Press Release: Former President Bill Clinton Helps Open Harlem Children's Zone Headquarters
Announces Clinton Foundation Scholarships And New Partnership With Teacher’s College, The Clinton Foundation And The Harlem Children’s Zone.
Calling it a “powerful beacon of light shedding rays of hope” throughout Harlem, former President Bill Clinton today helped open the Harlem Children’s Zone headquarters, a $41 million building that will house administrative offices, a charter school, a community center and a medical and dental clinic.
“The opening of this building continues a renaissance of development in Harlem, one that has brought new businesses, new housing and new hope to the people who live and work here,” President Clinton said. Recalling the famous 1958 photograph of jazz greats standing in front of a brownstone entitled “A Great Day in Harlem,” President Clinton said “My friends, this is ‘A Great Day in Harlem,’ too, and I am honored to share it with you.”
President Clinton also announced the names of three recipients of Clinton Foundation College Scholarships: Shanell Beckles, Esso Essizewa, Danyelle Morston. Each student is a participant in HCZ programs and will receive $5,000 to help them pay for any college they choose.
The scholarships result from a partnership created in October 2003 between the Clinton Foundation and The Princeton Review aimed at helping underserved students increase educational achievement by offering standardized test preparation for a low fee or no fee. In addition to offering test preparation, the two organizations published a guide, Paying for College Without Going Broke, and a portion of the proceeds from the book’s sales went to fund the scholarships announced by President Clinton today. The Princeton Review will be operating an after-school test preparation program at the Harlem Children’s Zone.
Former President Clinton also announced the beginning of a new collaborative effort between the Clinton Foundation, Teacher’s College at Columbia University and the HCZ. This effort, the details of which will be announced at a later date, will involve Teacher’s College graduate students working with the charter school and after school programs operated by the Harlem Children's Zone.
Other officials who participated in today’s events included: John Katzman, Princeton Review Founder and CEO; David Brand, Vice President of The Princeton Review; Arthur Levine, President of Teacher’s College; and Darlyene Bailey, Dean of Teacher’s College.
The mission of the William J. Clinton Foundation is to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. To accomplish this mission, the Foundation currently focuses its work in four critical areas: health security; economic empowerment of poor communities; racial, religious and ethnic reconciliation; and citizen service and leadership development.
As part of President Clinton’s continuing effort to make college more affordable and accessible to underserved communities, the Clinton Foundation has also partnered with Ember Media to provide free CD-ROMS aimed at making information about the college application process more accessible to students, parents and educators in Hispanic and African American communities across the country. To learn more about the Clinton Foundation or to order a CDROM, please visit: www.clintonfoundation.org.
The Harlem Children’s Zone, Inc. was founded in 1970 as a non-profit, community-based organization that works to enhance the quality of life for children and families in some of New York City's most underprivileged neighborhoods. Formerly known as Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families, HCZ Inc.'s 15 centers serve more than 12,600 children and adults, including over 7,500 at-risk children. The emphasis of their work is on education, social service and recreation, and rebuilding the fabric of community life.
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