2020 Annual Report

we stand with nyc kids

2020 ANNUAL REPORT 99% our impact of caregivers would recommend The Fresh Air Fund to family and we stand friends with nyc kids % % 86 THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD A of caregivers reported their 88 child(ren) is more open to of youth reported feeling DEVASTATING IMPACT THROUGHOUT 2,064 trying new things “Camp in a Box” kits were active and healthy NYC, BUT MOST SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE sent to children participating NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE FRESH AIR in our virtual camp Fresh Air CHILDREN LIVE. Everywhere

In many ways, children have been the pandemic’s unseen victims, with their loved ones struck by the illness and their lives suddenly revolving around quarantining and % remote learning. 84 of youth reported With the racial justice movement thrust feeling more back into the national spotlight and a global confident economic crisis, we knew we had to get 291 bags of fresh produce creative to keep the magic of summer alive. were given to families

as part of our Family By reimagining what summer programs looked Wellness program like and developing engaging year-round programming, we put NYC children first with % opportunities to learn, grow and thrive during 84 the summer and beyond. of youth reported wanting 468 to take better care of the hula hoops were environment purchased for Summer Spaces

2 3 about fresh air

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit youth development organization, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, The Fund continues to provide safe, fun, engaging and enriching experiences for New York City youth to keep the magic of summer alive through virtual and outdoor programs. Fresh Air children also participate in year-round leadership and educational programs.

A Fresh Air summer, full of first-time experiences and new friends, is simple yet transformative.

Chairman’s message executive director’s report

When The Fresh Air Fund was founded in 1877, Teens participated in virtual credentialing courses in Much has happened this past year and amid the many Children are truly the unseen victims of the tuberculosis was a public health crisis for children environmental education, entrepreneurship, video historic challenges, The Fresh Air Fund reimagined pandemic and as we look forward, we know we in crowded tenements on the Lower East Side, game design and architecture and urban design. I was what summer could look like. As NYC became the have a lot of work ahead. We’ve seen the start of and "fresh air" was considered a treatment. For so impressed when I participated in an outstanding epicenter of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, we much needed change and of a dialogue around more than 140 years, The Fund has continued to presentation by participants and instructors from the knew that children would need the opportunity to racial justice. As an organization, we’ve started to put children first through wide-ranging historical Virtual Design Studio program in partnership with be outside in fresh air, play and enjoy the magic of engage in understanding the actions we need to events, including World Wars and the Great PennPraxis at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart summer. Through creativity and commitment, the take to become an anti-racist organization and to Depression, and health emergencies such as the Weitzman School of Design. Fresh Air team made the impossible possible knowing ensure equity is at the core of our work across the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. the power of summer and its connection to healthy organization. We will continue to uplift and invest in Special thanks to Executive Director Fatima Shama, a childhood development. the lives of our young people and ensure they have In 2020, faced by a global pandemic, we were true champion of children, who demonstrated grace access to enriching summer experiences and youth determined to keep going stronger than ever to under pressure, as always. When there are obstacles in We stood by – and will always stand by – NYC children. development programs. provide NYC children with safe, healthy, productive our path, she keeps us all moving forward. We were able to create a strong community across and fun-filled summer experiences; and we did it all of our programs with collaboration, partnerships, Our work would not be possible without our together! We appreciate your steadfast and loyal support. the generosity of our supporters and the trust of our generous supporters and partners. Thank you for Thanks to all of you, despite the pandemic, our children and families. standing by NYC children with us. I was amazed by the resilience of the staff who children experienced the joys of a Fresh Air summer... stepped up with talent and dedication to continue because a summer can last a lifetime. With a reimagined summer at The Fresh Air Fund, to create new programming for Fresh Air children there was much that brought endless smiles to With hope and both virtually and in person. Due to a major gap my face. After months spent inside, I watched NYC great appreciation, in summer youth employment this year, we also Sincerely, children playing safely in their own neighborhoods allocated funds and resources towards jobs and at Summer Spaces program sites across the city. I support for our teens. witnessed NYC families enjoying time together simply relaxing in nature at our camps on Family Wellness day trips. I joined children in our virtual day camp for Fatima Shama William P. Lauder a Zoom visit to the farm at Sharpe Reservation, and I Executive Director Chairman heard amazing final presentations from our teens who participated in virtual summer learning academies.

