BP Adams delivers thousands of donated holiday toys to local organizations caring for underserved youth

December 23, 2015 From BP Eric Adams' Office

Photo courtesy of Eric Adams' office

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Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams thanked the generous Brooklynites who have participated in more than 30 drives he has held at businesses, cultural institutions, and schools across the borough, making it possible for his office to deliver thousands of toys to dozens of local organizations caring for underserved youth this holiday season. Borough President Adams spoke about the importance of generosity during the holidays, helping to support Brooklyn families struggling to make ends meet.

“This is the season when we show what One Brooklyn is all about – the spirit of caring for our children in need of a reason to smile,” said Borough President Adams. “Growing up, when there was not always an abundance of gifts under the Christmas tree, I felt how the kindness of others filled our home with lasting hope and joy. I am deeply appreciative of every Brooklynite who contributed to this year’s successful toy drive, helping one and all to enjoy truly happy holidays.”

Organizations that have collected toys this season on Borough President Adams’s behalf include the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, Berl’s Brooklyn Poetry Shop, Brooklyn Bridge Realty, Brooklyn Public Library, Capital One Bank, Corcoran Real Estate, Dodge YMCA, Flushing Bank, Green-Wood, IS 381, Mark Morris Dance Center, New York Methodist Hospital, Ponce De Leon Federal Bank, Popular Community Bank, Ridgewood Savings Bank , Santander Bank, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

“A miracle in Brooklyn, creating a little bit of joy for all of our borough’s children this holiday season, should be of the utmost importance,” said Jean Austin, president and principal broker at Brooklyn Bridge Realty. “All Brooklyn businesses and residents should care deeply about this cause. Thank you to Borough President Adams for organizing this and advocating on behalf of our children this holiday season!”

“One doesn’t need money to give back to the community – just a drop of humanity,” said Mark Zaretsky, branch manager for Capital One Bank. “The biggest reward for our family at Capital One is not to be recognized on stage, or presented with an award; it is that expression on a child’s face when they receive a gift for the first time.”

“At Flushing Bank, we believe in giving back to the communities we serve,” said John R. Buran, president and chief executive officer of Flushing Financial Corporation. “It was our pleasure to have our Brooklyn branches participate in Borough President Adams’s toy drive this year. These toys will bring smiles to the faces of many children and brighten the holidays for some of Brooklyn’s neediest families.”

“Borough President Adams’s toy drive is a treasured part of the holidays at Green-Wood,” said Richard Moylan, president of Green-Wood. “Our staff is thrilled to be a driving force in collecting and donating toys for young Brooklynites in need.”

Last Thursday, Borough President Adams distributed approximately 1,200 toys beside the Christmas tree inside Brooklyn Borough Hall to more than 50 community-based organizations and houses of worship. The previous Saturday, he gave out more than 1,100 toys during his annual holiday show at the Christian Cultural Center in East New York, benefitted more than 1,000 children from 45 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments across the borough. Borough President Adams has also participated in toy drives for pediatric patients at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in Fort Greene and Maimonides Medical Center in Borough Park, as well as additional events for hundreds of local youth that he co-hosted at Brooklyn Borough Hall with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and the Williamsburg Sports League.