Parent Resource Center Receives Grant

Five Port Washington children from low-income families will benefit from early childhood classes, thanks to a recent donation from The Nassau County Bar Association WE CARE Fund to the .

The $1,000 grant will fund the PRC's Outreach Program. Michael Masri, a partner at Meltzer Lippe and member of the WE CARE Board, personally delivered the grant check to the PRC in December. 

PRC's Outreach Program provides educational experiences for low-income children with little or no access to pre-kindergarten programs. The program consists of stepping-stone classes, a scholarship fund, English as A Second Language classes for parents, and summer field trips. Currently 70 children are enrolled in the Outreach Program.

The WE CARE Fund donation will fund the stepping stone and scholarship components.

The stepping stone program "prepares low-income children for kindergarten," said Lisa Grossman, PRC's director of operations. Children learn their numbers and alphabet through arts and crafts, music, and more, she said.  

Port Washington, she added, has a significant low-income population, including many Latin American and Asian immigrant families who are educationally disadvantaged and for whom English is a second language.

"Through the WE CARE Fund grant, we can provide the children of our more disadvantaged families – those who have little or no access to school-readiness programs and lack the language, learning and social skills needed to succeed in kindergarten – a chance to build the English language and socialization skills critical to their success," she noted.

“The grant for the PRC was approved for distribution just before the holiday season," Masri said, in a statement. "So I made it a point to take my daughters with me to deliver the check to show them why community service is so important. That day was a great lesson for them, a fulfilling experience for me and another example of how Nassau Bar attorneys are so willing to give back to the local community, especially those in need.”