IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
2021
ANNUAL REPORT
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
90%
of youth said The Fresh Air Fund helped them feel more active and healthy
200+
18-24 year-olds were counselors. Over 50 were Fresh Air alums! 2
For 145 years, The Fresh Air Fund has shown that a summer can change a child’s life. In 2021, our creativity and commitment to New York City children made it possible for them to safely have fun, learn in the outdoors and rediscover the extraordinary feeling of being a kid in the summertime.
83%
of youth reported wanting to take better care of the environment
330
frisbees were given out at Family Wellness
86%
of caregivers said their child is more open to trying new things
1,163
s’mores were enjoyed at Family Wellness
85%
of youth reported feeling more confident
1,340
books were given to Fresh Air kids 3
ABOUT FRESH AIR
Since its founding in 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit youth development organization, has provided free life-changing summer experiences in the outdoors to more than 1.8 million children from New York City’s underserved communities.
Chairman’s Message In 2021, as we planned for our second summer of the pandemic, we knew it was essential that New York City children had the opportunity to learn, play and grow. Although our traditional sleepaway programs were on hold, we found ways to support the bond between host families and Fresh Air children with our Friendly Towns Connect program. Children were able to visit camp with their families for a muchneeded respite from the city in our Family Wellness program, and our Summer Spaces program provided a safe environment in children’s neighborhoods for them to play outdoors and to experience enriching programs which inspired and engaged them. Our young people participated in the expanded Fresh Air Summer Teen Academy with credentialing courses in environmental education, entrepreneurship, video game design and architecture and urban design. The virtual presentation I attended by the teens and instructors from the Design Studio program in partnership with PennPraxis at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design was very impressive. The students and instructors shared how engaging the hands-on projects on Governors Island were, along with an intensive virtual curriculum. In 2022, we are continuing the best of our new programs created during the pandemic, while also welcoming children back to Friendly Towns and Fund camps on a limited basis, with critical safety protocols in place. We offer our special thanks to Wendy Flanagan, Interim Executive Director and Board President, for her steadfast leadership and for stepping in during our search for a new Chief Executive Officer. Thanks to all of you, our circle of friends, volunteers, supporters and community partners, for providing New York City children with life-changing and transformative experiences. Together we will help our children imagine the possibilities. Sincerely,
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William P. Lauder, Chairman
Young people also participate in year-round leadership, career exploration and educational programs. At sleepaway camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, visiting volunteer host families along the East Coast and in NYC-based programs, children have new experiences, learn new skills and gain new perspectives. We believe that investing in a child’s journey through life provides an opportunity for young people to learn, grow and thrive in our city and beyond. The magic of a Fresh Air summer, full of new experiences and new friends, is simple yet transformative.
Executive Director’s Report For yet another year, the historic pandemic disrupted the lives of New York City’s children. For yet another summer, The Fresh Air Fund knew that children needed a safe place to play outside in the fresh air. They needed new experiences and new friends, and they needed to embrace some of the magic of summer. Armed with the experience we gained in Summer 2020, we continued to reimagine summer at The Fresh Air Fund. We built upon and expanded our inperson Summer Spaces and teen programs, and for those children who could not participate in person, we brought the outside inside with our virtual day camp and new Friendly Towns Connect program. Now, we are looking forward to Summer 2022 and a return to our traditional overnight programs: camp at Sharpe Reservation and Camp Junior and visits with host families, while keeping the best of our New York City-based programs. Children have suffered the most in these last two years, and the need for opportunities to get outside and have new experiences has never been greater. As an organization, we have continued to engage in understanding the actions we need to take to become an anti-racist organization. With equity as a guiding principle at the core of our work across the organization, we will continue to uplift and invest in the lives of our young people and ensure they have access to enriching summer experiences and youth development programs. Our work would not be possible without our generous supporters and partners. Thank you for continuing to stand by New York City’s children with us. Sincerely,
Wendy R. Flanagan, Interim Executive Director 5
WHERE we showed off our hula-hooping skills
Summer Spaces Summer Spaces provided fun, free and safe play spaces for NYC children, ages 5-12, at 11 program sites in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. Children participated in arts & crafts projects, STEM activities and music workshops, played soccer, had hulahoop contests, raced through obstacle courses and more! In summer 2021, program sessions were extended and there was an increased focus on STEM, art and literacy, which was supported through incredible partnerships including with the American Ballet Theatre, The ASCAP Foundation, BioBus and the Brooklyn and Queens Libraries. Supporting The Fund’s strong commitment to investing in job training and employment opportunities for young people, we hired over 100 18–24 year-olds who served as counselors, coaches and mentors.
