Pure Vision Pure Joy, will be held at the Pure Vision Arts Pop-Up Gallery on Madison Avenue. This exhibition is a celebration of the talents and achievements of the Pure Vision Artists and will feature works from the studio archive as well as new works from emerging artists at the studio. In addition to the work of these self-taught artists, three Bill Traylor drawings will be featured, a collaboration made possible by The Betty Cuningham Gallery.
This exhibition has been made possible in part by a generous donation from Sprayregen Real Estate Advisors
As the first day of school draws near, The Shield Institute has been seeking aid from our communities to ensure that our students have what they need to begin the year. Many of our students come from economically diverse backgrounds and their families struggle to provide them with backpacks and supplies. In keeping with our mission at The Shield, we are dedicated to providing for those we serve both through our services and through our ability to advocate for the needs of our individuals. It is with immense gratitude for our donors, Elected Officials, and Board Members, that this year we are able to provide 650 backpacks to our community. This September, we will be celebrating alongside Council Members Peter Koo, Fernando Cabrera, Assembly Member Victor Pichardo and Senator Toby Stavisky as we present these gifts to the children at The Shield Institute.
Getting Ready For School | Backpack Event
Sponsored By Council Member Peter Koo, and Senator Toby Stavisky
Tuesday, September 10, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
At The Shield Institute, Flushing Center
144-66 Roosevelt Ave. Flushing, NY
Getting Ready For School | Backpack Event
Sponsored By Council Member Fernando Cabrera, and Assembly Member Victor Pichardo
Thursday, September 12, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
At The Shield Institute, Bronx Center
1800 Andrews Ave. Bronx, NY
Although our need for backpacks this year has been met, our mission to continue to dream and provide opportunities to our individuals does not end with this campaign. This is the first of a series of events that we are putting together for the year. In keeping with tradition, The Shield has provided Thanksgiving meals, school trips, events, and other seasonal needs to our children. This year as we seek to go above and beyond, we would like to expand the ways in which we can provide for those enrolled at The Shield. As an example, the holidays are often a time of stress for low-income families, as they struggle to provide holiday meals, warm clothing, and gifts for their children. As we move to support our community, we are planning a toy drive, coat drive, and trip to see a Broadway show for the holidays. None of this would be possible without the support of our staff, Board Members, Elected Officials – and of course, our donors.
Please consider a donation of $100 or more to contribute to supplies, school trips, and resources for our children.
It was an honor and privilege to have Senator Toby Stavisky, Chairwoman of Higher Education, visit The Shield Institute in Flushing to see the great work we are doing with our pre-school children with special needs. The Senator was impressed with the educational services we provide to the children in her district.
2019 Disability PRIDE parade, bringing awareness, visibility and inclusion to our individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Carmen Collado, Chief Relationship Officer of The Shield Institute, met with the honorable Angela Fernandez, Commissioner of New York State Division of Human Rights, and John P. Herrion, Director, Disability Rights, on Monday, July 16, 2019, to collaborate on efforts to ensure that the rights of the individuals we serve are fully protected and that each individual is guaranteed an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life.
For more information on the New York State Division of Human Rights, please click on the link: https://dhr.ny.gov/
On Sunday, June 30, 2019, Shield Executive Director Dr. Susan Provenzano, Chief Relationship Officer Carmen Collado, Accounts Receivable/ Reimbursement Manager Mary Walcott, and Eligibility Specialist Barbara Rodriguez proudly marched with New York State Governor Cuomo at The World Pride NYC event in support of our clients, staff, Board members, and all New Yorkers who identify as members or allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
This World Pride NYC event marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which many view as the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ equality movement.
The Shield Institute is a not-for-profit agency that for the past 65 years has provided essential services to New Yorkers of all backgrounds and embraces people of all races, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
Congresswoman Grace Meng (third from left), member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New York’s 6th congressional district in Queens (Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village and Rego Park), and the first Asian American to be elected to Congress from NY, visited our staff and clients at The Shield Institute in Bayside. Also pictured, Executive Director Dr. Susan Provenzano (third from right), Chief Relationship Officer Carmen Collado (standing at right) and Elizabeth LaMarca (standing at left).
The Shield Institute was honored to host Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez who represents The Shield Institute Manhattan Day Habilitation Program.
This was a great opportunity to familiarize Assemblyman Rodriguez with our program and the critically important services that we provide to vulnerable constituents in his district. We look forward to Assemblyman Rodriguez’s meeting with our Executive Management and Board of Directors in September so that we can further engage him in dialogue around the policy issues that impact our services.
Photo: L-R, Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez, Carmen Collado (Chief Relationship Officer, The Shield), Dr. Susan Provenzano (CEO, The Shield)
Tue, April 9, 2019
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM EDT
Tribeca 360
10 Desbrosses Street
New York, NY 10013
A BALL FOR ALL was an all out celebration of how The Shield Institute and Pure Vision Arts makes it possible for people of varied abilities to access opportunities to express themselves through the arts. On April 9th, we honored the artistic brilliance of Armando Nunez and his supportive family, the Sanjanas as well as our new Board President, Lori Reinsberg.
Our biennial Ball for All brings out hundreds of people who have one common purpose: to show their solidarity with people who need it most. By working with individuals, families and communities, The Shield Institute and Pure Vision Arts enable children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to lead full, meaningful lives that include a chance to work and contribute. We are having a transformative impact on the lives of so many New Yorkers.
What could be better? A crowd of our fabulous children…a one-of-a-kind hand-painted Elmo piano… plush ‘Julia’ dolls for everyone…all combined with talented performers from Sesame Street!
It was a truly special day at The Shield as you will see in the photo album above.
On Friday, January 26, Sesame Street’s ‘Sing for Hope’ program, which creates gorgeous hand-painted pianos for schools, delivered the first ELMO piano to our school in Flushing, along with the Julia dolls.
Julia, made her debut in 2015, as the first Sesame Street character to have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She is part of Sesame’s ‘See Amazing in All Children’ initiative and she is close friends with Elmo and Abby.
Our Elmo piano was painted by Sesame’s Creative Director of Character Design, Louis Mitchell, who was on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, singing songs and handing out of Julia dolls.
Our Principal, Sally Moradoff, was thrilled and in full Elmo mode. Our teachers, staff, students and the Sesame Street gang had a blast. Enjoy the photos!
