Partnership with Artists, Newsmakers, and Athletes (PANA)

It is known that children learn best through experiences which interest them and in which the media used are exciting and alive. Funders of music and arts programs take pride in the fact that reading, math, and other academic skills improve when arts and sports programs are a part of an overall curriculum. It is our belief that this same emphasis can foster greater interest in the child who is a part of our after-school program and who is unfortunate enough to be enrolled in a school where such programs have been terminated for financial reasons.

Plan: Artists, newsmakers, and athletes partner with the Center to tap into the innate potential of children. They make scheduled visits. Through the medium of music, dance, sports and current events; they spend time talking, singing, teaching, reading, and playing with the children. Some of the participants in this program are: Dr. Adelaide Sanford, the former New York State Regent ; Iyanla Vanzant; a writer; Bruce Ratner, real estate developer; Senator Eric Adams, a legislator; Harry Belafonte and Ruby Dee, artists; Dr. Ian Smith, a newscaster; Susan L. Taylor, the National Cares Mentoring Founder and former Communications Executive; and, newsmakers, including Hon. David Dinkins, Jesse Jackson, Rev. Alfred Sharpton, and Rev. Herbert Daughtry, among others. This program serves as a model which can be emulated throughout the City and is one which foundations will have continual interest in funding.