Mets legend John Franco cuts the ribbon at a revitalized Hurricane Sandy-affected playground area, funded by Citi, at the Shorefront Y in Brighton Beach. Franco is joined by Shorefront Y Executive Director Sue Fox (center) and Citi Senior Vice President Jill Kelly (right)
Citi, the New York Mets and the Mets Alumni Association presented by Citi hosted an unveiling of a new outdoor playground at the Shorefront Y, a United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) member, Monday in Brighton Beach, a continuing effort to help the New York/ New Jersey area following the devastation from Superstorm Sandy.
Mets Hall-of-Famer and New York native John Franco was on-hand for the event, as well as Citi representatives and over 250 YMCA children to celebrate the addition to a facility that supports over 3,000 children annually.
Citi provided funding for renovations to the playground area’s sinking concrete structure, installation of fencing, repairing cracks near and around the tennis court area and replacing a storage area.
Established in 1949, the Shorefront YM-YWHA is a not-for-profit Jewish Community Center and Settlement House that serves the Brighton Beach local community. The Shorefront Y’s mission is to build community, strengthen families and empower individuals to enhance their quality of life. Since 2005, the Shorefront Y has been a member organization of United Neighborhood Houses of NY.
UNH promotes and strengthens the neighborhood-based, multi-service approach to improving the lives of New Yorkers in need and the communities in which they live. UNH supports its member agencies through policy development, advocacy and capacity-building activities. UNH’s membership comprises one of the largest human service systems in New York City, with 38 agencies working at more than 400 sites to provide high quality services and activities to a half million New Yorkers each year. For more information visit www.unhny.org
This is just one of several unveilings that the Mets and Citi have partnered together for throughout the season. In ways both large and small, the Amazin’s and Citi Bank have been committed to helping the community following the most devastating natural disaster to affect our region. From the Rockaways, to New Jersey to now Brighton Beach, this continued effort has provided aid in getting several communities back on their respective feet as the effects of that October 29th disaster still remain ever-present to millions of New York/New Jersey residents.
