By Maya Johnson
Palm Beach Today Society Editor
The annual Rose Luncheon, a benefit for Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, was held June 20th at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City.
The event honored Mara Urshel, owner and president of Kleinfeld, New York. For the 27th year the event chair was Jane Pontarelli and Co-Chair was Tracey Silverman.
"We are deeply grateful for the tremendous support and generosity that you have shown, and are thrilled that this luncheon has proven to be a success once again.
We also want to thank the vendors and all the raffle and gift bag donors for their donations," said Jane Pontarelli and Tracy Silverman.
HISTORY
Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, rooted in the Catholic tradition and guided by the lives of Saint Therese Liseux and Saint Peter Claver, transforms caring into action to deliver services, programs and direction to improve the lives of any and all children, families and adults in need.
In 1929, the parishioners of St. Peter Claver 's Church in Bedford Stuyvesant, concerned about neighborhood children, established a summer camp on the shores of the Long Island Sound. As the economic situation worsened, the summer camp evolved into a year round school. Over time municipalities were confronted with growing numbers of children who needed placement away from their homes. Little Flower responded to this need by developing a Residential Treatment Center.
Programs And Services
A tradition of responding to societal needs took hold and continues today. Thus the agency developed the following programs and services:
• Foster boarding homes for children to provide familial settings when they need foster care
• Foster homes for children with HIV/AIDS or other chronic serious medical problems
• Foster homes for teen mothers and their children
• Therapeutic Foster Boarding Homes for children and youth
• Campus based Residential Treatment Center for children ages 7-14
• Union Free School District for Campus Residents grades 2-9
• Adoption services for children who can not safely return to their families
• Independent living preparation for teens in foster care
• Family Day Care and After School services
• Residential Services for Developmentally Disabled Adults
• Medicaid Service Coordination for Developmentally Disabled Adults
• Parenting Skills training
The agency's dedicated, professional, multi-discipline staff, administrators and volunteers consistently work to achieve excellence in the services delivered.
The Board of Directors is committed to maintain fiscal stability and administrative viability while encouraging diversification commensurate with highest quality of services. Our numerous, generous donors and other supporters continue to make it possible for Little Flower to carry out its mission.
New at Little Flower
LITTLE FLOWER CALLS ATTENTION TO
WARNING SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE
Agency calls on those in contact with children to recognize indicators
New York, New York - Thursday, February 22, 2007 - Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, one of the state’s leading foster care and adoption agencies, has called attention to the following list of warning signs that a child is being neglected or abused. It is directed toward educators, parents and anyone who may be in contact with children on a regular basis. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration of Children and Families, 872,000 children and youth were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect in the United States in 2004.
“In order to protect children from child abuse and neglect, we must first recognize the signs,” said Herb Stupp, Chief Executive Officer of Little Flower. “This list was developed so that all teachers, parents, relatives, or any individual who is in the company of children, can identify these red flags and act upon them so children at risk are properly protected. Abuse has many forms. In addition to the outward signs, adults should be aware of other signals.”
According to the childcare professionals at Little Flower, any of the following circumstances may be signs of child abuse:
A child:
Claims or is seen to have been struck by an adult
Claims or is suspected to have been sexually abused by an adult
Has bruises or hematomas resulting from unexplained or questionable circumstances
Fails to thrive
Suffers a burn of any kind
Is improperly dressed for the weather
Wears ill fitting clothing or clothing in poor condition
Is left without adequate supervision
Is injured by another child in the home
Has indicated that a parenting adult is withholding food
A parenting adult fails:
To provide adequate hygiene
To seek medical attention for a child
“Child abuse occurs in all communities and impacts all races, educational levels or socio-economic status,” said Stupp. “It is also important to remember that although young children are most vulnerable, teens are also at-risk for abuse and neglect.”
If you suspect child abuse, call the New York State Central Registry Hot Line, 1-800-635-1522. Although you do not need to know the child’s name, you do need to know the child’s location. The Central Registry is available to take calls 24-hours-a-day, 365- days-a-year. Calls can be made anonymously.
Victims of child abuse and neglect often become a part of the foster care system. These children need safe, loving homes where they can heal and grow. For information about how you can become a foster parent, please call Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York’s toll free number at 1-800-323- 0316.
Editor's Note: To speak with Herb Stupp, CEO of Little Flower and board member of Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), who is an expert on social services involving childcare, please call Marisa Morrison at 212-907-0072.
ABOUT LITTLE FLOWER CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES OF NEW YORK
For over 75 years, Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York has transformed caring into action by delivering services, programs and direction to improve the lives of children, families and developmentally disabled adults in need. With offices in Brooklyn, Queens and Wading River, Long Island, it is one of the largest human services agencies in New York State offering adoption programs, residential treatment facilities, education, foster care, intermediate care facilities and family day care to over 2,000 people annually.
DJC Communications
Marisa Morrison
email: marisa@djccommunications.com
phone: (212) 907-0072
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Attention Little Flower Alumni ~ Little Flower Is Looking For You!
Little Flower is interested in hearing from you. We would like to keep up-to-date with our alumni so let us know where you are and what you are doing. We hope this will become a way for your fellow alumni and Little Flower to keep in touch. Please e-mail us your name, address, information about what you are doing now, and any stories you want to share about Little Flower or mail to: Little Flower Children and Family Services, Office of External Relations Attn: Alyson Gladle, 2450 North Wading River Road, Wading River, NY 11792.
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For further information or to receive our newsletter (please include your mailing address) e-mail us at info@lfchild.org or contact the Office of External Relations at 631-929-6200 ext. 1171
The Annual Rose Luncheon, June 20, 2007
Mandarin Oriental, New York
Coming Up for
Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York
Friday, November 16
Annual Holiday Gala
Mandarin Oriental
New York City
Next Rose Luncheon
June 10, 2008
Mandarin Oriental
New York City
For information and sponsorship opportunities call Roberta Meadow at 917-923-9069 or e-mail to:
Click here for important information from Little Flower
The Annual Rose Luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental, New York City June 20, 2007
Palm Beach Today coverage of
2006
Rose Luncheon
Jane Pontarelli and Susan Lucci receive awards.
Jane Pontarelli served as chair for the 27th year. Susan Lucci is an Emmy award-winning actress and broadway star.
Honoree
Mara Urshel
Owner/President
Kleinfeld, New York
Mara Urshel has more than 30 years of unparalleled experience developing and marketing luxury merchandise and is one of the best-known and respected executives in the retail apparel industry.
"Congratulations to Mara Urhsel for her ongoing dedication and commitment."
-Herbert W. Stupp
CEO, Little Flower Children & Family Services of New York
(L-R) Lisa Gastineau, Jane Pontarelli, Susan Lucci
(L-R) Virginia Gordon and Roberta Meadow, Event Coordinator
(L-R) Dr. Georgia Witkin with Andrea Schlossberg
(left to right) Toby Muss, Rita Greenberg, Marie Haymes
(L-R) Gail Worth, Maya Johnson, Society Editor
of Palm Beach Today, Susan Weiss
(L-R) Honoree Mara Urshel, Susan Lucci, Jane Pontarelli
(L-R) Anka Palitz, Betsy Green and Jane Karp
The Pontarelli's
(L-R) Lilian Johnson, Helen Stein, Carole Seligson
(L-R) Susan Weiss, Arlene Levine, Nancy DeMatteis, Linda Langer
(L-R) Joseph Pontarelli, Arlene and Dr. Allan Lazare
(L-R) Anka Palitz, Andrea Stark, Deborah A. Robinson
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