“I tell all my friends to join Summer Spaces because it’s super fun. We do activities, play games, and if you want to do arts and crafts, we can do that here!” - Marilyn, 7
95%
of children said the program helped them get better at meeting people and making friends 6
92%
of children said their time at Summer Spaces helped them feel more active and healthy
WHERE my whole family felt the magic of Fresh Air
Family Wellness This past summer at The Fund’s camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, Fresh Air Family Wellness expanded to overnight trips, providing more time for Fresh Air children and families to spend together enjoying the outdoors, exploring nature, trying new activities and relaxing as a family. Families visited The Fund’s Sharpe Reservation and The Fund’s Camp Junior in Harriman State Park. Activities included boating, swimming, hiking, archery, fishing, visiting the Model Farm and making s’mores.
“Being able to go back and experience with my family somewhere I spent so many of my summers and built so many special memories was so grounding. It was truly an amazing experience.” - Serene Stevens
Surrounded by beautiful nature trails, lakes and fresh air, families were able to focus on connecting with each other and appreciate time in the outdoors. Many of our campers shared how meaningful it was to visit camp with their families and share the place where they had so many new experiences. Together families made new memories that will last a lifetime.
99%
of families said they felt more connected as a family after their Family Wellness trip
100%
of families said that after their Family Wellness trip they felt more connected to nature 7
WHERE I learned skills that will last a lifetime
Summer Teen Academy The Summer Teen Academy, launched in 2021, built on and expanded the teen programs we created in 2020. Close to 600 teens were provided opportunities to explore future careers, earn credentials, gain job training and professional development experience, and connect with a support system of peers and counselors. All programs offered stipends ranging from $500 – $1,000 depending on the time commitment required. Credentialing programs focused on Urban Design, Coding/Game Design, Entrepreneurship and Environmental Justice, and were created in partnership with PennPraxis at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design, Urban Arts Partnership, Youthful Savings and NOLS.
595
youth participated in the Teen Academy
8
Through a project-based curriculum, students gained basic industry-level skills, exposure to new career paths and a certificate of completion for their resumes and portfolios. The virtual Job-Readiness Training Program for 13–15 year-olds focused on career exploration and building leadership skills. The Youth Internship Program had virtual, hybrid and in-person internship opportunities. Participants attended weekly professional development workshops and gained hands-on experience at their assigned work sites.
Youth Enrichment Programs Teens across all of our programs participated in our Youth Enrichment Programs, which created safe spaces for teens to connect with peers and mentors. The Girls Empowerment Program included a Friday night virtual series, which created a community space for young women to support their peers and learn from special guest speakers who shared their professional and personal journeys. Our newly launched Circle of Brotherhood Program provided young men with a safe and supportive space to share thoughts and discuss issues related to healthy manhood.
86%
of youth feel more confident after participating in the Teen Academy
$360K funds distributed to support stipends
“The guest speakers were my favorite part. I learned about starting my own business and to be more independent. When I’m in college, I’ll be more prepared.” - Ralph, 15, Entrepreneurship Credentialing Program
84%
of teens got better at working as a team 9
WHERE I explored nature from my apartment
Virtual Programs Through our virtual camp, Fresh Air Everywhere, children, ages 7- 12, participated in nine-day sessions which included supervised, interactive activities that encouraged creativity and exploration. The curriculum focused on learning about nature, developing social and emotional skills, and participating in hands-on STEM and art activities. Launched in 2021, Friendly Towns Connect was designed to build community by providing opportunities for NYC children and volunteer host families to engage in virtual programming together. Children, ages 7-12, participated in programming focused on art and STEM, with interactive activities ranging from building star projectors and bird feeders to scavenger hunts. Partner organizations in NYC and throughout Friendly Towns hosted Friday virtual field trips, including Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Intrepid Museum, the Brandt Foundation Art Study Center, Flying Deer Nature Center in East Chatham, NY and Living Classrooms in Baltimore, MD. Children in both programs received supply kits with books and materials for activities.
