A recent $10,000 donation from JCPenney was granted to the LeFrak City Youth and Adult Activities Association (LCYAAA). The organization, which also serves nearby communities like Elmhurst and Corona, has been running since 1991.
Chair Malachy Z. Okolo said, “Our purpose is to provide the youth and adults with a means to succeed in life and to enhance their education and social interaction so that they grow up to become contributing citizens of our community.”
According to Okolo, the organization’s main focus, after-school programs and homework assistance, has been met with great success.
“The children become excited with their improvement and the praise they receive when they do so, leading to harder working children,” Okolo said.
With the after school programs and homework assistance, along with summer basketball camps, recreation and cultural activities, the association works hard to keep the kids off the streets.
“If you keep them busy and proactive, they don’t have the chance to do anything wrong,” added Okolo. “We teach them that they are an essential part of society and that fosters an understanding and respect for their own community.”
Okolo mentioned that community problems are often misdirected to one source – families.
“The LCYAAA acknowledges that it is a community effort, thus, we act as an extension to the families in our community,” explained Okolo. “We collaborate with the teachers and parents – we give the children no other options but to succeed and do right.”
Okolo indicated that the recent monetary support from the JCPenney Afterschool Grant will come to great use for the organization.
“We want to develop a very dynamic web site that can serve the community, where people can get information they need about our program, and contribute to its efforts,” Okolo said.
The organization is grateful for the JCPenney donation and the continuous support it has received from Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry, former State Senator John Sabini, City Councilmember Daniel Dromm and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, along with many others.
Okolo stressed the importance of fiscal accountability. “When the people who donate their time and/or money see the results of what we have done, it gives them more of an incentive to support our organization because it feels rewarding to see progress in the community.”
“Our program does not focus on money, it’s about the difference we want to make in our community,” Okolo said.
