Dear Friends,
The Manhattan Youth community shares the concern with New Yorkers everywhere about shortages and the slow pace of recovery in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Our own community learned how helpful donors and volunteers can be after September 11, 2001 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Already, the young people on our Manhattan Youth Tritons swim teamhave mobilized our community to help Puerto Rico, raising more than $17,000 so far and gaining print and TV attention for the cause.
I ask you to join our young people by making your gift to help Puerto Rico, so we can reach our goal of $27,000 to assist two community organizations:
1) Club de Nataciуn de Caguas
This community swim club in Caguas, Puerto Rico provides swim lessons to local children, much like our aquatics program at Manhattan Youth.
Our swim team has raised over $17,000 to help complete necessary repairs for their pool and equipment so that children can continue to swim and participate in other programming. We have already sent the $17,000 raised by our swim team to Club de Nataciуn, but we are not yet done helping them to rebuild.
2) Asociaciуn Comunitaria LLanos Tuna
This is a community center in Cabo Rojo, a remote section of the island that was destroyed by hurricane Maria. We are helping the people rebuild this vital center of their community life and making sure the new community center remains viable during future storms and power outages. Your gifts will help us provide equipment such as refrigerators and generators to keep them running when needed. We will, of course, also bring some food and music to keep spirits high!
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Please be our partner.
We urge you to watch this moving video of children who swim at Club de Nataciуn de Caguas expressing their gratitude to our swim team and all who have supported their recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Next month, I will travel to Puerto Rico along with Assistant Director of Membership Blake Ruiz and Sports Coordinator Frank Alameda, where we will meet with both of these organizations. 100 percent of funds contributed to this effort will be delivered to these organizations; my staff and I will use private funds for our transportation, room and board.
Please give generously. We need your support to ensure these organizations can rebuild. Puerto Rico continues to have blackouts and many people are still without power. This is direct giving – community to community – so you know your contribution will be used carefully and wisely.
When our community suffered calamities, people from around the world helped us. Now it is our turn to help – the people of Puerto Rico need us!
Sincerely,
Bob Townley
Founder and Executive Director
Manhattan Youth