TeddyGross,founderof CommonCents,and his daughterNorain love onthe Upper WestSide,Manhattanoffice.CreditDamonWinter /The NewYorkTimes
Thesingle infusionhelpsMr. Grosssaid, butnotenough togetalong-term programupright.The arrival of anew mayor, however,allow-a strong focus oneducation issuesfor a particular campaign.
Mayor BilldeBlasiomaidshowedinterest in the project.The main point ofcontact withMr. Grosssays, isRachel Nordlinger, Chief of Staffof the capitalChirlaneMcCray.
Although Ms.Nördlingerfrom thegovernment lastmonthamida flood ofnegative reportsabout his private lifeand other issues,Mr.Agrantof$ 100,000 fromthe governmentdeBlasio,out of the citygoalong with $50000:Grossrecentlyat least partiallyexcuse foryour group isbacked up.
"Cities arehappy tobe ableto coversome of the costsassociated with thisprogram," saidWileyNorvell, a spokesmanforthe mayor's office,."We areoptimistic that thecurrentplan withoutthe nextrecurrentgovernment fundingto develop."
The programserved683schoolsin2011-12,thelast year's annualreportpublished on the website,for$ 519.088this year.Given allthe money,said Mr.Gross,and studentsdecide whogetsgrants.The program isin Albany, NewYork, Seattle,Colorado,Floridaand Ohio.
"This isa group ofstudents each yearthat no one elsethendonateand thinkabout their environment,about money,"Gross said."Changing thechildrenofsocial andemotional relationshipswith adults andthe environment."
Costto get involvedincluding the cost ofeducation,community service projectsand studentsthroughout the yearruns about $1 million peryearand is paidentirelyby private fundsor the city.At its peakin 2008,the charitynearly 3 millionfrom private donors.In the past yearincreased bylessthan $ 1 million,Gross said.
Overthe years, theorganization haslimpedalong and throughthe recession-relateddecline indonations fromfoundations,paralyzedin favor ofit.During the financial crisis,Mr.Gross said, CommonCents"Rainbow Roompast for apizza party." Reading themain storyreading themain storyNext Continue readingthe main story
A place full ofbankers andother executiveswere"devastated,"said Brett.
Charity Walkaffectedby the fightingwith theDepartment of Educationunder MayorMichaelR.Bloomberg,it wasa promisinglong-term supportfor a good cause.
This year,despitethe financial burden,Mr.Gross said,could notbring himself tocallthe truck.
"They goto school andbring thousandsof sacks ofpennies inthe BrooklynNavy YardandBrinks," hesaid."Itwould betoo manyprincipals and teachers, pupils andfeelingdisappointedacidunitand optimism,which is the mainobjective of the programto beexcited."
"Ido not want togetinto thisas a professionaleducator,butas a parent,"he said, "and the only onein thePennyHarvestwas apparentlyinbuildinga sense ofneighborhoodandcitysuccessfulbelongs tome thatmy childrengrowdedicated andneedsresponsible andtreatment."
Twenty five years ago,when BrutusTeddywent to her4-year-old daughter, Nora,with access fromthe apartmentnext doorneighborMr.Grossstuckkeyscentsa glassunfilledpackaging.Mr.Gross,who was working ona story forchildren who had ayoung bearand a collection ofcoins,an epiphany.Common Centsorganized.
NowNorastudiedin Philadelphiafor adoctorate in education.Mr.Grossis still livingon the UpperWestSide, the implementation ofannualPennyHarvestschools in NewYorkthat have grossed$ 10 millionin recent yearsfor local charities.
But,for the second consecutiveyear,said Mr.Gross,CommonCentson the edge.
"We can notpay thefreighttocollectpennies" he said."I'm infour employees andthose calledfor donations tokeep the doors open."
Last year, Presidentof the City Councilat the time,ChristineC.Quinnsaid,BloombergGovernmenthad found$ 550,000incity money, helprescueCommon Cents.Photo
TeddyGross,founderof CommonCents,and his daughterNorainthecharity in theUpper WestSide of Manhattanoffice.CreditDamonWinter /The NewYorkTimes
The onlyhelpedinfusion,Mr.Gross said, but not enoughto obtainlong-term programupright.The arrival of anew mayor, however,made it possible-a strong focus oneducation issuesfor aparticularcampaign.
AidestoMayorBill de Blasioshowedinterest in the project.Hismainpoint of contact withMr. Grosssaid wasRachelNordlinger,chief of staffof the First Ladyof the city,ChirlaneMcCray.
Although Ms.Nördlingerleft thegovernment lastmonthamida flood ofnegative reportsabout his personal lifeand other issues,Mr. Grossrecently securedat least partiallypardonfor your group:a grantof $ 100,000from the administrationdeBlasio,to go along with$ 50,000from the city.
"The Cityispleased to beable tocover some of thecosts associated with theprogram," saidWileyNorvell, a spokesmanforthe mayor's office,."We are optimisticthat a sustainableplanwithout having todeveloponrecurrentgovernment fundingahead."
The programserved683schoolsin2011-12, the yearof his lastannual reportpublished on its website,to$ 519.088inthis year.Given awayall the money,said Mr.Gross,and studentsdecide whogetsgrants.The program isoperated inAlbany, NewYork, Seattle,Colorado,Floridaand Ohio.
"These aregroupsof studentseach yearthat no one elsethendonateand think abouttheir neighborhoodsto collectmoney,"Gross said."Changethe children of thesocial andemotional relationshipswith adults andtheir environment."
The cost, including thecost of education,community service projectsand engagestudentsthroughout the yearrunsabout$ 1 milliona year andarepaidentirely byprivate fundsor the city.At its peakin 2008,thecharitynearly 3million fromprivate donors.In the past yearincreased bylessthan $ 1 million,Gross said.
For years, theorganizationhaslimpedalong and throughrecession-related decline indonations fromfoundations, itadvocatescrippled.During the financial crisis,Mr.Gross said, CommonCents"passedtheRainbow Roomfor a pizzaparty." Reading themain storyreadingthe main storyNext Continue readingthe main story
A place full ofbankers andother executivesis"decimated"said Brett.
Charity Walkwasaffected by abattlewith the Ministry ofEducation of the Cityunder MayorMichaelR.Bloomberg,whether the cityhad promisedlong-term supportfor a good cause.
This year,despitethe financial burden,Mr.Gross said,could notbring himself tocall thetruck.
"Yougo intoschools andbring thousandsof sackscents on theBrooklynNavy YardandBrinks," hesaid."Itwould betoo manyprincipals andteachers, students andsourtoo disappointedfeelingof unity andoptimism,which is a majorgoal of the programexcited."
"Ido not want togetinto thisas a professionaleducator,butas a parent," hesaid, "andthe only thingon thePennyHarvestisapparentlywasthesuccess in buildinga sense ofthe neighborhood and thecity,belongingto me thatto growmy childcommitted and responsibleand careneeds. "