COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP INITIATED

Shardell Gerald, assistant director and director of family and community partnerships for Head Start of Rockland, and Elizabeth M. Rozier and Barry Schechter from Target at the Palisades Center have announced the creation of a new partnership following Target’s donation of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for purchase of classroom books and educational materials for Head Start preschool and early childhood education.

Target employees coordinated by Barry Schechter, a lifetime Rockland resident with an interest in literacy and volunteerism, will take a leadership role in supplying volunteers for Head Start’s ongoing beautification and cleanup days at its new Second Avenue construction site. He will also recruit volunteers to read to children at each Head Start school in Rockland.

The new program was initiated by Rachel Wimer and Cathy Allison seeking Target funding that led to dialogue on other means of support, including use of Target volunteers in a variety of Head Start projects.

Gerald said: “We are pleased to have the financial and volunteer support and involvement of Target and its employees in Head Start activities and programs. We hope other companies and organizations will follow suit and find a means to collaborate with Head Start, whether by making donations or recruiting volunteers.

Elizabeth Rozier from Target added: “Target is committed to volunteerism and support of vital community services like Head Start and its work with low income children and their families. It is gratifying to be part of the building blocks that make for a better future for these children.”

Head Start of Rockland is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2005 and will be launching a variety of projects and events to commemorate and celebrate its unique history. If you would like to participate, log on to www.headstartofrockland.blogspot.com to join us or share your remembrances of Head Start, or call Peter Flierl, director of marketing and philanthropy at 845-358-2234 ext 43 or 203-273-5168. You can e-mail him at flierlp@bww.com.

Head Start of Rockland serves 877 low income children and their families and provides a variety of other health, social services and assessment services through out the county. Head Start employs more than 200 persons making it one of Rockland County’s largest employers.

.