1,340
supply boxes were sent to participants in virtual programs
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“I really enjoyed growing my own plant. We also got to read comics, and every day before our session, we would always answer cool questions. It was so much fun! I learned something new every day!” – Rimsha, 9
92%
of Fresh Air Everywhere campers want to take better care of the environment
WHERE I was inspired to focus on my future
Year-Round Programs As students have transitioned from remote learning and hybrid learning to being back inside a classroom, our year-round programs have provided a critical source of support. Our tutoring program matches students one-onone with volunteers who help with academic skill building and serve as trusted role models. The College Connections Program has provided guidance, resources and ongoing support for students as they apply to college and explore a full range of post-secondary options.
“With my tutor’s help, I get higher grades on my homework and we talk about the books I’m reading!” – Ibraheem, 16
The Young Women’s Giving Circle (YWGC) is a youth-led program that teaches girls about the importance of community service and the power of philanthropy. The group has expanded, and in addition to weekly virtual meetings, the young women have participated in weekend field trips around NYC and to camp. Camp Junior participants, youth ages 8-15 from the Bronx, have participated in year-round activities including a running club, self-defense workshops, community meetings and service projects.
100+
youth participated in the College Connections Program
6,424 hours of tutoring
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FINANCIALS Funds for Jan 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021
OPERATING SUPPORT AND REVENUE Off-Season Use of Camps
$ 342,946
Investment Income
$ 2,181,095
Contributions & Grants*
$ 16,271,581
Total Support and Revenue
$ 18,795,622
OPERATING EXPENSES PROGRAM SERVICES Friendly Towns Activities
$ 2,845,374
Fresh Air Camps
$ 3,326,097
Sharpe Reservation
$ 3,977,779
Virtual and Community Programs
$ 3,060,636
SUPPORTING SERVICES Management & General
$ 1,588,985
Fundraising
$ 3,996,751
Total Expenses
$ 18,795,622
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Not included in the above are: (a) Bequests and Trusts and Other Gifts added to funds functioning as Endowment
$ 482,492
(b) Net gain (loss) on investment transactions
$ 11,293,895
(c) Depreciation expense
($ 1,600,135)
* Total contributions raised also include item (a).
* (Total contributions for 2021 - $16,754,072.)
As of December 31, 2021: Assets, Liabilities and Net Assets
($) Amount
Assets
$ 157,511,342
Liabilities Net Assets
$ 1,866,738 $ 155,644,603
FYE 2020, net assets balance
$ 140,166,524
FYE 2019, net assets balance
$ 134,249,594
Audited financials for Fiscal Year 2021 will be available at FreshAir.org as of May 4, 2022. A copy of our financial reports may be obtained from The Fresh Air Fund, 633 Third Avenue, 14th floor, New York, NY 10017 (212) 897-8900, from the New York State Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, or from the Charities Registry on the New York State Attorney General’s website, www.charitiesnys.com. ©️ 2022 The Fresh Air Fund
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LEGACIES AND BEQUESTS
The following donors chose The Fresh Air Fund as a beneficiary of their estate, leaving a legacy of growth, learning and fresh air to NYC children for generations to come. Visit FreshAir.org to learn about more options for planned gifts.
LEGACIES AND BEQUESTS INCOME January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021 Peter A. Batacan Revocable Trust The Ferns Gladys Brown Revocable Trust Robert L. Feller Trust
Estate of Jean D. Pitcher Estate of Jacqueline Albert Simon Estate of Georgina M. Walker Trust of Betty G. Waller
Estate of Peter W. Josten The Lillian W. Patrick Trust
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DONORS AND PARTNERS CHAMPIONS $100,000+
Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Pittman
Jill S. Lafer
John Roach Trust Fund
George Ledes
Robin Hood Foundation
Nancy Long, Ph.D. and Marc N. Waldor
SPONSORS $5,000–$9,999
Anonymous
Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund
Lovelight Fund of the Community
Anonymous (18)
Abrahamson Family Foundation
Betsy and Paul Shiverick
Foundation for Palm Beach and
American Camping Association
Blavatnik Family Foundation
The Shubert Organization, Inc.
Martin Counties
Drew Anderman
Bloomberg Philanthropies
The Sternlicht Family Foundation Inc.
The Nicholas Martini Foundation
Jody and John Arnhold
The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck
Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch
Richard and Carole Mavity
William O. Bailey
Tommy Hilfiger USA, Inc.
