American Express Park Clean-up

Forty volunteers from the American Express Company and from Harlem Children’s Zone TRUCE program cleared weeds and debris from a community garden located next to TRUCE on August 8th, 2006. The group laid down mulch, plants and a trellis to make the area brighter and attractive.

HCZ Kids Tour Lehman Brothers Trading Floor

Students from P.S. 76 went with volunteers from Lehman Brothers to visit the firm’s trading floor at its offices in midtown Manhattan on June 14th, 2007. The visit was part of the children’s participation in the Lehman Brothers Investment Camp program, which teaches HCZ kids about the stock market and personal finances. At the end of the visit, the students received checks for the profits they earned by picking a small portfolio of stocks during the school year.

“Ask Elizabeth” Comes to HCZ

Actress Elizabeth Berkley brought her “Ask Elizabeth” program for teenaged girls to several HCZ programs. In the program, open only to girls, the actress discusses personal issues of particular interest to young women, such as body image and self-esteem. She encourages the girls to express themselves and ask any questions that they otherwise might be too embarrassed to ask. Ms. Berkley led the program at the HCZ Community Center, TRUCE and Booker T. Washington Beacon Center in December 2006.

Morgan Stanley Fixes Up PS 242

On June 7th, 2007, a group of 100 volunteers from Morgan Stanley cleaned up, planted, painted and catalogued library books at PS 242, an elementary school on West 122nd Street. The group included Zoe Cruz, the Co-President of Morgan Stanley and HCZ’s newest member of its Board of Trustees.

American Express Spruces Up Garden

Volunteers from American Express teamed up with students in HCZ’s TRUCE program to improve the Carrie McCracken TRUCE Garden on St. Nicholas Avenue on August 8th, 2006. The group cleaned out debris, pulled up weeds, then laid down mulch and planted.

Getting Fresh Fruit and Vegetables to Harlem

Once a month, HCZ staff and volunteers distribute thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to participants in HCZ programs. The HCZ Farmers Market allows people in the community to purchase over 30 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce for only five dollars. The program is part of the agency’s Obesity Initiative, which is geared toward helping children improve their health, and have a more-balanced diet to fight obesity.

Walking Tour of Wall Street

As part of Lehman Brothers’ Investment Camp program with HCZ, volunteers from the financial services company took several students on a walking tour of Wall Street and the financial district on November 24th, 2006 and June 9th, 2007.