You are reading

Big Night for Sunnyside-Woodside Boys & Girls Club

First Night at Boys & Girls Club

Jan. 31, 2011 By Christian Murray

The Sunnyside-Woodside Boys and Girls club kicked off its first ever program Friday night, with more than 20 children turning out at St. Teresa’s gymnasium to participate.

The event drew boys and girls between the ages of 11-14 throughout the neighborhood. They played cards, board games and basketball from 6 pm through 8 p.m. They then watched a movie and ate pizza between 8 pm and 10 pm.

Vincent Renda said the program “provides a safe and affordable place for children to go to every Friday.” The program runs until May 27 and is $10 for the entire five month period, or $2 per week. It takes place every Friday, between 6 p.m. through 10 p.m.

“I’ve waited a year and half for this and I can’t believe it is happening,” said Mark Wilensky, a club founder, who saw a need for the club in the summer of 2009.

The program is the first step toward the founders’ ultimate goal of having a club house, where children are offered sports activities, the use of computers, access to counselors and movies.

On Friday evening, Sebastian Cadet, 13, said he would normally be stuck at home. He said he became aware of the program after reading a poster at St. Raphael’s School. He said he wanted to attend after reading “there would be games and basketball.”

Meanwhile, his friend Andrew Chacon, 13, said he would ordinarily be at home playing video games on most Friday nights. He too was lured by the poster.

The children started the evening playing cards and then went on to play board games such as Trouble and Monopoly. Some began to throw the basketball around. Later, the movie of choice was Stomp the Yard.

Vincent Renda, the club president, said that fliers advertising the program were circulated at schools such as I.S. 125, St Raphael’s and P.S. 150.

Renda said the club can cater up to 75 children each Friday night. He said the aim is to build a membership of more than 100 kids.

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who has been a supporter of the club since its inception, attended the opening and was shooting hoops and providing his encouragement.

To join, contact: 718-728-0946

email the author: news@queenspost.com

One Comment

Click for Comments 
sunnysider

I am very proud that the boys and girls club are finally getting started. A wonderul positive for our kids and their families in our town. I also hope that more parents get involved and bring their friends and their kids over next fri night. The parents should also be asked to donate to the cause or the schools should have a fundraiser for this group. What a proud moment for our town. I hope for more great stories that this group of volunteer are seeing a bright future with all their hard work

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Repeat hate crime offender charged in anti-Muslim subway attack in Forest Hills: DA

A Southeast Queens man is being held without bail after he was criminally charged with assault in the first degree as a hate crime and other charges for allegedly punching and kicking a Muslim woman on an E train in Forest Hills during the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 18.

Naved Durrni, 34, of 106th Avenue in Jamaica, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Thursday and additionally charged with aggravated harassment in the first and second degrees.

Hate Crimes Task Force investigating bomb threats against Mamdani: NYPD

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force launched a probe into multiple death threats made against Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani after his district office at 24-08 32nd St. in Astoria received four expletive-filled phone voicemails, on various dates, making threatening anti-Muslim statements by an unknown individual, including a threat to blow up his car.

The calls were made from an untraceable number and labeled the mayoral candidate a “terrorist who is not welcome in New York or America” in a message phoned in on Wednesday morning.

Queens Defenders founder charged with stealing nonprofit funds as second scandal unfolds

The founder of the Queens Defenders and her husband have lawyered up after they were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the non-profit organization.

Former Queens Defenders executive director Lori Zeno, 64, surrendered Wednesday at the Brooklyn federal courthouse. Zeno was arraigned on an indictment charging her and Rashad Ruhani, 55, with wire fraud conspiracy, theft, money laundering conspiracy and other crimes.