4 5 we hula hoop with nyc kids In summer 2020, The Fresh Air Fund was not able to operate its traditional camping and Friendly Towns programs. Summer Spaces With creativity and With the generosity of our partners, Bloomberg Philanthropies, % the Ford Foundation and The JPB Foundation, Summer Spaces commitment, The Fund 96 turned closed streets into age-appropriate safe play spaces for of caregivers said they would be designed and launched new children, ages five to 13, at 10 program sites across NYC, based in interested in a similar Summer programs to keep Fresh many of the communities most affected by the pandemic. Spaces program in the future

Air kids active, smiling and During two-hour sessions, children engaged in outdoor play with connected to the outdoors. an emphasis on movement, arts and crafts and sports. They made kaleidoscopes, mobiles and kites, and played basketball, Frisbee, soccer, jumped rope and had hula hoop tournaments! Through % a partnership with the American Ballet Theatre, professional 92 of children said their time at teaching artists taught workshops at several sites. Summer Spaces helped them feel active and healthy In our continued commitment to support job training and employment opportunities for young people and with drastic cuts to NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program, we hired 140 NYC youth, ages 17 to 24, to serve as coaches and mentors. They helped children adapt to new physical distancing protocols and safely have fun outdoors after spending months inside with limited 12,000 social interactions with their peers. The program serves as a model slots were available at 10 sites for providing community-based opportunities for safe play.

“The activities are really fun, and I love playing with the other kids here!” Ian, 9

6 7 we explore with nyc kids we smile with nyc kids

Open Spaces Fresh Air Everywhere In partnership with the City Parks Foundation, Fresh Air Open % Fresh Air Everywhere brought children, ages seven to Spaces provided over 125 children, ages 12 to 15, the opportunity 93 13, together in virtual bunks for weekly programs that to participate in an outdoor environmental education and of campers said their experience cultivated their curiosity through three themes: Around sports program for two-week sessions, meeting for four hours a made them want to take better care the World, Nature, and Mystery and Time Travel. Each child day, five days a week. of the environment received a “Camp in a Box” kit filled with arts and crafts materials, a Fresh Air Fund t-shirt, books and all of the At Marine Park in Brooklyn, Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx and supplies they needed for the daily activities. Forest Park in Queens, children learned about birdwatching, observing and releasing aquatic organisms, testing water % Staff, many of whom were Fresh Air alumni, led programs chemistry and identifying major tree species. They also learned 98 in arts, literacy and STEM interspersed with movement fundamental sports skills, such as proper running techniques, of campers said the program helped activities like yoga and dance, encouraging children to basic tennis skills, track and field and soccer. them feel active and healthy be active while at home. Layering in literacy and learning, project-based activities included academic components Through our collaboration with the City Parks Foundation, to help address the challenges of “summer slide” and the children experienced the beautiful outdoor spaces that can be learning loss seen after schools transitioned to remote found within NYC and learned more about their responsibility to “We learned about birds, instruction. care for the environment through hands-on activities – all while insects and plants. We used a having the chance to play sports outside. magnifying glass to see really The program found creative ways to build community and provide children with the excitement and joy of having tiny insects, and we used the new experiences, with a focus on connecting children to binoculars to see birds. It was the outdoors through activities like a virtual visit to our really cool when we gathered camp Model Farm. bugs. We used a net and put them in a little container where we looked at them and wrote down what we saw. I caught a wasp. One of my friends caught of campers said their experience made them “My favorite memory was % want to take better care of the environment a bumblebee and the other 92 making new friends. I met caught a dragonfly!” Sophia and Austin and I liked Kumorah, 12 playing games with them. I of campers said the program helped them also got a box of supplies! I % feel active and healthy made a lot of pipe cleaner 87 bracelets and slime.”

