Yonkers Partners in Education has started a grassroots and social media campaign that seeks to raise $150,000.
 “We”™re doing as much as we can through targeted mailing and we”™re hoping to meet with as many businesses as possible to get them involved in the campaign,” said Wendy Nadel, executive director. “We”™ve sent out e-blasts and letters through the mail to individuals in the city of Yonkers as well as vendors of the school district.”
So far the response to the campaign has been strong, Nadel said, and though the checks are small, “we”™re uncovering donors we”™ve never had before.”
By way of an integrated social media campaign and online fundraising efforts, the organization attempted to attract small donors, even encouraging $5 donations.
“We”™re looking to get the word out through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and any way that gets our message out to masses of people,” Nadel said. “It”™s the wave of the future and we want to incorporate all the different ways to communicate.”
In addition to partnering with 29 elementary schools through the YonkersReads! program, the group holds an SAT prep program in seven high schools and maintains three active college centers in Riverside, Roosevelt and Lincoln high schools, all in Yonkers.
“For a new organization not only two years old, everything we do is first-time,” Nadel said. “It”™s all about getting our message out there.”
She said the organization was originally separate from the city until Mayor Phil Amicone recognized the need for a private entity to support public schools. Nadel said the mayor formed the original board of directors, which now consists of 15 members, and “enjoys a nice relationship with the city.”
New board members include business owners Nancy Shenker, CEO and founder of theONswitch and Carl Petrillo, president and CEO of Yonkers Contracting Co. Inc.
Yonkers Partners in Education seeks to raise $150,000 through the campaign.
All proceeds from the June 30 Yonkers Green Business Summit will benefit the group and its campaign initiatives.