Theodore and Karin Mayer Family
Arthur H. Barnes
Foundation Mariah Carey
Universal Music Group
The Estée Lauder Companies
Vital Projects Fund
Kathy and Joseph N. Mele
Chip and Jennifer Weiss
Joyce F. Menschel
Naomi Bennett
The Witten Family Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Paul Berger-Gross
MUFG Union Bank Foundation
Kathy Fein Bierman
Netflix
Susan Blaustein and Alan Berlow
New York City Department
Alan Blinder
Charitable Foundation Jerome L. Greene Foundation Otto Haas Charitable Trust Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie John and Jeanet Irwin/JJJ Charitable Foundation
PATRONS $10,000–$24,999
Foundation, Inc.
of Transportation
The Theodore H. Barth Foundation
Marcella A. G. Boelhouwer
The JPB Foundation
Anonymous (9)
Leonard and Judy Lauder
Richard A. Allen
William P. Lauder and
James Attwood and Leslie Williams
Donald Newhouse
Virginia Brody
Sandra Atlas Bass & Edythe & Sol G.
Esmond Nissim Foundation
David M. Charytan
Olmstead Properties, Inc. -
Diana Childress
Lori Kanter Tritsch Barbara Marcin Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
BENEFACTORS $25,000–$99,999
Atlas Fund Frances Berger
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Samuel W. Rosenblatt
Colleen M. Bondy Jeffrey Boutilier
Ray Compagna
Bloomingdale’s
Yoko Ono
Catherine Crimmins
Blair and Elizabeth Boyer
Paula K. Oppenheim
Bob and Leslie Dahl
Kaija and Peter Braus
Origo-Levy Child Welfare Fund
Anthony N. D’Avella
Katherine K. Brobeck
Orr-Pitts Family Charitable
Elisabeth de Picciotto
Bulldog Ventures, LTD
Annuity Trust
Harriet Ford Dickenson Foundation
Anonymous (3)
Nancy S. Calcagnini
Rafael Pelli and Kate Walbert
Charles C. Cahn, Jr.
The Richard E. Capri Foundation/
Penguin Random House, Inc.
Dime Community Bank
Katherine C. Pierce
Karen and Greg Dimit
Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation
Patrick B. Dorsey
Edward J. Purce
Anne and John Duffy
The Frances and Abraham Reichman
Elizabeth E. Ehrenfeld
Citi Michael T. Cohen and Andrew H. Roos on behalf of 23rd Street Properties
Steven M. and Heather Wolf Mats and Lydia Carlston/ Winston & Strawn
Con Edison
Neil and Argero Clark
Catherine and Patrick de Saint-Aignan
Continental Grain Company
Andreas C. Dracopoulos
Daniel and Ellen Crown
Carlos Rodriguez-Pastor
Connie Ellison
LizabethAnn Rogovoy Eisen
Sharon Davisa
Samuel W. Rosenblatt
Jeanette Emmarco
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Ahmed Deria and Grace Chung
Greg Rosica/EY
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Wendy Flanagan and Chris O’Malley
Dillard’s
Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Equinox Fitness Clubs
The Goodnow Fund
Karoline Dunne
Win and Mary Rutherfurd
ESPN
Jochem Gottmers
Doris Egan
Scripps Family Fund for Education and
Mary A. Fribourg
Christina and Donald Hawks III
Martin Elias
The Hearst Foundation, Inc.
Marc A. Feigen
Richard and Carol Seltzer
Robert A. and Jane G. Friedman
Lancaster Charitable Trust
Lily Palmer Fry Memorial Trust
Richard Shepard and Carolyn Horwitz
Liz and Ed Gaelick
The Lawrence Foundation
Jane L. Gilbert
Dr. and Mrs. Bernard E. Small
J. Patrick Gallagher
Gregory D. Lee and Amanda Moretti
Agnes Gund
Howard Solomon and
Peter Gerbic
Mr. and Mrs. David Levine
The James Huntington Foundation
Alexis and Laura Maged
Island Capital
Gillian Sorensen
Global Endowment Management
Robert Matloff
Craig and Janice Ivey
John Templeton Foundation
Barbara Freid Gottesman
Marie-Noelle Meyer
The Joel Foundation
The TJX Foundation, Inc.
