York Street Project's 23rd Annual Spring Event

Standing Room Only…

York Street Project’s

23rd Annual Spring Event

It is true what they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This also holds true for perspective, it too is in the eye of the beholder. One may see the glass as half full and another may see the same glass as half empty. Can we say that one is right and the other is wrong? No, we cannot because perspective interprets what is beheld to the beholder.

The York Street Project’s 23rd Annual Spring Event was held on Thursday, May 3rd at the Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City, New Jersey. This evening Cocktail Reception was attended by an all-time high of 300 friends and supporters of The Project. The  theme was inspired by a quote from Walter Elliot, an American Catholic Priest and writer, “Perseverance is not a long race. It is many short races one after another.”


For the first time in the history of the York Street Project, the guest speakers were the mother and daughter team of Saundra and Deanna Ellis. Saundra is a member of the Board of Directors, and is also a formers resident of St. Joseph’s Home. This mother daughter team not only stole the hearts of the guests, but hearing their story helped everyone to reconnect to the life-changing mission of the York Street Project.

Growing up in an emotionally abusive household, Saundra shared how she desperately wanted to break free from her home life. Her one saving grace was education. Through her pursuit of various educational opportunities she eventually made it to Boston University (BU). It was not until she attempted to return to BU for her sophomore year that Saundra’s life took a turn for the worst. Her financial aid had not come through and she could not pay her tuition and was forced to return home to an environment that was not conducive to her goals. Once back home, her world came crushing down on her. She felt devastated, lost and hopeless. As a scapegoat from her grim reality, she began to hang out with the wrong crowd which lead to a life of drugs, alcohol and her pregnancy with her daughter Deanna. Soon after, life for Saundra and Deanna consisted of numerous tough struggles. Living moment by moment from one shelter to the next, Saundra’s dream of having a better life slowly began to slip away from her.

Listening to Saundra’s depiction of her journey to the York Street Project was extremely painful and heart wrenching. Ironically, as seen through the eyes of a then five-year old child, Deanna’s perspective of the same story was a tale of innocence, freedom and love that was fostered in the safe, nurturing, and rich atmosphere of the York Street Project. Their presentations were a testament to the work of The Project, and a stark reminder to all how vital their financial support is to providing the network of support for the new generation of women and children. Saundra and Deanna were able to get their life back on track when they came through the doors of the York Street Project some 20 years ago. They have persevered through many of life’s races and have come a long way and have made many achievements since 1992.

Special thanks to our major sponsors, CHASE, Lucille M. Mayer, Regina & Gerard McGraw, Margaret Palermo, Emerald Seafood, Goldman Sachs, ICAP, Daniel & Francine McGuire and the Janice Michelle Foundation, Inc. We also would like to thank all other sponsors, supporters and friends who made the 23rd Annual Spring Event possible. It is because of the help of so many that mothers and daughters like Deanna and Saundra can turn their lives around. We also extend a note of gratitude to the Liberty House Restaurant for another job well done.

Make sure to mark your calendar and meet us at the Liberty House next year for our 24th Annual Spring Event on Thursday, May 2, 2013. We’ll see you then!

Chalk It Up To A Good Day!

“Seven colors are in the rainbow count them and you’ll see; violet, indigo, blue, and green… violet, indigo, blue, and green… violet, indigo, blue, and green… yellow, orange and red!”

Every color of the rainbow, and then some, was well represented at York Street Project’s 13th Annual ChalkFest. Last year’s event was held on Thursday, July 28th from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 pm at Exchange Place Plaza in Jersey City, and raised more than $37,000 to support the life-changing programs of The Project. Year after year, the children of The Nurturing Place along with their special friends at the Waterfront Montessori School look forward to their annual trip to Exchange Place Plaza to have fun at the ChalkFest.

The day was bright and sunny, and the artistic energy was as brilliant as ever. ChalkFesters young and not so young were found on their hands and knees drawing, shaping, and giving great attention to some very unique works of art. Volunteer artists were on board once again to assist the children, and to add additional art expressions to the ChalkFest Zone. All were adorned in their official Cardinal Red ChalkFest T-shirts which made Exchange Place Plaza look like a field of dancing red poppies swaying to the melody of the wind

New to the scene last year was DJ Leon who had everyone up on their toes, rocking and bobbing to today’s hot tunes. Also new on the Plaza was the “Drown the Clown” dunk tank. Rumor has it that there’s nothing like a heckling lunchtime clown, under a hot July sun, to get your blood boiling. For $5.00 you got three balls and 3 chances to dunk the clown, who by the way, was really was asking for it!