Sienna, 10 % of caregivers would recommend the 97 program to friends and family

8 9 we achieve with nyc kids We Make Memories with NYC Families

Teen Programs Family Wellness Continuing our over 25-year history of introducing youth to career % At The Fund’s camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, exploration and awareness, The Fund created a model program 87 Fresh Air Family Wellness gave parents, guardians, focused on career exposure, job readiness training, internships of participants found new things siblings and other relatives of Fresh Air children the and credentialing opportunities for over 500 teens, ages 14 to 17. they were good at – that they opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, explore nature and All participants received stipends and participated in professional didn’t know they were good at relax as a family. development workshops. Meals and refreshments were provided throughout At the height of the pandemic, when teens were feeling isolated the day, and transportation was provided if needed. and facing economic hardships, we gave students a sense of greater % Welcome bags were given to families when they arrived, purpose and community, financial resources and a safe space to 88 and each family returned home with a box of fresh explore and express themselves. With guidance from mentors and of participants reported feeling produce from local farms. To ensure safety, the number industry leaders, teens gained professional and life skills, developing more confident of daily visitors was limited, and each family was a strong foundation as they look ahead to their own careers and matched with an individual staff member who guided future opportunities for leadership. them through the day.

In partnership with four organizations: NOLS (National Outdoor The program offered families the opportunity to connect Leadership School); PennPraxis at the University of Pennsylvania $416,800 with each other, connect with our staff and experience Stuart Weitzman School of Design; Urban Arts Partnership and of funds were distributed to the rejuvenation and magic of fresh air. Families enjoyed Youthful Savings, “virtual academies” introduced teens to basic, support stipends boating, swimming, arts and crafts, hiking nature trails, industry-level skills in design and architecture, game design, visiting the planetarium, fishing and even scavenger environmental science and entrepreneurship. Teens in the Job hunts. Many families shared that it was the first time Readiness Program attended interactive workshops on developing they were together outdoors since the start of the communication, leadership, conflict-resolution and time- “I really liked that on Fridays, pandemic and that the opportunity to enjoy peaceful management skills, and participants in the Internship Program we had guest speakers surroundings and nature was one of the most special gained first-hand work experience, directly assisting with Fresh Air parts of the experience. come talk to us about their Everywhere and at Summer Spaces sites. experiences in the industry. Before the summer, I didn’t know anything about coding games, but it’s showed me an “My son went fishing for the first time interesting new path, and it’s people participated during Family Wellness, and he caught a really fun!” 1,257 fish! He had the biggest smile ever. It was Sally, 14 definitely the highlight for him. I really felt more connected recommend this program to other families. % as a family It’s a great adventure.” 99

Jazmin Marrero, mother of Jayden, 11 % would recommend the 100 program to family and friends

10 11 we grow with nyc kids We STAY CONNECTED with NYC Kids

Youth Employment Year-Round Programming

Through Fresh Air Everywhere, Teen Programs and Summer After schools shut down in March, The Fund's academic enrichment 3,500 books were given to NYC children Spaces, we employed 200 New York City youth, ages 18 to programs quickly pivoted to virtual programming. Within a week, at 11 book fairs hosted by The 24. Every summer The Fund hires hundreds of seasonal staff the Young Women’s Giving Circle, College Connections and Tutoring Young Women’s Giving Circle and as we saw opportunities for young people to gain paid programs were meeting virtually. As students shifted to remote work experience dramatically limited, our commitment school, we knew the support of a mentor and continuity of our became even stronger. programs was crucial. Building on The Fresh Air Fund’s long history of providing As we planned for school year programs, we built on the success of career exposure and job training for young people, summer virtual programming and created events to support children 3,400 hours of virtual tutoring leadership and professional development opportunities and families ranging from talent shows, Fresh Air game days and were offered throughout the summer. Our orientation “Summer in the Winter” parties to opportunities to build community provided trainings in positive youth development, behavior and stay connected with book clubs and teen nights. We provided management, effective communication, diversity, equity a safe space for children in our “Let’s Connect” meetings and a and inclusion, mental health and more. separate “Caregivers Connect” program to support parents, along with continuing our Family Wellness calls which helped us stay connected 50 virtual job shadowings This dynamic, energetic and committed cohort of 18 to with families and better understand the support they needed. 24 year olds was instrumental to The Fund's summer programming and served as mentors and role models for The Young Women’s Giving Circle, a youth-led program that teaches Fresh Air children. Whether during “bunk time” on Zoom or girls about the importance of philanthropy and community service, “I usually don’t like reading, playing sports and creating art together at Summer Spaces, has expanded to three groups; Camp Junior workshops have focused but at the Bookworm Club, our Youth Employment Program participants ensured there on overcoming obstacles, anti-bullying and peer pressure; the they chose books that are was always a friendly smile at the other end of a Zoom College Connections Program continues to provide mentoring and really good and that I can screen and an encouraging cheer during a soccer game at critical support throughout the application process; and our Career Summer Spaces. Awareness Program has expanded tutoring and job shadowing relate to. I always tell my opportunities and piloted new book clubs. friends and family about it.” “I’ve been part of The Fresh Air Fund Family as Amina, 11 a camper and a counselor. Working over the 200 summer taught me that patience is key and how NYC 18 to 24 year olds were employed to communicate with other people, which has helped me both personally and academically. The Fresh Air Fund helped me build up the % confidence to always ask questions and to speak 45 up for myself. Over the past few years, the kids were alumni of Fresh Air programs and staff have become my second family.”

