In New York City alone there are 10,000 students suspended from school each year, mostly for aggressive or violent behaviors. ParentCorps' 26-week parenting program decreases aggressive behavior in preschoolers, preventing behavioral problems before they become ingrained causing irreparable consequences for the child and society at large.
"Kids with behavioral problems are more likely to drop out of school, to use drugs and to go to jail. They need help. And the Child Study Center has found a way to get them that help right in their own communities," said Jimmy Buffet. During his set of seven songs Buffett said, "Everyone gets invited to a truly great event sometimes, and I am honored to have been a part of one tonight."
It costs taxpayers at least $100,000 annually to keep a juvenile offender in jail. ParentCorps' annual cost is $1,000 per child – a minimal investment with a huge return. ParentCorps has been tested in 8 schools with nearly 200 preschoolers and findings indicate that the program leads to lower levels of aggression and fewer behavior problems as children enter kindergarten, more effective parenting and higher parent involvement in school.
"The Child Study Center is extremely grateful to Craig and Jane for their beautiful home and Janie Buffett and Jimmy for his beautiful voice in support of ParentCorps," said Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., Director of the NYU Child Study Center. "Their efforts and the support of all the dinner guests will help us work toward our goal of decreasing behavior problems in preschoolers and take this scientifically effective program to a national level and transforming the lives of tens of thousands of families across the nation."
Guests at the Picnic included Matt Lauer; Dr. Ruth Westheimer; Bob and Suzanne Cochran; Allen and Debbie Grubman; Beth Rudin DeWoody; Lloyd Blankfein; Benjamin Lambert; Steven and Heather Mnuchin; Byron Wien; Robert Wiesenthal; Eric Ruttenberg and Perri Peltz; Sallie Krawcheck and Gary Appel; Steven Rubenstein; Peggy Siegal; Anne Keating; Eugene Greene; Sasha Wade; Patrick McMullan; David Patrick Columbia; as well as NYU Child Study Center Board members; Brooke and Daniel Neidich; Alice and Thomas Tisch; Lisa Pevaroff Cohn and Gary Cohn; Thomas H. Lee and Ann Tenenbaum; Howard Katz; and Jill and Robert C. Smith.
Jimmy Buffett has been a long-time advocate of the Child Study Center and for children's issues. His foundation, Singing for Change offers competitive grants to organizations working toward improving the quality of life for people and empowering them to make positive decisions in their communities. In 2003 alone, Singing for Change awarded nearly half a million dollars in grants to child focused charities.
Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, board members of the NYU Child Study Center, have been advocates for children's philanthropies for many years.
Singing for Change
Singing for Change, a non-profit organization started by Jimmy Buffet, works toward improving the quality of life for people and empowering individuals to make positive changes in their communities. Singing for Change offers competitive grants to progressive, community-based, non-profit organizations that address the root causes of social and environmental problems.
For more information on Singing for Change, visit http://margaritaville.com/sfc/
NYU Child Study Center
The NYU Child Study Center is dedicated to the understanding, prevention and treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems. The Center offers expert psychiatric services for children and families with emphasis on early diagnosis and intervention. The Center's mission is to bridge the gap between science and practice, integrating the finest research with patient care and state-of-the-art training, utilizing an extraordinary new facility and the resources of the world-class New York University School of Medicine. For more information, contact the NYU Child Study Center at (212) 263-6622 or visit www.AboutOurKids.org.