‘Extreme Makeover’ of Yorktown Teen Center Unveiled
Officials unveiled the “extreme makeover” of the Yorktown Teen Center’s facility in the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, May 2.
“We went from merely adequate to awesome,” said Helena Rodriguez, board president of the Yorktown Teen Center, Inc. “It inspires me to keep up the energy knowing that others like Rick Cerrone, the Jack DeVito Foundation and so many others stepped up to support the work we do. Their actions spoke louder than words and it’s amazing to see what they have done in such a short period of time.”
“Our teens are important to the community and what has been done for them proves it,” said DeVito Foundation Co-Founder and President Anthony DeVito: “We are amazed and grateful to have been given the opportunity to help the local teens. This project is exactly what the Foundation mission is all about. What an outstanding job everyone did to make it happen. I expect the teens will get many years of enjoyment out of the center and that is exactly what my Dad, Jack DeVito, would love to see.”
The retail value of the project is estimated at more than $45,000 and all costs are being underwritten by The Jack DeVito Foundation of Yorktown Heights, which is also providing the labor.
It has also been made possible by the participation of a number of area individuals, businesses and organizations, including Atlantic Appliances (Yorktown Heights); Best Plumbing, Tile & Stone (Somers); Freight Liquidators (Cortlandt Manor); Hudson Marble & Granite, LLC (Buchanan); Jilco Window Corp. (Granite Springs); Mildred E. Strang Middle School Variety Show (Yorktown Heights); PC Lee Computer (Putnam Valley); P & M Electric (Yorktown Heights); Robert Pisano Contracting (Yorktown Heights); Sam’s Ceramic & Stone (Cortlandt Manor); and the Yorktown Lions (Yorktown Heights).
In addition, the Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation will underwrite the cost of a new computer center for the facility that will be dedicated over the summer.
The makeover of the Teen Center includes new carpeting and ceramic tile; new window treatments; new furniture, including sofa, loveseat, arm chairs, desk and computer tables; new food-service-area cabinetry with granite countertop; new bistro-style tables and chairs; a completely restored pool table; three new computers and printer; a 55” flat-screen LED TV monitor with sound system; DVD library; Blu-ray player and other new appliances.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.