Cesar Moran, 18

12 13 financials legacies and bequests

OPERATING SUPPORT AND REVENUE Current Funds at Period Ended December 31, 2020 The following donors chose LEGACIES AND BEQUESTS INCOME The Fresh Air Fund as a Off-Season Use of Camps $ 454,505 October 1, 2019 - December 31, 2020 beneficiary of their estate, Investment Income $ 4,791,317 leaving a legacy of growth, Patricia M. Anderson Estate of Rutherford L. Moore Contributions* $ 19,354,865 learning and fresh air to NYC Revocable Trust Estate of Ingeborg Price Total Support and Revenue $ 24,600,687 children for generations to Estate of Rita Joyce Avakian Estate of John P. Stipanela come. Visit FreshAir.org to OPERATING EXPENSES Estate of Peter Batacan The Helen Strauss Revocable Trust learn about more options for Estate of Lin Becker Estate of Selma Ullman PROGRAM SERVICES planned gifts. Estate of Kenneth A. Bernard Friendly Towns Activities $ 3,936,115 Estate of Arthur E. Ullrich Estate of Mary Franco Fresh Air Camps $ 3,851,265 Trust of Betty G. Waller Estate of Barbara Haas Sharpe Reservation $ 5,042,340 Estate of Sara Wind

Virtual and Community Programs $ 2,546,000

SUPPORTING SERVICES

Management & General $ 4,797,580 Fundraising $ 4,427,387

Total Expenses $ 24,600,687

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Not included in the above are:

(a) Bequests and Trusts and Other Gifts added to funds functioning as Endowment $ 3,101,919 (b) Net gain (loss) on investment transactions $ 7,944,795 (c) Contributions to Land, Buildings, and Equipment Fund $ 0 (d) Depreciation expense ($2,248,508)

* Total contributions raised also include items (a) and (c). (Total contributions for 2020 - $ 20,082,599.) As of December 31, 2020: Assets, Liabilities and Net Assets ($) Amount

Assets $ 144,448,070

Liabilities $ 4,281,546 Net Assets $ 140,166,524 FYE 2019, net assets balance $ 134,249,594 FYE 2018, net assets balance $ 139,559,291