Micky Magic, the Illusionist extraordinaire, was back and along with co-magician Cisco, who is also a supreme Illusionist. Together they mesmerized the children with one great trick after another. Magician Cisco performed the all-time favorite illusion of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. The high-light of that illusion came afterwards when Magician Cisco allowed the children to pet the rabbit. Once they touched the rabbit’s soft fluffy fur, and looked into his big, round, curious eyes, they knew for sure that he was a real rabbit. In the world of magic, a timeless illusion such as this never gets old. Last but not least, the ever popular Balloon Pop Dart Game, a ChalkFest favorite, was back. This fun carnival type game really brings out the competitor in our ChalkFest guests. There were so many great prizes to be won that the prize claim area looked like an isle in a Sporting Goods store. As the winners walked away with their prizes, they each had a bright smile that would charge a solar panel.

In summary, YSP’s 13th Annual ChalkFest was attended by more than 500 lunchtime patrons . The volunteers that worked at the food areas collectively served 1,000 hotdogs, and several hundred; cans of soda, bottled water, Italian Ices, and bags of snack foods.

A special thank you goes out to Fidelity Investments, our Title Sponsor for the seventh consecutive year, and to Pershing for their Challenger Sponsorship. We also would like to thank Porky Products, Sodexo, The Peerless Beverage Company and Tropicana/Dole Beverages for their generous in-kind donations and a host of other local businesses and supporting sponsors for contributing to the success of the 13th Annual ChalkFest. By the way, who was it that said the number 13 was unlucky?

Mark your calendar to meet us on The Plaza for York Street Project’s 14th Annual ChalkFest on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 12noon. Until then… keep on Chalkin’!

The Journey

To put one foot in front of the other is the beginning effort in taking a step. It is not until our other foot meets up with the first foot that the cycle of taking a step is completed. Taking steps denotes movement and a desire to move away from where you are. When several concerted steps are taken, wherever they may lead, considerate it a journey.


The women and children that come to York Street have taken many steps in their lives, some which have led to a dead end, and others which have led to an open door. Last year at York Street Project’s 22nd Annual Spring Event we celebrated the many brave and courageous steps that our families have taken to get them to, and through the doors of the York Street Project.


On Thursday, May 5, 2011, nearly 300 friends and supporters of The Project gathered together at the Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City, the new venue for the Spring Event, to reflect on how life is a journey, and how one particular journey has connected us all to York Street. We each come from different backgrounds, and have different mindsets, but yet we have found a common ground, the place called York Street Project.

The guest speaker for the evening was Jennifer Tuma-Young, founder of Inspiritsta Life-Style Design and Chief Creative Officer for Enchanted Makeovers. Ms. Young’s first experience with the women of the York Street Project was when she was part of a mind, body and soul makeover weekend given to the women by Enchanted Makeover early last year. Her portion of the weekend introduced the women to the transforming power of journaling, and focused on creating an inside-out makeover. The weekend had such a positive impact on the women that it gave them a renewed image of how they viewed their self-worth. After making such a deep connection with our women, the York Street Project was compelled to invite Ms. Young to be the guest speaker at the Spring Event. During her speech she shared how she worked with the women of York Street; and reflected on the self-insight journey that they made together. They also welcomed the new journeys that each of them were soon to take.

Special thanks to our major sponsors, JPMorgan Chase, Gerald McGraw, Emerald Seafood, ICAP, and Daniel & Francine McGuire. We also would like to thank all our other sponsors, supporters and friends who made this year’s Spring Event possible. It is because of you that we can take this journey along with our women and children. The York Street Project also thanks the Liberty House for welcoming us with open arms and for their unsurpassed hospitality

Mark your calendar to meet us at the Liberty House next year on Thursday, May 3, 2012 from 5:30 – 8:30 pm. We will see you then!

The York Street Project Family