October is the month of Microsoft’s annual Giving Campaign, and to kick things off in New York, we brought to the employees of the Microsoft office at 11 Times Square, an in-office service event, in partnership with City Year New York.
Why you may ask do we host a service event in the office? Well, we do this to make it easier for our employees, and it is greatly appreciated. In addition, we conduct our service over the lunch timeframe, so we can feed our volunteers; food always increases volunteerism! Hosting an in-office service event allows employees to participate even if they just have a few minutes. It allows flexibility to volunteer as long as an employee is available.
Our in-service volunteers created 200 school supply packets that will be distributed to the students of JHS218 in Brooklyn, New York as academic incentives. Let me tell you about this school and Microsoft’s sponsorship and City Year New York’s involvement with this school and their student community:
JHS 218 James P. Sinnott School is a City Year partner school located in East New York, Brooklyn and sponsored by Microsoft. JHS 218 serves more than 432 students.
Ten City Year AmeriCorps Members serve on the Microsoft team at JHS 218 where they provide targeted support to students exhibiting early warning indicators that they may drop out of school: poor attendance, disruptive behavior, and course failure in math and English. The team also provides positive school climate activities that strengthen relationships between students, school staff, and the East New York Community.
Lest me not forget the hand-written notes. Each packet also includes a hand-written note of encouragement, personally written by each in-service volunteer.
Thank you, City Year New York, for all that you do for the youth in our community. And thank you to all the Microsoft employee volunteers who gave their time in service.
With appreciation and gratitude, thank you.