A copy of our financial reports may be obtained from The Fresh Air Fund, 633 Third Avenue, 14th floor, New York, NY 10017 (212) 897-8900, from the New York State Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, or from the Charities Registry on the New York State Attorney General’s website, www.charitiesnys.com. © 2021 The Fresh Air Fund 14 15 Paula Cooper George and Gloria Pacchiana Lishawn Alexander Mouse.org our donors and partners Catherine Crimmins Gerald and Michelle Parrish American Ballet Theatre Mutual of America Barbara Croswell Rafael Pelli and Kate Walbert American Jewish Historical Society Nantucket Spyder Anne Davey Anne Breck Peterson Assembly Member Catalina Cruz NASDAQ Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez National Association of City Patrick and Catherine de Saint-Aignan Jean and Jacqueline Plumez Assembly Member Victor Pichardo Transportation Officials (NACTO) Samuel del Pilar Abigail Pogrebin and David Shapiro Assembly Member Diana C. New York Cares Dime Community Bank Elizabeth Portland and Tom Toce Richardson New York City Department of Parks Karen and Greg Dimit Steven Potolsky and Nancy Dornbush Marlise C. Konort Mats and Lydia Carlston/Winston & Penske Business Media, LLC Assembly Member Latrice M. Walker & Recreation The Fresh Air Fund is T. Troy and Keisha Dixon Judy Rasmuson Jean S. Lancaster ’71 Trust Strawn Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie New York City Department of Paul Donofrio and Ellen Reddy Joan Rechnitz very grateful to our loyal The Lovelight Fund Neil and Argero Clark Katherine C. Pierce BioBus Transportation Patrick B. Dorsey Red Mountain Fund and generous donors for Marie-Noelle Meyer Continental Grain Company Abby Pratt Biolite New York State Parks, Recreation & Susan Eckert Chelsey Ring The Brandt Foundation Historic Preservation Stephen and Evalyn E. Milman Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Edward Purce support of our programs. Elizabeth E. Ehrenfeld Rubin Family Foundation Broadway Housing Communities The New York Times Company The Ambrose Monell Foundation Daniel and Ellen Crown The Frances and Abraham Reichman The following names Gregory and Melissa Elders Kevin and Molly Ryan Bronx Borough President Ruben NOLS Morgan Stanley Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Cunningham Charitable Trust Elisabeth Erlbaum Nancy Sands Diaz Jr. Nuventra Pharma Sciences are listed in recognition New York State Office of Parks, Sharon Davis The Renaissance Foundation The Falik Philanthropic Fund Richard and Margaret Santulli Bronx Community Board 4 OneSight of their gifts received Recreation and Historic Preservation Elisabeth de Picciotto Carlos Rodriguez-Pastor Bronx Community Board 6 Penguin Random House Jennifer Weiss Friedman Jennifer M. Schneck Glenn and Alina Pacchiana/Thalle Ahmed Deria and Grace Chung Nancy B. Rooney Brooklyn Children’s Museum PennPraxis, Stuart Weitzman School October 1, 2019, through Robert A. and Jane G. Friedman Mindy Schneider and Michael Lesser Industries Dillard’s Greg Rosica/EY Brooklyn Community Board 16 of Design, University of Pennsylvania Abraham Fuchsberg Family Joyce and Joel Seligman December 31, 2020. David and Nilam Perpich LizabethAnn Rogovoy Eisen Rubenstein Associates, Inc. Brooklyn Community Board 7 The Pit NYC Foundation, Inc. Catherine Sommers The Pinkerton Foundation Martin Elias David L. Russo and Mary Gail Gearns Brooklyn Community Board 8 Queens Community Board 3 Mario Gabelli Susan Sommers John Roach Trust Fund Hassan and Rasha Elmasry Win and Mary Rutherfurd Brownsville Jobs Plus Queens Public Library CHAMPIONS Liz and Ed Gaelick John Steinberg and Jill Pliskin Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund