Support RHI's Summer Program!

July 1, 2008
Dear Friends of RHI:

As summer officially begins, the Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is fully prepared to launch our 2008 summer program next week. I would like to share our plans with you and to ask for your financial support to help us provide an exciting and enriching summer program for Red Hook youth.

In a neighborhood where jobs are difficult to find, health crises are disproportionately high, and getting through school is full of challenges, we work to confront the affects of intergenerational poverty through an approach that offers support in education, employment, health and community development. Furthermore, we believe that people have the power to create their own social change. In keeping with this belief, almost 100% of our 58 employees live in the Red Hook Houses. This is a model of social change that is not found anywhere else in New York City.

Next week we will officially launch our third summer program. This year's agenda is our best one yet. We are already recruiting our fourth group of Peer Health Educators (PHEs); they will join 25 other youth employees who will be learning about reproductive health, creating their own workshops and discussion groups on teen issues, producing youth radio programs, and organizing other teens toward creating social justice in Red Hook.
Additionally, we will once again host Red Hook Passport to Summer, a collaboration among local community groups which encourages fitness and nutrition. Our Tree Interns will be back to care for our year-old trees, along with 10 new trees that were planted this spring. Two interns will carry out a summer project of updating the Red Hook Directory, a 100 page book that outlines all of the services available in the neighborhood. In addition to all of this, we will offer our daily summer program in Red Hook parks and public housing courtyards that will engage young people who are not involved in any other activities in enrichment programs. We will have weekly trips and activities planned by teens for teens that will ultimately keep young people engaged in positive programming.

In order to provide this in-depth program, we need to raise a minimum of $20,000 by July 31, 2008.

With your support, young people from the Red Hook community will have positive summer programs to attend, meaningful jobs in which to gain real-life work experience, and educational programming which keeps them engaged and learning. Please consider making a donation to the Red Hook Initiative, and if possible, consider an employer matched contribution.

We can accept:
Personal Checks: print out the attached donor form and mail to RHI
or
Credit Card Payments: through Network for Good

All donations are tax deductible.

I believe very strongly in the work that we do at the Red Hook Initiative. I have seen the impact of our work and the changes that people make with our support. We have an outstanding summer program planned that will continue to challenge our participants while providing them with new opportunities and the possibility for a better future. Please join us in this work by donating to make our plan a reality.

Sincerely,
Jill K. Eisenhard
Founder & Director

P.S. Please save the date: September 24, 2008 is the second annual A Taste of Red Hook! Details to follow.