend camp and be part of the GOTO family. She told us about how the experience has allowed Kayla to gain confidence in herself and greatly improve her grades. Both our current campers in attendance, Kayla and Crystal, and Alanna, our alum in attendance, then also shared how GOTO has been so special to them. Seeing and hearing that all of our work has touched the lives of these kids and their families surely let everybody in the room know that all we’ve done has had great results, and energized us for a great 2011.
New in 2011 we can look forward to more volunteer interaction with regular GOTOgethers, a new Google workspace for volunteers to help them stay informed, and of course many great Events! We are looking forward to everybody to being involved.
GOTO's 10TH ANNUAL GALA GATHERS HUNDREDS TO GIVE BACK TO NYC KIDS
Games and good works drew hundreds to Giving Opportunities To Others' 10th Annual Winter Gala on February 26th. A crowd of more than 400 gathered at the Altman Building in Chelsea to celebrate 10 years of working with other young area professionals to help enrich the lives of inner-city New York middle-school kids through the arts.
The black-tie optional event features a live-band, dancing, a silent auction and a host of table games including craps and ping-pong. Party goers were treated to a performance by a former GOTO scholar, who sang jazz and blues songs with JC Hopkins Biggish Band to kick off the night.
The event raised $20,000 for scholarships to Appel Farm Art and Music Center in Elmer, NJ. Since GOTO's founding in 2001, the tax-exempt non-profit has raised more than $1 million for scholarships, sending 135 kids to camp for 3 consecutive summers.
At camp, the GOTO scholars learn music, theater, visual arts, film and dance from working professionals. The experience gives them exposure to new forms of self-expression, helps build confidence, and provides a needed supplement to disappearing arts programs in schools.
"It really grew me out of my shell," said Alanna McIntyre, who received a scholarship in 2003.
"I was so quiet and shy and I never wanted to talk and be in a crowd with people," said McIntyre, who is now a freshman at Lehman College with a 3.5 GPA. "But now I am so much more talkative and put myself out there."
GOTO looks forward to the next 10 years of making new friends and giving back to the NYC community.
The black-tie optional event features a live-band, dancing, a silent auction and a host of table games including craps and ping-pong. Party goers were treated to a performance by a former GOTO scholar, who sang jazz and blues songs with JC Hopkins Biggish Band to kick off the night.
The event raised $20,000 for scholarships to Appel Farm Art and Music Center in Elmer, NJ. Since GOTO's founding in 2001, the tax-exempt non-profit has raised more than $1 million for scholarships, sending 135 kids to camp for 3 consecutive summers.
At camp, the GOTO scholars learn music, theater, visual arts, film and dance from working professionals. The experience gives them exposure to new forms of self-expression, helps build confidence, and provides a needed supplement to disappearing arts programs in schools.
"It really grew me out of my shell," said Alanna McIntyre, who received a scholarship in 2003.
"I was so quiet and shy and I never wanted to talk and be in a crowd with people," said McIntyre, who is now a freshman at Lehman College with a 3.5 GPA. "But now I am so much more talkative and put myself out there."
GOTO looks forward to the next 10 years of making new friends and giving back to the NYC community.
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