Equinox Fitness Clubs Elizabeth H. Scheuer and Peter A. Cantonment Roundabout Theatre Company Gipson Family Foundation Ben and Charlotte Sullivan $100,000+ Benjamin and Edith Rodman Fund Esmond Nissim Foundation Joseph Citibank SCAN Harbor Global Endowment Management John Templeton Foundation City Council Majority Leader Laurie Scholastic Anonymous Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Marc A. Feigen Thomas Schumacher Richard Greene Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Cumbo Senator Alessandra Biaggi Abrahamson Family Foundation Philanthropies The Frelinghuysen Foundation Richard and Carol Seltzer Allison and Rob Grigg The TJX Foundation, Inc. City Council Member Robert Cornegy Senator Velmanette Montgomery Blavatnik Family Foundation Shake Shack Lily Palmer Fry Memorial Trust Richard Shepard and Carolyn Agnes Gund Trish Todd City Council Member Danny Dromm Senator Jessica Ramos Bloomberg Philanthropies Betsy and Paul Shiverick John N. and Gillett A. Gilbert Horwitz Guyanese Cultural Association Scott and Locky Trachsel City Council Member Vanessa Gibson Senator Gustavo Rivera The Estée Lauder Companies The Shubert Organization, Inc. Goldbelly Gautam Shine City Council Member Ritchie Torres Senator Luis Sepulveda Michelle Hobart and Justin Peyser Kingsley Tryndall Charitable Foundation Jacqueline Albert Simon Goldman Sachs & Co. Dr. and Mrs. Bernard E. Small City Parks Foundation Senator Jose M. Serrano J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc. Vineyard Vines Retail, LLC The Ford Foundation George V. and Jean A. Smith Barbara Freid Gottesman Howard Solomon and Sarah Clinique Shake Shack Carol Johnson The Laura B. Vogler Foundation, Inc. Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie Charitable Trust George A. Hambrecht Billinghurst Solomon Cognilibro Sing Me a Story Jacqueline Jones-Peace and Breon Michael Wall John and Jeanet Irwin/JJJ Charitable Teagle Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Harris Gillian Sorensen Comcast Speedo Peace Lauren and Matt Wallerstein Foundation Vital Projects Fund, Inc. Christine Haydinger Jane and Richard Steadman Common Ground Farm State Street Global Services Gail and James Kellogg Family Fund The Walt Disney Company Jerome L. Greene Foundation Tali Farhadian Weinstein and Boaz Mervyn Hecht The Sternlicht Family Foundation Inc. Con Edison Street Lab Frederick and Sarah Khedouri Mary Waterman and William Lunt The JPB Foundation Weinstein The James Huntington Foundation Theodore and Karin Mayer Family Coolture Impact Styles by Pat Indra Kish and Ken Heavey Margery P. Weed Family Charitable Crop Organic Vodka SUNY Downstate Medical Center K Period Media Chip and Jennifer Weiss Craig and Janice Ivey Foundation, Inc. Fred Kramer Foundation Culture Lab LIC at The Plaxall Gallery Sweet Blackberry Foundation Leonard and Judy Lauder Lucille Werlinich Freda S. Johnson Uber Eats Sidney and Judith Kranes Foundation Lawrence and Alice Weiner Steven DeLuca Syncopated Ladies William P. Lauder and Lori Kanter The Witten Family Foundation JPMorgan Chase Foundation Lance Wachenheim Rae Krelitz Lois Weinroth DJ Rashida Take Two Interactive Games Tritsch J.M. Kaplan Fund George P. Wakefield Residuary Trust The TJX Companies Kurtz Family Foundation Larry Weiss Eggbert Free Range Farm The Lawrence Foundation Miriam Kartch-Hughes Warner Music Group ElmCor Tommy Hilfiger PATRONS Jane Lauder Donna Welicky and Stephen O'Neill The Gary Magness Family Foundation Rick and Mary Beth Ketchum Paul Weissman ESPN Turn A Page The Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder Forrest Williams Barbara Marcin $10,000-$24,999 Isabelle B. Krusen and Michael C. Beth and Brad Whitman The Financial