Jane Hall
The Ambrose Monell Foundation
Freda S. Johnson
Lance R. Wachenheim
George A. Hambrecht
Glenn and Alina Pacchiana/
Howard Johnson Foundation
Lucille Werlinich
Linda Peyton Hancock
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Beth and Brad Whitman
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Harris
David and Nilam Perpich
Rick and Mary Beth Ketchum
Beth and Leonard Wilf
Jay and Ellen Hass
The Pinkerton Foundation
Hersch M. Klaff
Thalle Industries
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The Fresh Air Fund is very grateful to our loyal and generous donors for supporting our programs. The following names are listed in recognition of their gifts received January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.
Charitable Trust
the Arts
Sarah Billinghurst Solomon
Gregory and Melissa Elders
Jennifer Weiss Friedman
Cathe Giffuni
Christine Haydinger
John Steinberg and Jill Pliskin
Bronx Community Board 9
Morgan Stanley
Sari R. Hornstein
Jean L. and Robert A. Stern
Brooklyn Bridge Park
NASDAQ
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
New Settlement
Brooklyn Community Board 7
New York Cares
Brooklyn Community Board 8
New York City Department of Parks
Industrial Arts Brewing Company Interaudi Bank Paul Isaac
Foundation Stoller Family Charitable Lead Annuity Trust
J.M. Kaplan Fund
The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation
Brooklyn Community Board 16
William and Alexis Joel
Ben and Charlotte Sullivan
Brooklyn Public Library
Carol C. Johnson
Karen N. Taylor
CAA
Peter Johnson
Trish Todd
Chinese-America Planning Council
Jacqueline Jones-Peace
Scott and Locky Trachsel
Citibank
Mary R. Upton
City Council Majority Leader
and Breon Peace Gail and James Kellogg Family Fund Zoe Kirby
Michael A. Wall Warburg Pincus Private Client Group
Laurie Cumbo
& Recreation New York City Department of Sanitation New York City Department of Transportation New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
City Council Member Diana Ayala
The New York Times Company
City Council Member
Tasheea Nicholson/Project Pixie
Olivia Knotts
Mary Waterman and William Lunt
Jane Koppelman
Alice and Lawrence Weiner
City Parks Foundation
Nomad Outdoor Guide LLC
Sidney and Judith Kranes
Mark and Pamela Weinstein
CLS Group
Nuventra Pharma Sciences
Paul Weissman
Cognilibro
NYPD Community Affairs
Rae Morgan Krelitz
Donna Welicky and Stephen O’Neill
Common Ground Farm
NYU Langone Health
Isabelle B. Krusen and
Margaret and Gary Wendlandt
Culture Lab LIC at The Plaxall
Ocean Alliance
Foundation
Michael C. Sodikoff
Sara R. Wilford
Vanessa Gibson
Gallery
NOLS
On
Wendy Kulberg
Forrest Williams
DiMassimo Goldstein
OneSight
Betsy and Richard Langberg
Vanessa Wilson
DJ Rashida
Daphne Oz
Nancy Langsan and
Donna and Melvin Young
ECS Psychological Services
Paul, Weiss
Judith and Allen Zern
Eggbert Free Range Farm
Penguin Random House
Susan Zirkl Z.L. Memorial
Energizer
PennPraxis, Stuart Weitzman
Daniel K. Bernstein Donald Lateiner Jane Lauder The Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder Foundation Joseph H. Levie John and Helen Lobrano Stephanie Lynch Marian Malcolm Marcum Foundation, Inc. Robin Matt Brenna Mead Richard and Ronay Menschel Joane Molenock The Montgomery Family Foundation New York Life Insurance Company Clover Nicholas Lukasz and Dana Niedzielski Ilse Nordenholz John O’Connor Abby Pratt Joan Rechnitz Red Mountain Fund The Renaissance Foundation Chelsey Jo Ring Michelle Rotella Matthew and Melissa Rubel Rubin Family Foundation David L. Russo and Mary Gail Gearns Nancy Sands Elizabeth H. Scheuer and Peter A. Joseph Mindy Schneider and Michael Lesser Thomas Schumacher Shake Shack Alice L. Shaner-Simpson Margaret Siber Maria Smith Erinn Steele Philip S. Steers
Charitable Foundation Trust Susan Zohn
Donors who generously supported our programs at the $1,000-$4,999 level are listed at FreshAir.org/donors-partners
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Enterprise-Rent-A-Car ESPN
School of Design, University of Pennsylvania
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Pit NYC
Leesa Evans
Proskauer Rose LLP
First Book
PVH
Flying Deer Nature Center
Queens Community Board 3
Free Country
Queens District Attorney
Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts
Melinda Katz Queens Public Library
who helped us by donating items, giving of their time, collaborating on programs and providing additional encouragement and support.
