Mount Vernon’s Youth Community Outreach Program receives $10,000 from Empire City Casino

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Youth Community Outreach Program.

(Mount Vernon, NY – September 24, 2021) On Thursday, September 23rd, The Youth Community Outreach Program (“Y-COP”) celebrated its 6th Annual Virtual Gala at the Pelham Art Center in Pelham, NY, in the company of close friends, community partners, and sponsors. The annual gala is Y-COP’s largest fundraiser of the year, when the organization recognizes and honors individuals and businesses that have contributed to Y-COP’s growth and expansion. Honorees included Troy Hupstead of Mount Vernon, who received the Roslyn Edwards Youth of the Year Award; Crystal Collins of Mount Vernon and Taryn Duffy of Yonkers, both recipients of the Connie J. Watson Volunteer of the Year Award; Frances A. Lightsy of Mount Vernon who received the Educator of the Year Award; Joseph Roberto/PCSB Bank, recipient of the Business Support Award; Daniel Bernstein of Scarsdale and John Witherspoon of Mount Vernon, recipients of the Above and Beyond Award; and the Honorable Lyndon D. Williams, who received the Allen D. Ayers. Jr. Legacy Award.

Of the many highlights of the evening, Y-COP received a very generous donation of $10,000 from Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts to support the Y-COP After School Program at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon. Y-COP’s After School Program operates during the academic school year from 3:00p.m. to 6:30p.m. each school day for youth in grades one through six, providing a safe, affordable, and convenient childcare option for working parents. The generous donation from Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts will help offset the cost of meals, transportation from schools to the afterschool site, and provide partial scholarships for several families.

“Education is a pillar of the MGM Resorts Corporate Social Responsibility focus. We understand how important after school programs are, not only to provide a foundation for our youth but also the safe infrastructure working parents need,” said Ed Domingo, MGM Resorts Northeast Group Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “Many members of our workforce call Mount Vernon home and so we are proud to continue to support this program.”

“We are very grateful for this very generous gift from Empire City Casino/MGM Resorts, they have been one of our very supportive partners for several years, and they truly understand the impact Y-COP is having in the community,” said Henry Wilson, Executive Director of the Youth Community Outreach Program (Y-COP)

Since 2014, Y-COP has offered a licensed After School Program. Children receive help completing their homework, one-on-one tutoring, arts & crafts, participate in interactive guest speaker discussions led by professionals in government, education, law enforcement, the arts, sciences, and more. To combat the childhood obesity epidemic, youth also participate in physical fitness activities and enjoy hearty, nutritious meals. Y-COP integrates a three-pronged approach that provides academic enrichment, recreation, and social skill development in all of its programs. Y-COP’s goal is to provide high quality, positive programs led by experienced, caring individuals in a safe, nurturing environment at an affordable cost for working parents. Y-COP Board Members, staff, and volunteers strongly believe that no individual’s financial circumstances should hinder them from access to quality child care. Therefore, Y-COP subsidizes the costs of programming. Y-COP keeps costs low by hosting several fundraisers throughout the year; applying for grants; soliciting funds, services, and in-kind donations from local businesses, private donors; and collaborating with organizations that serve similar missions.

To learn more about Y-COP, make a donation, become a volunteer, offer your services, or to provide any support to the program, please contact Executive Director Henry Wilson at [email protected] or 914.215.3063.
About Y-COP: The Youth-Community Outreach Program, Inc. (Y-COP), is a year-round, licensed child care program providing after school, out of school, summer day camp, basketball instruction, Counselors-in-Training, girls empowerment group, volunteer community service, teen mentoring, and more to at-risk youth. Y-COP seeks to empower youth and their families to become productive members of society with a strong willingness to give back to the community.