WP Agrees to Develop Grandpas United Mentoring Program
The White Plains Common Council agreed last week to enter into a contract with four other Westchester municipalities to develop Grandpas United mentoring programs.
At a meeting on Feb. 6, the council authorized spending a total of $100,000 for the city’s Youth Bureau to team up with New Rochelle, Ossining, Peekskill and Port Chester to help the successful program branch out.
Grandpas United, which started in White Plains in 2018 with a handful of grandfathers and now has more than 125 men involved, strives to engage younger and older people in activities that strengthen relationships between generations.
“I’m thrilled to see this expand,” said White Plains Councilwoman Jennifer Puja.
Council President Justin Brasch recalled when Grandpas United was first launched.
“We have lots of grandpas who have time on their hand who can help our kids. It’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “We will do everything we can so this can become a national program.”
Last December, Grandpas United was selected to receive the prestigious Intergenerational Program Certification, one of only 11 programs nationwide to earn that distinction.
Meanwhile, the council also approved $15,000 for the White Plains Youth Bureau to enter into a contract with North American Family Institute, Inc. to work with the Youth Bureau and the White Plains Public Safety to provide a Youth Police Initiative to help strengthen the relationship between youth and the police.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
