Bloomingdale’s and Mentoring USA celebrated National Mentoring Month this week with the unveiling of special windows at Lexington Avenue and 60th Street on Thursday featuring the artwork of children of nearby elementary school PS 59. This is the sixth year Bloomingdale’s has partnered with Mentoring USA, the city’s largest site-based, one-to-one mentoring program.
Former New York State First Lady Matilda Raffa Cuomo, Mentoring USA’s founder and chair, and Bloomingdale’s chairman and CEO Michael Gould hosted the event to kick of January as National Mentoring Month. The event was attended by children of PS 59 who are participants in the program as well as their parents, teachers and mentors. The store’s connection to Mentoring USA is a personal one — many Bloomingdale’s employees have worked as volunteer mentoring the children at PS 59 for that past eight years. Currently more than 80 executives are participants in the program.
The store’s chairman and & CEO Michael Gould joined Cuomo for the unveiling of the windows which featured the artwork of PS 59 students. Afterwards, the children and their mentors were treated to a breakfast at the store’s Showtime Cafe and a performance by Dwayne Clark currently appearing on Broadway in “Tarzan.” Gould explained the store commitment to mentoring saying, “You do things in life for other people but you also do things for self enrichment. Mentoring is one of those rare experiences where you can achieve both and be part of the greatest kind of enrichment — helping a child.”
“We are so thrilled that Bloomingdale’s has continued to supporting the children and Mentoring USA with such a strong commitment,” said Cuomo. “There are so many things children can learn from successful executives. We all have busy lives but taking the time to spend with a child is an investment in the future.”
The theme of the window at Bloomingdale’s is “Welcome to the Mentoring Garden” featuring portraits drawn by PS 59 students of their mentors.
“It’s lovely because it emphasizes the way young minds are cultivated with healthy doses of inspiration and understanding,” said Cuomo. “Today, that’s more important than ever.”
It’s great that stores like Bloomingdale’s can make really make a difference in society.
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