The Precious Center for Teen Leadership
Inspired by co-producing the film Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which opened in November 2009, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness of Smokewood Entertainment Group have given a contribution of $1.325 million to The Fresh Air Fund to support a new Fresh Air Fund Center and Program to guide inner-city girls in developing their leadership skills.
The character Precious says, "I feel worthless." The Fresh Air Fund's Camp Anita Bliss Coler (ABC) in upstate New York specializes in helping New York City girls discover and develop their potential. The majority of the campers come from low-income families headed by single parents or caregivers, where they receive little individual attention. Many come from cultures where women are not encouraged to pursue higher education. At Camp ABC, they are able to articulate their own feelings, discuss sexuality, understand the consequences of adolescent decision-making and explore what they want in the future. The program offers much-needed guidance and support.
When Precious co-producer Sarah Siegel-Magness visited Fresh Air's camps, she was impressed by their work in supporting young girls on their paths to adulthood. She says, "After the heart-wrenching experience of this film, we felt compelled to extend a hand of kindness and help to inner-city girls who are growing up in difficult circumstances. We saw firsthand that The Fresh Air Fund was already working to support our goals. We were introduced to the not-for-profit organization by Mariah Carey, a Board member and star of the film. We are delighted to create the new Precious Center for Teen Leadership at Camp ABC and look forward to our colleagues and friends joining us on this mission of hope and empowerment."
Check out this story and video from the Poughkeepsie Journal about the Precious Center's
ribbon-cutting on July 20th!
The Precious Center for Teen Leadership will serve 180 girls annually by providing young women, ages 13 to 15, with a safe, nurturing environment to focus on their futures, and overcome perceived limitations of gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status. The girls will write and publish a camp newsletter, participate in community service, read and discuss books, and explore new forms of self-expression through music, dance and poetry.
The new program will support a village with three cabins each for 12 girls and build a new winterized teen center. The girls will participate in four two-week sessions at camp, off-season weekend camping and counselor-in-training initiatives. Communication and literacy skills are designed to be part of fun, interactive camp activities. The Precious Center for Teen Leadership will focus on accomplishments to support the girls' feelings of self-worth and instill a "can-do" attitude through group interaction and one-on-one counseling.
Inspired by a fictional character, the Precious Center will support significant achievements in the lives of girls who face the day-to-day challenges of growing up in some of New York City's toughest neighborhoods. Through this contribution and new program, young girls will benefit from the type of support Precious needed along her life's path.