Governors Island
Chanler Rutherfurd
Barbara Graves-Poller
Sabra
The High Line
SCAN Harbor
Holland & Knight LLP
The School of The New York Times
House of Speakeasy
Senator Roxanne J. Persaud
Hudson Highlands Trust
Senator Gustavo Rivera
34th Ave Open Streets Coalition
Hudson Valley Maple Farm
Senator José M. Serrano
Hunger Free NYC
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
SPF Skin Protection Foundation
Jill & Ally
State Street
JPMorgan Chase
Studio Rappy
Julep Beauty
Styles by Pat
Karate Do Ken Wa Kan
Sweet Blackberry
Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club
Syncopated Ladies
Kora Management LLP
Syneos Health
Likey Co.
Taproot Foundation
Living Classrooms
Andy Taylor
L’Oreal
Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga
Marilyn Machlowitz
The TJX Companies
MacKay Shields
Union Settlement
Macy’s
Union Square Partnership
Manhattan Borough President
Uniqlo USA
Nicki Adler Airband American Ballet Theatre American Dream Charter School AS Beauty Co. The ASCAP Foundation Assembly Member Catalina Cruz Assembly Member Latoya Joyner Assembly Member Latrice M. Walker Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie Away Travel Beam Center Anna Berger Biobus Brandt Foundation Art Study Center Brighter Bites Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Bronx Community Board 1 Bronx Community Board 4
Gail Brewer Manhattan Community Board 11 The Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety
United Nations United States Tennis Association (USTA) University of Virginia at Wise
Meadowbrook Farm
Uptown Grand Central
Lisa Menechino
Urban Arts Partnership
Meredith Zinner Photography
Warner Music Group
Michter’s Distillery
The Writer
MIKI HOUSE Americas, Inc.
Youthful Savings
Morgan Lewis
Zogo
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Looking Forward TO SUMMER 2022
The two years of the pandemic have been particularly difficult for children. In addition, Fresh Air children and families live in communities that are among the most affected by the public health and economic crises. Fresh Air programs play a vital role in providing social emotional support to children, which we know will be a critical need this summer. We are committed to providing New York City children from underserved communities with summer experiences in the outdoors that help them connect with other children and caring adults, have new experiences, learn new things, make friends, gain confidence and, of course, have fun. We are excited that we can now provide these experiences in New York City, as well as outside the city at our camps and with volunteer host families.
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When we reimagined our programs during the pandemic and found new ways to provide accessible, safe, free and enriching summer opportunities for New York City children and families, we saw once again how powerful an engaging summer experience can be. The impact of our programs, which are made possible through the generosity of our supporters and partners, live on far beyond summer… because a summer can last a lifetime.
FOR SUMMER 2022... we are looking forward to children returning to our sleepaway camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley and to reuniting Fresh Air children with volunteer host families through the Friendly Towns program. We also plan to continue many of the new programs that were created during the pandemic including the Summer Teen Academy, Family Wellness and Summer Spaces.
