The New York City Health Department is also working with schools, parents and communities to minimize the spread of H1N1 among children and teachers. Key objectives include getting children vaccinated, and New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that the city will offer free flu vaccines to elementary school students. (scheduled to begin in October).

New York City was the first large U.S. city to be hit hard when the H1N1 virus first surfaced last spring, when hundreds of children in the city were sickened by the disease. At the Children’s Aid Society, we know that school attendance is a predictor for future successes, and keeping children healthy is always a major challenge.

Vaccinations have been one of the most important health advances in history, reports the New York Times. The free vaccinations provided to the more than one million New York City School District students will mostly be a nasal mist, rather than a shot, according to the AP. Along with basic common sense prevention, we’ll be able to make a difference!

Correction:  Thanks to our Facebook friend Janay Bouroughs, we have changed the flu name to the correct name, H1N1.

Celebrity designer Kimora Lee Simmons joined JCPenney Chairman and CEO Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III and youth from The Children’s Aid Society at the gala grand opening of the chain’s first store in Manhattan. Photo courtesy of JCPenney.

A crush of media, kids and customers marked the gala opening of the first JCPenney store in Manhattan in late July.  JCPenney Chairman and CEO Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III officiated at the opening, along with New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who shopped for a tie with celebrity designer Kimora Lee Simmons, whose Fabulosity ^TM line is carried exclusively at JC Penney.

Even more exciting for the 40 children from The Children’s Aid Society who attended, were the $100 gift cards they received for a back-to-school shopping spree at the store, which started right after the grand opening ceremonies concluded.

The JC Penney Afterschool Fund donated $5,000 to The Children’s Aid Society’s after-school programs, along with $50,000 to The After-School Corporation (TASC) and $100,000 to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City to support the city’s Out-of-School Time initiative.  This donation established the After-School Arts Partnership (ASAP) as a means of providing children in after-school programs with greater access to New York City’s rich cultural offerings.

In addition, from August 5 – 16, the new Manhattan store will participate in the nationwide JCPenney Afterschool Round-up, in which customers are invited to ‘round-up’ the total cost of their purchases to the next whole dollar to support after-school programs. All of the Round-up donations collected at the Manhattan store will benefit The Children’s Aid Society!

Children’s Aid is looking forward to an exciting partnership with Manhattan’s new retailer.

This past Thursday morning, the East Harlem Head Start children, staff, and parents went to City Hall to participate in a press conference supporting funding-renewal for our yoga program (which is provided free through our partnership with University Settlement).

The trip fit in perfectly with the Civic Participation theme and related events that we’ve been working on with our families.

Much to our surprise, Mayor Bloomberg actually walked out of the building just as our press conference was wrapping up.

The highlight of the day came when, of his own accord, 3-year-old John spontaneously broke from his mother to passionately hug the leg of our famous Mayor. Everyone (including Mayor Mike) had a good chuckle.  It was the perfect example of true civic participation!

Enjoy the pictures.

Moira Cappio, Director of the Head Start Program, East Harlem Center