Gym Untitled Investments Foundation Ransom Wilson Anonymous (13) Sodikoff Diana Wortham First Book Urban Arts Partnership The Leibowitz and Greenway Family Max Wygod The Achelis and Bodman Foundation Nancy Langsan and Daniel K. Bernstein Flying Deer Nature Camp Warner Music Group BENEFACTORS Charitable Foundation Melvin and Donna Young Ann Amicone George Ledes Food & Beverage Association, Inc. Wells Fargo SPONSORS Steven Lewent Susan Zirkl Z.L. Memorial Charitable Free Country Tamiko White $25,000-$99,999 Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office Gregory D. Lee and Amanda Moretti John and Helen Lobrano Foundation Trust Go Go Squeez The Writer Anonymous (7) Leslie Williams and James Attwood Mr. and Mrs. David Levine $5,000-$9,999 Stephanie Lynch Donors who generously support our Goldman Sachs Young Audiences New York The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Helene Banks Nancy Long, Ph.D. and Marc N. Waldor Anonymous (23) Marcum Foundation, Inc. programs at the $1,000-$4,999 level Google Youthful Savings Foundation The Theodore H. Barth Foundation Alexis and Laura Maged Barbara A. Abeles Robin and Peter Matt are listed in our digital annual report Harvard Art Museums Charles C. Cahn, Jr. Sandra Atlas Bass & Edythe & Sol G. Marion Malcolm American Endowment Foundation Joyce F. Menschel at freshair.org/donors-partners. Hunger Free NYC Mariah Carey Atlas Fund Shelly and Tony Malkin Drew Anderman IDK Tonight Richard and Ronay Menschel Citi Michael and Donna Bass The Nicholas Martini Foundation Arnhold Foundation, Inc. JCCA Jennifer Monahan Michael T. Cohen and Andrew H. Roos Kathy Fein Bierman Richard and Carole Mavity Wendy and Fred Bachman SPECIAL THANKS TO JPMorgan Chase Donna D. Morgan, Ph.D. on behalf of 23rd Street Properties Bloomingdale’s Charles Merrels James and Veronica Baker L’Oreal Jenny Morgenthau OUR PARTNERS Con Edison Michael Bogner Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP Scott Banerjee Liberty Optical Elizabeth and Aaron Morrill who helped us by Loews Hotel Andreas C. Dracopoulos Colleen Bondy Sandra Earl Mintz Frances Berger MUFG Union Bank Foundation MacKay Shields The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Jason Bordainick The Montgomery Family Foundation Tjeerd and Jane Best donating items, giving The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation Manhattan Borough President Gail Wendy R. Flanagan and Chris O’Malley Jeffrey Boutilier MUFG Bank, Ltd. The Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Clover Nicholas of their time, helping Brewer Friman & Stein, Inc. Blair and Elizabeth Boyer Donald Newhouse Foundation, Inc. Lukasz and Dana Niedzielski launch new programs Manhattan Community Board 9 Jane L. Gilbert Katherine Brobeck Sandra G. Nowicki Susan Blaustein and Alan Berlow Olmstead Properties, Inc. - Samuel W. Matthew Potel Foundation The Goodnow Fund Virginia Brody John O’Connor Priscilla H. Blum and providing additional Rosenblatt McCormick & Company Otto Haas Charitable Trust Bulldog Ventures, LTD Yoko Ono Judith Haskell Brewer Fund Sam and Nathalie Orans encouragement and Meadowbrook Farm Christina and Donald Hawks III Carlos and Beatrice Burns Paula K. Oppenheim Terence and Catherine Cardew Method Design Orr-Pitts Family Charitable Annuity support. The Hearst Foundation, Inc. Nancy S. Calcagnini OREO Cookies Cathay Bank Foundation Michter’s Distillery LLC Trust 150th-155th Street Edgecombe Avenue Howard Johnson Foundation The Richard E. Capri Foundation/ Origo-Levy Child Welfare Fund Chatham Imports, Inc. Mixed Company NYC Phyllis Oxman Block Association JPMorgan Chase & Co. Steven M. Wolf Penguin Random House, Inc. Maria Cilenti and Michael Embler Morgan Stanley

