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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 110-03
April 30, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG CELEBRATES EL DÍA DE LOS NIÑOS

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today celebrated El Día de Los Niños (The Day of the Children) with the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families (CHCF), Inc. at the Captain Manuel Rivera Jr. School, Public School 279 in the Bronx.  Mayor Bloomberg read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein in Spanish to children in kindergarten through second grade who are enrolled in the after-school program at PS 279.  CHCF sponsored the El Día de Los Niños event to encourage communities to create special events with children to promote the day.

“Today is an important day to celebrate the importance of children in our City and in our world,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “Reading to our kids is one way to motivate and help them to develop a lifetime love for reading.  These children are our leaders of tomorrow and teaching them to be giving, productive members of society is the first step for a bright future.”

The Giving Tree is the story of a young boy and a “giving” apple tree who have formed a relationship where giving and acceptance form the basis of their bond.  The lessons to be learned from The Giving Tree reflect the goals of CHCF’s after-school programs.  The program is four years old, operates in two schools in the Bronx and serves 400 children.  The program teaches children to give back to the community and encourages parents to become involved in the lives of their children.  Students receive homework help, engage in arts and cultural enrichment activities, and participate in service projects, such as neighborhood cleanups, coat and toy drives, and singing at nursing homes and senior centers.

El Día de Los Niños is a traditional Latin American holiday that has been observed nationally since April 30, 1998.  It is a day for parents, families and communities to value and uplift Latino children and all other children in the United States.  Cities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico have committed to creating parades, book festivals, health fairs, and other special events that promote the well being of children.  The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc., established in 1982, is a non-profit community organization formed to improve the quality of life for Latino children and families by building upon their existing strengths and fostering
self-sufficiency.





CONTACT:

Jordan Barowitz / Lark-Marie Antón   (212) 788-2958


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