On November 26th, over 170 people came out to play Bingo for the chance to win designer handbags to benefit Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS)! Clients from the program cooked food from their native countries for all to enjoy and it was a big hit with the crowd. Eight rounds of Bingo were played for the luxury handbags, one round for a 50/50 and there were 25 great raffle prizes given out to the lucky winners at the end of the evening. The event raised nearly $13,000 to benefit Cabrini Immigrant Services and countless new friends were made who can’t wait to return to the event next year.
Well done, new U.S. Citizen!
Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, NY, is thrilled to announce that we have two new citizens! Muhammed Shabbir and Sajida Anjum Khan, both from Pakistan, have passed their 
tests.
Sajida worked very hard with her tutor, Barbara Fox and Muhammed worked equally hard with his tutor, James Sanders. Both tutors are very proud of their students.
Sajida and Muhammed are the proud parents of 4 children. They have a daughter in 7th grade, and sons in 6th grade, 4th grade and Kindergarten.!
A Visit from the County Executive
On October 22nd, Westchester County Executive, George Latimer, visited both Cabrini of Westchester and Cabrini Immigrant Services for the first time. While impressed with the programs and services as well as the modern amenities of the nursing home, he was greeted like a rock star by the children receiving after-school homework help services at Cabrini Immigrant Services in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
Lorraine Campanelli, Director of Immigrant Services, had educated the children on the important and powerful role of the County Executive and shared his philosophy on the importance of working together to create a community where there is a place for everyone and an opportunity for all to succeed. The children couldn’t wait to meet this important public figure who believed in their dream of a better future.
Upon arriving, the County Executive went around the room and addressed each child and asked them their name and their
country of origin. He shared that he, too, was a child of immigrant parents; his father, a carpenter and his mother, a homemaker. He also grew up poor but dedicated himself to being a good student and staying out of trouble. As a result, he has earned his important role as a public figure who is looked up to and admired by many and, to the children of immigrant services, stood as a beacon of hope.
Heart and Soul
tells us, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3). The residents at St. Cabrini Nursing Home, Dobbs Ferry, NY were blessed to have 13 children come and share their God-given talents and their beautiful spirituality with them.
The children participated in the ‘Heart and Soul’ program, which, is held monthly at the nursing home. The children, who ranged in age from 5-14 years old, sang various spiritual songs and also played different instruments.
We had violinists, pianists and a cellist. The children were from Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry and the Youth Mission of Life Church, White Plains, NY.
The children shared their love of God and the importance of their faith as they sang, played their instruments and shared from their hearts. I now understand what Jesus meant when he said that we need to be more like the children. Their innocence and their openness to God was so evident. Thank you to all the children who participated in the program. Thank you also for being a wonderful example of God’s love in this world. 
Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
I believe that one of the greatest authors of children’s books is Dr. Seuss. He has been able to capture the imagination of more children through his writings, his rhymes and his different characters. One of his favorite quotes is, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
. Barbara Keckler, Associate Professor for the School of Education at Mercy College and her graduate students came to Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, to help some of our children enhance their reading skills so that they will be able to learn new things and go to new places. Dr. Keckler teaches the course, Assessing and Correcting Literacy Problems: Practicum in Early Childhood and Childhood. Her students attend class during the day and then in the afternoon, they come to CIS to complete the practicum component of the class. They come twice a week to work with our children. They do pre-testing, reading aloud, comprehension as well as teaching our Kids some techniques and games to help them with their reading.
On the last day of the program, the Mercy College students gave our Kids a party. It was a great way to celebrate the end of the semester. Dr. Keckler read the book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, written by Dr. Seuss. In addition to some party food, the Mercy students gave each of our Kids a certificate for academic achievement. They also bought them some gifts such as books, crayons, pencils, etc.
Thank you to Dr. Keckler and the students from Mercy College. We look forward to seeing you again next summer.
Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, NY Gives Kids a Jump Start on Education
Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, held its Jump Start Program for our new families. The program is for new kindergarten students who will bestarting Springhurst Elementary School and their parents. For the children, there was a bit of excitement and nervousness as they walked into CIS. However, within a few minutes, they were smiling and working with their kindergarten teachers.
Thanks to a grant from St. Faith’s House Foundation, our new Cabrini Kids and their parents, learned about what to expect in kindergarten. The parents were able to speak with the teachers as well as get their Parent Portal accounts set up. The children did some writing and drawing and then they shared what they had created with each other. One of the teachers read a story to the children. They were engaged and excited to raise their hand and answer some questions.
