Rotary and local groups donate $11,000 to Peekskill programs; Giving Doll Project donates 300 handmade dolls
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Summary
The Peekskill Rotary presented $11,000 in donations to district programs including robotics, VR equipment and the Oakside greenhouse; the Giving Doll Project donated roughly 300 handmade dolls for distribution in schools.
The Peekskill Rotary, the district’s Parent-Teacher Organization and local foundations presented several donations and community gifts during the Peekskill City School District Board of Education meeting on May 20.
Tony Washington, president of the Peekskill Rotary and a district alumnus, told the board the Rotary is presenting an aggregate of $11,000: $7,500 for the Peekskill High School Iron Devils robotics team to help defray travel costs; $2,500 to the Peaceful Education Foundation to assist with the purchase of virtual-reality goggles for classroom use; and $1,000 to complete the Oakside greenhouse project. "Tonight we're presenting an aggregate of $11,000 so the first check is $7,500 for our Peekskill High School Iron Devils, robotics team, to help defray the cost of their travel," Washington said.
Superintendent David Maurizio and the board described the Oakside courtyard and the high-school music studio as projects already under way; district staff said equipment has arrived for the music studio and a ribbon-cutting is planned for early summer. The board publicly thanked the Rotary Club, the PTO and the Peaceful Education Foundation for the donations.
Separately, Austin Goldberg, the district’s athletic director, introduced the New York chapter of the Giving Doll Project. Goldberg said volunteers handmade dolls to give to students through programs such as PBIS. "The Giving Doll Organization creates special dolls that are more than just toys," Goldberg said, adding that the chapter made about 300 dolls for distribution in district schools.
Board members and district staff also recognized other community programs during the superintendent’s report, including Meals on Main Street, the Peekskill High School Science Research Symposium and school garden initiatives. Several trustees thanked the donors and volunteers and encouraged continued community support for extracurricular and classroom programs.