Emily N. Carey Harbor Preschool Unveils 2 State-of-the-Art Classrooms

Bill de Blasio, Charles Rangel among invitees to next week's ribbon cutting ceremony

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of its early learn initiative, the Emily N. Carey Harbor Preschool is unveiling two new state-of-the-art classrooms with an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 17.

The construction of the new classrooms was made possible by a $1 million pledge from the W. P. Carey Foundation, one of Boys & Girls Harbor's longtime corporate partners.  Named in honor of the late Emily N. Carey and her lifetime commitment to educating children, the preschool is designed to prepare children to be kindergarten ready in coordination with the national Early Learning Initiative.

The dynamic classrooms feature large windows, bright colors, and a simple design — all with the goal of creating a fun, hands-on, child-centered preschool experience for 4-year-olds to explore the arts, math, music, language, and literacy. The new preschool slots are fully subsidized by the New York City Department of Education at no cost to parents.  

"This generous gift on the part of the W. P. Carey Foundation allows the Harbor to increase the number of children in our preschool program from 85 to 121, with the capacity to serve 135," said Harbor Executive Director Dr. Thomas Howard. "Over the next three years, it will put the Harbor in a position to build 10 more beautiful classroom spaces and serve a total of 250 children."   

A number of high-profile politicians and education advocates are among Tuesday's invitees, including Bill de Blasio, Charles Rangel, and Kirsten Gillibrand. Dr. Howard and Harbor Board Chair Stephen Dannhauser will lead the ceremony, alongside members of the Carey family and students from the Emily N. Carey Preschool.

"With a brand new facility and dedicated teachers, we are positively influencing the growth and development of our youngest learners," Howard added. "Research suggest that a high-quality preschool education has a substantial effect not only a student's cognitive abilities, but also on a much broader scale, including narrowing the achievement gap, reducing generational poverty and income inequality, and increasing college graduation rates. This expansion reflects Boys & Girls Harbor's ongoing commitment to setting a productive, fulfilling life path for our children."  

CONTACT: Chana Garcia
[email protected]
646.981.2724

SOURCE Boys & Girls Harbor