We are happy to welcome our new Cabrini Kids and their families. Every child received a special packet with school supplies, a book about kindergarten and a magnetic board so they can practice their words and their numbers.
We wish them good luck as they start the new school year.
Rethink Your Drink
Timing is everything. As New York began its heatwave, Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, had a special workshop for the Enhancing Family Literacy through Education and Storytelling Program. On one of the hottest days in July, we learned about the importance of staying hydrated and also ‘Rethinking our drinks’.
Rebecca Radachy, MS, a Community Nutrition Educator for Eat Smart New York, gave a very informative and interesting presentation about how to make better choices when deciding on a beverage. Of course, water is definitely the beverage of choice however, Rebecca made a special drink which was very refreshing. She used seltzer water, cut up watermelon, ice and mint. It certainly quenched our thirst.
Rebecca stressed the importance of reading the labels on the products and paying special attention to the amount of sugar that is in each item. She had one visual in particular that truly resonated with everyone. She asked how much sugar a person would consume in one year if they drank one bottle of soda every day. She showed one box of sugar and then she kept spreading it and spreading it until there was about 50 boxes of sugar! I think she converted anyone who was a soda drinker.
The participants not only received great handouts but they also received a water container as a reminder to rethink our drinks.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
I believe that one of the greatest authors of children’s books is Dr. Seuss. He has been able to capture the imagination of more children through his writings, his rhymes and his different characters. One of his favorite quotes is, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Dr. Barbara Keckler, Associate Professor for the School of Education at Mercy College and her graduate students came to Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, to help some of our children enhance their reading skills so that they will be able to learn new things and go to new places. Dr. Keckler teaches the course, Assessing and Correcting Literacy Problems: Practicum in Early Childhood and Childhood. Her students attend class during the day and then in the afternoon, they come to CIS to complete the practicum component of the class. They come twice a week to work with our children. They do pre-testing, reading aloud, comprehension as well as teaching our Kids some techniques and games to help them with their reading.
On the last day of the program, the Mercy College students gave our Kids a party. It was a great way to celebrate the end of the semester. Dr. Keckler read the book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, written by Dr. Seuss. In addition to some party food, the Mercy students gave each of our Kids a certificate for academic achievement. They also bought them some gifts such as books, crayons, pencils, etc.
Thank you to Dr. Keckler and the students from Mercy College. We look forward to seeing you again next summer.
Reading Circles Lead to Broadway Showstoppers!
Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, held its Saturday Morning Reading Circles program during the month of July. Thanks to a grant from St. Faith’s House Foundation, our Cabrini Kids in Grades 1-6, were able to participate in the program. The Kids came to CIS for 4 Saturdays. Part of the morning was used to read the story, The Gingerbread Man and the rest of the morning was used to make costumes and props for the skit that they would be performing at St. Cabrini Nursing Home. Thanks to the grant, each child received a copy of the book, The Gingerbread Man as well as a 2nd book, with the encouragement to read over the summer.
CIS is blessed to have so many people helping with the program. Nora Maher, a storyteller, worked with the children on the script as well as their costumes and props. Rosann Russo, a teacher from Springhurst Elementary School, where many of our students attend school, read with the children as well as taught them different reading skills. Marilyn Rogers, one of our adult tutors assisted the students wherever the need existed. Our high school students helped the children with the making of the costumes and props. It certainly was a group effort.
On the last Saturday, our children and their parents went to the nursing home. It is good that the address of the nursing home is Broadway because the skit that was put on was certainly Broadway worthy! The pre-jitters, the last minute costume changes, etc. made it feel like it was a Broadway show. The children were wonderful. The residents had smiles on their faces from ear to ear. The parents were so proud to see their child performing. The children made gingerbread men out of construction paper. Each person received one of the gingerbread men along with a note thanking them for coming to the show.
Thank you to all who helped to make the program so successful.
Instilling Lasting Values of Concern for Others
President Ronald Reagan said, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” This is one of the ideals that we want to instill in our Cabrini Kids. Several of our Kids who are in Grades 3-6, came to Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), in Dobbs Ferry, NY to work on a Giving Back Program.
Thanks to a grant from St. Faith’s House Foundation, we were able to help some of the clients from Westhab, Inc. which is located in Yonkers, NY. Westhab has two transitional programs for single adult men. One program is for homeless men and the other is for those who are returning home from incarceration.
Our students filled bags with items such as soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. They also made a special cards that encouraged the men to be strong and to always try their best. The children said that they felt wonderful knowing that they were helping so many people.
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