NOAH’s O’Donnell Schoolyard Summer Program held an informal Thank You Ceremony to express its gratitude to the local organizations and individuals who helped support it financially this year. The event was held on the final day of the program, Thursday, August 18th, at the Schoolyard on Lexington Street in East Boston. The Annual Children’s Talent Show followed.
Over 150 children attend the Schoolyard Summer Program each year, with an average of 60 children served onsite each day. The program runs Mondays through Fridays for seven weeks in July and August. Participants enjoy diverse activities, including sports, arts and crafts, gardening, water activities, games, and visitors from the local Police and Fire Departments. Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) has held this fun and enriching summer experience for local children aged five to twelve years old for over 18 years.
The program is made possible through generous area donors and partners. In 2016, these have included the major program funder, The East Boston Foundation, which has provided generous significant grant funding over the years; as well as additional donors, including: John & Todd Antonellis, Boston Duck Tours, Boston Forging & Welding Corp., Century 21-Mario Real Estate, East Boston Dental Associates, East Boston Diamond & Gold Exchange, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, East Boston Savings Bank, East Boston CDC, Elton & Hampton Architects, Rose Fiore, Jim Healey, Kirshon Paint Company, Kiwanis Club of East Boston, Boston City Councilor Sal LaMattina, Drs. Neenah Estrella-Luna & Dr. Marcus Luna, MA State Rep. Adrian Madaro, Metavante Corp., Ruggiero-Mazzarella Memorial Home, Smolak & Vaughan LLP, Spinelli Ravioli, and The Narrow Gate Architects. Collaborating partners include East Boston APAC and the Chelsea Collaborative, which help make teen counselor/staff available; as well as the Boston Public Schools, which assists in providing free breakfast and lunch to the children.
Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) has been serving the East Boston community and its residents for 29 years. It offers a number of housing-related and community services, including foreclosure prevention, financial capability, first-time homebuyer, rental housing counseling, senior home repair, English for Speakers of Other Languages, US Citizenship, resiliency and environmental, youth leadership, children’s soccer, and other programming.