St. Francis Neighborhood Center

Hello, my name is Emmanuel! I am 16 years old and the Social Media Teen Intern at St. Francis Neighborhood Center (SFNC). I have been involved with SFNC for over 8 years.  SFNC is a education based community center located in West Baltimore, Reservoir Hill. Their mission is to end generational poverty through education. It can be tough out there, but I love my City and the Center gives me opportunities.  I also have three siblings in Center programs. My Mom is a single Mom, and through the support of the Center, she has been able to go back to school while we are coming to after school and summer programs at SFNC. My Mom found herself pregnant with me at 14 and was selling drugs. She made a choice to make a change, and now she is in the healthcare industry, and she even had a recent promotion. I am really proud of her.

St. Francis has done so much for me, they have helped me through some of the toughest times in my life, including overcoming a stutter, my shyness, being bullied, build my confidence, providing me a safe place to be, helping me with really hard homework, and more. They have given me opportunities to challenge myself and grow as a person. SFNC found me a magnificent tutor who helped me get into the high school of my choice (Baltimore School for the Arts!). And, when I grow up, I want to be a writer and director. Now that I'm in high schools they have given me a summer job! They gave me the opportunity to testify in Annapolis in front of the Maryland House and Senate (twice!)  and in front of the Board of Estimates for the City of Baltimore--I shared how much the Center means to me and my family--and that the Center needs fixed badly, and needs to be bigger.  

Now, it’s my turn to try and help them out with their Capital Campaign so other kids can have the same opportunities I have had. Please consider donating to help us give more kids the experience they deserve!  Some kids have waited three years to get in their free programs. There just isn't enough room.   

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit St. Francis Neighborhood Center, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me. I recently made the news speaking out about the Center, check it out! https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2019/08/12/st-francis-neighborhood-center-baltimore-fundraising-latest/ 

More information about St. Francis Neighborhood Center: St. Francis Neighborhood Center has existed since 1963 to raise awareness and bring change to the lives of those we serve in our community of Reservoir Hill in Baltimore City. We are the oldest youth enrichment center in the City! Nearly 1,000 children in this area live below poverty and with your help we can make a difference as we help in stabilizing families. SFNC is mostly known for our youth development programming for children living below the federal poverty line. The end of generational poverty begins here. 

My name is Noah Gainsburg, and I am a student at Friends School of Baltimore.  The past couple of years  have changed me forever.  Working all around Baltimore City and at the St. Francis Neighborhood Center, interacting one on one with the students and their families has ignited a fire in me.  I have been volunteering in the U.S. and out of the country since I was about 9 years old and was originally inspired when my mother took me and my older brother to an orphanage in Honduras many years ago.  I have been fortunate to be given the opportunity to be an assistant teacher, tutor, mentor and advocate to kids in the Reservoir Hill area of Baltimore City.  They are no longer an image in my mind or a stereotype pushed upon me by others. I have spent a lot of time with these kids and they deserve a chance! Take a good look at this picture!  These are regular kids who have dreams to succeed just like we do, only they have much larger hurdles to climb and no parents to buy them even basic necessities they need to thrive.  Many of them need educational services that are not provided in Baltimore City Schools.  If any of them have learning differences, they don't have families who are able to send them to the best schools or give them private tutors. 

I hear many county residents complain about crime and conditions in the city, but few people actually do anything about it. It starts with the children.  You can be a role model to city youth and show them there is a healthier path.  I also hear too many teens complain about needing to get community service hours.  If everyone would just get out of their comfort zone and come meet kids like these, they would not feel that way. 
It is challenging at times because many of the kids have learning or behavioral issues that are not being addressed properly because of lack of funding in city schools. The St. Francis Neighborhood Center works tirelessly to help end generational poverty in Reservoir Hill and it is working, but they need the support of Baltimore's residents.  The program is full and has a huge waitlist of families trying to get their kids in, but St. Francis cannot accept them because of lack of space and money. 

St. Francis has a Capital Campaign going on to renovate and expand so they can take in more kids.  It is incredible that such a small center has already raised $3,815,000 as of 1/29/2019, although the end goal is 4 million dollars.  Thanks to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, we are now only $185k away from our goal and construction is starting soon!

If you are a Baltimore resident OR if you have children who don't have to worry about getting a decent backpack to carry to school and can afford private schools or tutors for your children, or if you just want to help out because you believe this is a worthy cause,  please consider contributing to my Go Fund Me Campaign. I know these kids and they are working hard and want better lives and educations. They want brighter futures to look forward to. The money I am collecting is being used for supplies and tutors for the kids. Any amount helps!


THANK YOU!

Noah 

#DoMoreBmore
#FriendsForStFrancis