The Commitment To Educational Excellence Recognizes Mayor Bill de Blasio
New York Press Source:
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO TO ACCEPT THE BEN APPELBAUM ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH AWARD AT THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SCOPE BENEFIT DINNER
SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education) provides camp and college scholarships to children from at-risk and low-income communities
New York, NY (April 5, 2016) – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will accept the Ben Appelbaum Advocate for Youth Award on Tuesday, April 5 at the 25th Anniversary SCOPE Benefit Dinner. The event, taking place at The Conrad Hotel in New York City will have over 400 camp and business leaders in attendance to support SCOPE’s summer camp scholarship program. SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education) is an independent, national nonprofit organization committed to providing overnight summer camp and college scholarships to children from at-risk and low-income communities.
The prestigious award, named in memory of Ben Appelbaum, a leader in the summer camp industry, recognizes an individual or organization that demonstrates a strong commitment to improving the lives of children. Past recipients include Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chancellor Rudy Crew and Christopher Reeve.
“I’m honored to accept this award, as the City furthers its commitment to connect tens of thousands of kids with meaningful educational and workforce readiness opportunities every year,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Through the Departments of Education, Youth and Community Development and the new Center for Youth Employment – we are following in the steps of Ben Appelbaum, inspiring the entrepreneurial and civic spirit of New York’s youth across the five boroughs to build a brighter future for our city.”
“We are thrilled that Mayor de Blasio will be accepting the Advocate for Youth award at the SCOPE Benefit Dinner,” says Molly Hott, Executive Director of SCOPE. “Mayor de Blasio’s education initiatives such as the establishment of the universal pre-K program aligns seamlessly with SCOPE’s focus on closing the achievement gap and providing disadvantaged children with educational experiences at summer camp.”
Ample evidence exists regarding the positive outcomes of summer camp; unsupervised children run the risk of losing academic ground or, worse, getting into trouble in potentially dangerous urban settings while children who attend well-designed camp programs benefit from a positive and healthy environment led by excellent adult role models. By partnering in the lives of children since 1991, SCOPE has given children, regardless of their socio-economic status, a positive and healthy environment where they can develop to their full potential.
For more information about SCOPE, visit www.scopeusa.org
Press contact: Choi Wah Garcia, SCOPE choi@scopeusa.org 718-306-4165