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OUR BOARD OFFICERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
William P. Lauder Chairman of the Board
June Ambrose
Gregory D. Lee
Tiki Barber
Alexis F. Maged
John N. Irwin III Vice Chairman
Mariah Carey
Joseph J. Magliocco
Mats G. Carlston
David S. Perpich
Derrick D. Cephas
Caroline Cummings Rafferty
Ahmed Deria
Nancy Rooney
Barbaralee Diamonstein-
Greg Rosica
Wendy R. Flanagan President LizabethAnn Rogovoy Eisen Vice President
Spielvogel
Winthrop Rutherfurd, Jr. Secretary Donald L. Hawks III Treasurer
Kimberly E. Steward
Hugh Grant
Richard D. Thomas
Craig S. Ivey
Bradley A. Whitman
Howard B. Johnson
Steven M. Wolf
Isabelle B. Krusen
COUNCIL Isabelle B. Krusen
Samuel del Pilar II
Courtney Alexis Langer
Chanler Rutherfurd
Council President
Nicole DeFosset
Amelie Lonergan
Walsy K. Sáez
Suzanne DeFosset
Kehinde Longe
Alexandra and
Steve DeLuca
David Mehlman
Edward Shaheen
Amanda Starbuck
Andrae Mitchell
Anthony Shropshire
Elizabeth Morgan
Kaitlin R. Slattery
Elizabeth Harrow
Cecilia Mortimore
Clifton and Tina Teagle
Sade Henry
Nina Morton
Tamie Peters Thomas
Lindsay K. Herron
Bisha Nurse
Evan W. Uhlick
H. Branch Johnson
Benji Nwachukwu
Mara Upson
Meena Khot
Will C. Page
Lauren Wallerstein
Daniel Kosinski
Megan Petrie Ramm
Emily Weiss-Cook
Cristen Koufakis
Will Rodd
Dwight Williams
Alex Kupferberg
Josh Rollo
Ashton Abbot Nicole Adler Peter Harris Alden Ian Bain Scott K. Banerjee Anna J. Berger Taryn and Alex Berkett Michael Bogner Meghan Borden Libby Burton Bryant Dang Anne Davey
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Hanlan
A Season of Hope
April 22, 2021 By The Editorial Board
The Fresh Air Fund offers a summer escape from New York City. When Sky Sze was 8 years old, the Fresh Air Fund gave him his first escape from New York City. Through the organization’s Friendly Towns program, he was able to leave Sunset Park in Brooklyn over the summer and spend a week living on Cape Cod, where he learned to swim and boogie board. A decade later, the organization again gave him solace. When both of his parents lost their jobs at the start of the Covid-19 crisis — his mother worked at a nail salon and his father as a cook — the Fresh Air Fund hired him to work at a city-based camp offering children free recreational programming during the pandemic. “We had this gloomy pandemic situation, but it made it heartwarming to be able to go outside and spend time with kids,” said Mr. Sze, now 19. When he started the job, making $15 an hour, he felt relieved to be able to contribute to his family’s savings. Many of his most blissful childhood memories were made possible by the Fresh Air Fund. He spent at least a week each summer, for 10 years, living with a host family on Cape Cod. That first summer, he was carsick on the way to meet his host family. He was nervous about being far from his parents. But within days, the new environment brought all sorts of joys he’d never known. He learned to fish. He learned to build sand castles. He learned the simple excitement of barbecuing in a backyard. “Backyards don’t really exist in the city, unless you grow up on Staten Island,” he said. “Being able to enjoy a hamburger while you watch friends play baseball or tag is really heartwarming.” Last summer, as Covid-19 tore through New York and put his parents out of work, Mr. Sze was able to pass on the bliss he experienced through the Fresh Air Fund to younger New York City children. The program he worked for, Summer Spaces, served more than 1,000 campers across 10 New York City sites. He helped teach arts and crafts, including kite making and robot building. Waking up for work each day, he thought about how relieved his campers must have been to find a distraction from the grief of jobless or sick family members; they had been given an escape, just as he was as a kid.
Sky Sze in Brooklyn on Tuesday. Makeda Sandford for The New York Times
After 145 years, the Fresh Air Fund reimagined its work during the Covid-19 crisis. The organization began four programs designed to follow coronavirus safety protocols: Summer Spaces, a virtual youth summer learning academy, a virtual nature-focused camp and a family wellness program that enabled New York families to take day trips to camps upstate. Nearly 300 families participated in the wellness program, escaping the city for a day of kayaking, swimming and sampling Hudson Valley produce. This year, the organization hopes to expand that program to include overnight visits. “We reimagined summer in the face of Covid,” said Fatima Shama, the executive director of the Fresh Air Fund. The Fresh Air Fund plans to reach thousands more New York City children from low-income families this year. A donation of $1,500 funds a two-day trip for a family to a Fresh Air Fund camp, and $520 covers the cost of 10 Camp in a Box activity kits for young campers. The fund hopes to raise more than $12 million by the end of September. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to the Fresh Air Fund, 633 Third Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Families who wish to be hosts, or parents who would like to sign up their children, may call the Fresh Air Fund at (800) 367-0003 or visit www.freshair.org.
Copyright ©2021 by The New York Times Company. Reprinted with permission.
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THE FRESH AIR FUND 633 Third Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10017 212.897.8900 | 800.367.0003 www.FreshAir.org freshair@freshair.org @freshairfund @freshairfund @thefreshairfund
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Joan Barker, Jenna Bascom, Katie Borrazzo, Allison Engkvist, Liz Ligon, Gaja Papa and Meredith Zinner
The printing of The Fresh Air Fund’s 2021 Annual Report has been generously donated by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.