STEER CEO Dr. Joseph Durney was recently one of three honorees at the Foundation in Support of Educational Excellence (FSEE) Gala on Thursday, May 15th!  

The honorees were selected off the parameters of "representing financial, moral, and professional support that has been critical to our school's tremendous success." Sobeida Cruz, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the FSEE, stated that all three honorees "generous help empowers students to achieve their full potential, including an amazing 1,084 college acceptance letters for the Class of 2024!" 

We want to express our gratitude to Mike DeSimone, the athletic administrator for the Charter School of Educational Excellence, for granting us the opportunity to share our mission and service with the Yonkers school community. DeSimone also expressed his gratitude on how our collaboration has been beneficial to the students!

The highlight of the night came from STEER student-athlete, Kayla Rodriguez, who shared her comments on how the organization has impacted her, and her goals for the future. 

Congratulations Dr. Durney, and thank you to everyone that continues to support our students! 

PORT CHESTER, NY – STEER for Student Athletes is honored to be partnering with The Opportunity Network for the development of our College Persistence Program. The Opportunity Network ignites the drive, curiosity, and agency of underrepresented students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers, powered by their commitment to access and community.

STEER will be leveraging The Opportunity Network’s Career Fluency® Partnerships program that works with schools and community-based organizations that serve students from historically and systemically underrepresented communities in developing their skills, knowledge, and passions to achieve their college and career goals. This partnership maximizes existing investments at STEER through complementary programming that fills a critical gap on the road to college and career success. The curriculum is highly dynamic, practical, and rooted in the belief that all students can fulfill their potential by mastering this essential skill set.

STEER’s newly developed College Persistence Program fosters personal growth, academic success, and professional development through our five pillars of support: mental health/wellness support, resource exposure, mentor support, skill development, and financial assistance. This program excels in its individualization, recognizing and catering to the unique qualities of each student.

To learn more about The Opportunity Network, please visit: www.opportunitynetwork.org.

​

Port Chester, NY – This March, STEER was awarded a $40,000 grant from the Westchester Community Foundation to support eight new students. The grant process was highly competitive and eligible to qualified nonprofits that support youth development to improve the quality of life for Westchester residents by connecting past, present, and future residents - making a healthy, equitable, and thriving community for all.

Over the next two years, STEER will support eight new student athletes from Charter School of Educational Excellence in Yonkers, Sleepy Hollow High School, and Port Chester High School. STEER will help them develop and track individual support plans, with milestones for their educational success and athletic accomplishments, provide them with relevant academic support, athletic training, health and wellness education, work opportunities, team-building workshops, community service opportunities, and financial and digital literacy education; and ensure participation in Peak Mental Game Training.

It is only with a significant commitment to our youth that we are able to attain this type of funding ensuring the same impact and quality for new students onboarded to the organization. We wish to express a special thank you to the Westchester Community Foundation for their support of our mission!

The Westchester Community Foundation is a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the largest community foundations in the country, with assets of approximately $3 billion. We envision healthy, equitable, and thriving communities throughout New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and beyond.

To learn more about the Westchester Community Foundation, please visit www.wcf-ny.org.

​