Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro Kicks Off Fund-Raising Campaign for “Stephen’s House at the New York Foundling”
Unveils Architect’s Rendering of Modern $5.5 Million Facility in Stapleton - Accepts $75,000 Check from the Stephen Siller/FDNY Children’s Foundation
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today kicked off a fund-raising campaign for Stephen’s House at The New York Foundling with the unveiling of an architect’s rendering of the $5.5 million Stapleton facility, and the presentation of a $75,000 check from the Stephen Siller/FDNY “Let Us Do Good” Children’s Foundation.
“This project is very near and dear to my heart, because it will benefit so many of Staten Island’s neediest children,” said Molinaro. “I am proud to be honorary chairman of an exciting campaign to build a new, modern facility that will provide a temporary home for children with profound emotional and behavioral problems who cannot be cared for by their families. I am thrilled that our efforts with The New York Foundling are being championed by the Siller family, whose work on behalf of abandoned and orphaned children are well-known throughout the country, and greatly admired and appreciated by their fellow Staten Islanders.”
Bill Baccaglini, CEO of The New York Foundling, said, “The New York Foundling has been a major provider of services to children on Staten Island for more than 30 years. Through our partnership with the Siller family, and with the support of the Staten Island community, we have the opportunity to create a magnificent, warm and welcoming residential setting and clinical capacity on our Staten Island campus. Approximately 340 children will receive services at this site on Tompkins Avenue. The provision of their health care, counseling, and all rehabilitative services will be greatly enhanced by this addition to our campus. But, more importantly, the new building that we will name to honor the memory of Stephen Siller will provide the needed services that the troubled teenagers passing through its doors must have in order to succeed.”
Mary Scullin, sister of 9/11 hero firefighter Stephen Siller, said, “We want the children who live at Stephen’s House to know all about his story. Although he was an orphan at age 10, and although he struggled to find himself, he went on to become a loving husband, a proud father of five, and an indomitable force in the lives of so many people. His heroic life and death will always be a source of strength and healing for the children who will live at this very special place, named Stephen’s House.”
Siller, 34, of West Brighton, was off-duty from his Brooklyn firehouse when he was killed on September 11, 2001 after running through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel with 80 pounds of gear on his back to respond to the World Trade Center disaster.
To honor his legacy, his family began the Stephen Siller/FDNY “Let Us Do Good” Children’s Foundation for youngsters who have lost one or more parents. Each year, the foundation organizes the Firefighter Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run, a five-kilometer run/walk, to help raise money for several charitable causes. Since its inception, the foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations such as the New York City Firefighters Burn Center and The New York Foundling.
Founded in 1869, The New York Foundling is one of the country’s most respected and innovative human service organizations, taking care of thousands of children and families a year. The Staten Island Region of New York Foundling offers a wide range of preventive and placement services for children and families, including preventive services, foster boarding homes, group homes, a diagnostic program, and health/mental health services.
Those wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to Stephen’s House should make checks payable to “New York Foundling re: Stephen’s House,” and mail to The New York Foundling, 119 Tompkins Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10304.
January 10, 2005