April 29, 2013

ACS Children’s Center Nursery Gets Sesame Street Makeover

Young children who enter the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Children’s Center pre-placement nursery are now being greeted by Big Bird, Elmo and other Sesame Street characters after the nursery received a makeover courtesy of volunteers from the popular children’s show. On Monday April 29, ACS Commissioner Ronald E. Richter and President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, H. Melvin Ming cut the ribbon to open the newly “Sesamized” nursery.

The nursery makeover included freshly painted rooms, entrance ways and play areas filled with plush toys, books, and furnishings decorated with Sesame characters. The newly decorated nursery is the first “Sesamized” room completed under the Sesame Workshop Count Me In! program under which staff serve communities around the country by volunteering at Head Start centers, schools, food banks, and military bases.

Commissioner Richter noted that a goal of the Children’s Center is to provide a welcoming environment to children who reside at the center on a short-term basis while they await a more permanent placement. “Many of them arrive out of crisis situations and too often have just minutes to pack some belongings prior to their trip here. Your efforts and good work will make the difference in the life of a child who passes through this Nursery.” He thanked Mr. Ming and the Sesame volunteers who completed the project for making such an impactful contribution to the Children’s Center.

Mr. Ming said he and his staff were honored to partner with organizations like ACS who live the mission every day to help children handle stress so they can learn and become successful, happy adults. “We are happy to have this opportunity to help children who need us the most,” he added. Popular Sesame Street character, Elmo joined Mr. Ming and Commissioner Richter for the ribbon cutting, along with Sesame Workshop Count Me In! volunteers and ACS staff including Gilbert Taylor, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the ACS Division of Child Protection (DCP) which runs the Children’s Center; Trevor John, DCP Assistant Commissioner of Pre-Placement Services and Eden Hauslaib, DCP Associate Commissioner.

ACS OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Contact: pressoffice@acs.nyc.gov, (212) 341-0999