Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
Borough President Molinaro announces Port Authority donation to “Stephen’s House”
Presentation of $5,000 Check to The New York Foundling at Borough Hall
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today announced that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has donated $5,000 to The New York Foundling for “Stephen’s House” at a check presentation in his Borough Hall office.
Molinaro, who had written to the Port Authority requesting funding for “Stephen’s House,” said, “This project is very near and dear to my heart, and 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 the Port Authority is joining our campaign by making this very generous donation to help Staten Island’s neediest children.”
Kenneth J. Ringler, Jr., Executive Director of the Port Authority, said, “The Port Authority is strongly committed to Staten Island and the people who live and work there. In addition to the work we are doing to upgrade the facilities we operate in the Borough, we also strive to be good neighbors. We are pleased to honor this funding request from Borough President Molinaro to help out this center, which is dedicated to helping children in need.”
Bill Baccaglini, Executive Director of The New York Foundling, said, “On behalf of The New York Foundling, we would like to thank the Port Authority for its generous donation to ‘Stephen’s House.’ Their commitment serves as one more example of the amazing way this community stands together. Staten Island is a Borough that consistently demonstrates a love for children and a deep commitment to their care. With the tireless support of the Siller family and the continued generosity of this remarkable community, we are even closer to opening the doors to ‘Stephen’s House,’ a place that will make a difference in the lives of so many children.”
Mary Scullin, sister of 9/11 hero firefighter Stephen Siller, for whom “Stephen’s House” is named, said, “The Port Authority’s donation to ‘Stephen’s House’ is particularly meaningful to our family. They have suffered through such devastation and loss, yet have chosen to focus on making a positive impact in the lives of struggling children. We believe this is a testament to the true spirit of the members of the Port Authority, and we are deeply grateful.”
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, as Stephen did. 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.
Last January, the foundation donated $75,000 to The New York Foundling for “Stephen’s House,” a $5.5 million diagnostic reception center to be built on the site of The Foundling’s campus at 119 Tompkins Avenue in Stapleton. An estimated $1.5 million is needed in donations to complete the project.
Established 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.
August 16, 2005