Non-Profit Fundraising Video: The Meeting House

About this Video

The Meeting House is a recreational afterschool organization based in New York City. The organization provides a community for children who need help with socialization and communication. They offer a myriad of group classes and integrated afterschool programming to create a fun and educational program under one roof.

Video Transcription

There is a need for a supportive afterschool community that helps children to socialize and communicate better.

The Meeting House, Afterschool resources for children and families

I really like, like every subject in school.

I'm kind of like the silent type.

I think other people would think that I'm a good friend.

I'm really, really, I'm a really expert piano player.

I like going to dance class, because I have all of my friends there.

I don't go to my school afterschool programs, but the only afterschool program that I have is tennis.

Parent
To the untrained eye, my son looks absolutely typical, like any other nine year old. But when you look a little bit deeper, you see that there are some social issues. There might be difficulty communicating. And I feel strongly that the Meeting House would be a place where that would disappear for him. He would just do much better in an environment where not only are the groups smaller, but built into the activities is somebody who understands kids like him.

Roberta Hirsch, MA, Education Consultant
The Meeting House is going to be unique in that it will cater to children who need support for their socialization, for their play with other friends, helping them to really make a good friend. And it's going to reach out to not just that child, but to their parents and their siblings, and it will give them a place of belonging.

Paula Resnick, MPA, Founder, The Meeting House
There are three really important themes that we want to accomplish at the Meeting House. The first is that we want to build community and friendship for these children. Many of the kids who will come to our setting have difficulty in social situations. They have difficulty communicating for one reason or another.

Roberta Hirsch, MA, Education Consultant
They're the children who seek friendships, but often don't have their own skills in being able to really follow through and initiate it on their own.

Paula Resnick, MPA, Founder, The Meeting House
The second thing is that it has to absolutely be incredibly fun for them to be there. What we're hoping to do is change the model of afterschool a little bit and offer all of this fun under one roof for an entire afternoon. Children can come and build community and have fun and experience great programs that are geared for them.

The third piece is this component of partnership. We want them to come and find buddies and pals. We want this to be a safe haven, just like their school is, to know the staff, to know the other kids. And in doing that, to be able to build self-esteem and confidence.

Shari Harpaz, MS CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist
I think the families and the siblings will be a real part of the children's afterschool programs, and I think they'll feel really involved and really supported.

Patty Saidenberg, Librarian/Teacher, George Jackson School
The Meeting House is a vital component to making the child completely fulfilled outside of school. They will be the stars. They will have the support. It's not an adjunct. This is a destination.

Parent
The Meeting House is a place where any child can feel good about themselves, have vibrant, rich, deep friendships, a real sense of community, and leave the Meeting House with their head held high, their shoulders back, and a feeling of real success.

The Meeting House builds community through unique afterschool programs that help children socialize and communicate better.

Your participation will change their world into a universe of opportunity and friendship.

For more information about joining us, please contact:

Meghan Corridan @ 212-355-1908
mcorridan@themeetinghouseafterschool.org

The Meeting House
133 East 58th Street
New York, NY 10022