16 17 our board

April 23, 2020 A Breath of Fresh Air Editorial OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS For Karen Arroyo, a medical assistant at Montefiore Medical Center in the William P. Lauder June Ambrose Gregory D. Lee Bronx, the night hours now seem to collapse into one another. She moves Chairman of the Board among Covid-19 patients who are too weak to speak to her. She checks their Tiki Barber Alexis F. Maged vital signs and cleans them off when they’re soiled. She wraps up those who are deceased and prepares them to be transported to the morgue. When John N. Irwin III Mariah Carey Joseph J. Magliocco Ms. Arroyo gets home at 7 a.m., she sprays her clothes down with Lysol so Vice Chairman Mats G. Carlston David S. Perpich as not to expose her family.

Wendy R. Flanagan Ahmed Deria Caroline Cummings Rafferty Ms. Arroyo tries not to let her three children see the full emotional weight of her work — her fear of exposure to the virus, and grief from witnessing President Barbaralee Diamonstein- Nancy Rooney so much loss. But they can tell that their mom is struggling, and they try to Spielvogel LizabethAnn Rogovoy Eisen Greg Rosica distract her by playing her favorite songs and silly TikToks. Her kids have Hugh Grant their own stress, too. Their schools have closed, and they miss seeing their Vice President Betsy Shiverick friends; they worry about keeping up with classwork now that their lessons Donald L. Hawks III are all online. Kimberly E. Steward Winthrop Rutherfurd, Jr. JOSHUA BRIGHT FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES Craig S. Ivey Secretary Richard D. Thomas On her toughest days, Ms. Arroyo likes to imagine where her children were last summer, and where they’ll hopefully be again soon: Camp Junior, a Howard B. Johnson Karen Arroyo, a medical assistant at Montefiore Medical Center, Bradley A. Whitman Derrick D. Cephas Fresh Air Fund camp in New York’s Harriman State Park. She likes to close with her children Mikayla, far left, Aiden, and Gabby. Isabelle B. Krusen her eyes and picture them kayaking and giggling with cabin-mates, far from Treasurer Steven M. Wolf the sounds of the city ambulances. Camp Junior opened just last year, and it is not just Ms. Arroyo’s family who has already felt its effects: More than 320 young people from across “It’s such an uncertain time, and I’ve lost so many people I know,” Ms. the Bronx had the chance to spend their summer there, learning skills Arroyo said. “My kids really need to be back at camp. They need to be ranging from wilderness survival to conflict resolution. IN MEMORIAM around people and nature.” “They came back with stories about kayaking, about talent shows, about the Jacqueline Albert Simon Growing up, Ms. Arroyo never went hiking or learned to swim. She could counselors,” Ms. Arroyo said. “They learned about this whole other world navigate the subways and streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but the Ruth W. Houghton out there because of the Fresh Air Fund.” thought of being outdoors made her anxious. She didn’t want to pass on her own fears to her children, so she made sure to teach them how to bike and Fatima Shama, executive director of the Fresh Air Fund, said the hold their breath underwater when they were young. organization has a long history of serving families during times of public health crisis. The organization was founded in 1877 to help children Last year, she found an application for the Fresh Air Fund’s Camp Junior affected by a tuberculosis outbreak, especially those living in New York’s online. When she got the notice that her children were accepted, she had to densely packed tenements, by giving them opportunities to leave the city read it three times over before she believed it. Her children were going to and spend time outdoors. have an opportunity she’d never been afforded: summer camp. Ms. Shama said that the needs of New York City’s children today amid Her children were nervous leaving home for the first time on their own, but the coronavirus pandemic aren’t so different. “For children living in the by the end of the 12-day session they were already making plans for next realities of lockdown, there’s a lack of ability to be children,” she explained. summer. In each child, Ms. Arroyo noticed a subtle change. Aiden, 10, was ecstatic to have a new audience for his goofy jokes. Mikayla, 11, had come The Fresh Air Fund hopes to reach thousands of New York City children out of her shell and was telling stories about her new friends. And Gabby, from low-income families this year. A visit to a volunteer host family costs 14, had grown quietly more confident, talking about one day becoming a $1,597, and $2,072 sends a Fresh Air child to a camp for one session. counselor at the Fresh Air Fund. The fund hopes to raise more than $12 million by the end of September. Ms. Shama said the organization plans to open its camps this summer, Gabby recalled the moment she realized that she had the skills to be a unless advised by public health officials to keep them closed due to social counselor, when she was comforting another homesick camper and helped distancing guidelines. The organization is exploring ways to adapt its her write a letter home to her mom. “Nobody knew each other, but it was traditional summer programming if needed. such a friendly environment,” Gabby said. She added that each day brought new experiences. “Swimming in a lake and hiking for hours was something Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to The Fresh Air Fund, 633 Third I’d never gotten to do before.” Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Families who wish to be hosts, or parents who would like to sign up their children, may call The Fresh Air Fund at (800) 367-0003 or visit www.freshair.org.

@freshairfund

@thefreshairfund

Concept/Design: Great Believer / greatbeliever.us

Photo credits: Joan Barker, Katie Borrazzo and Allison Engkvist