The Don Bosco Community Center of Port Chester, NY (DBCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jerry F. Rodriquez as Executive Director, effective March 22, 2022. Mr. Rodriguez comes to the Center from the Archdiocese of New York where he served as Campaign Manager since 2020.
“We are so happy to have Jerry joining us. The Center does so much for the community and Jerry has the energy, enthusiasm and skills to continue our great work and to even expand it. He has been on our Board for two years, and he comes to us from the Archdiocese where he was the top fundraiser for his group. In addition, Jerry was educated by Salesians in his native country of El Salvador, and truly understands the Salesian mission and values in serving the disadvantaged and youth in communities with scarce resources. We are looking forward to experiencing the great things he will do for the Center and our community” Michael Gizzo, Chairman, Board of Directors.
Founded in 1928 in the Salesian tradition of St. John Bosco, the Don Bosco Community Center’s core mission is to serve the immigrant community in the greater Port Chester area. The Center provides everything from children’s programs to a food pantry and soup kitchen, with a particular focus on education. For the youngest community members and their parents, the Early Childhood Bilingual program classes conducted in both English and Spanish, are designed to encourage the children’s love of learning and facilitate their parents’ ability to cultivate the learning at home.
A wide variety of after-school and weekend programs are provided for school-aged children, which is supported by an ecosystem of spaces, educators and volunteers. Homework help and enrichment takes place in classrooms and the students have access to the state-of-the-art Cashin-Niehaus Computer Lab and Maker Space. Other longstanding initiatives include the Read-Aloud program, where middle school and high school students from Rye come to read with younger children. The Don Bosco Boys and Girls Club offers a safe and nurturing environment for children to come after school to do their homework, play sports, and take part in activities like arts and crafts and indoor games. The fun (and learning!) continues with our six-week summer camp for 250 children.
The Don Bosco Scholars program matches volunteer coaches from the surrounding community with aspiring local students to guide them through the college application process. Students receive SAT/ACT preparatory courses, essay coaching and assistance with financial aid applications.
Don Bosco Workers, Inc. seeks to aid wage-earners in the community through offerings such as the Day Laborers List Program, Health and Safety Promoters, as well as legal representation for victims of wage theft. They also organize and promote campaigns and initiatives benefiting working people such as the EWF (Excluded Workers Fund) and D.A.L.E (Desde Abajo Labor Enforcement).
One of the most vital offerings at the Center is the Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen program. The Soup Kitchen serves daily meals for hundreds of guests per week while lunches are delivered to the home-bound elderly. The Food Pantry caters to local families struggling with food insecurity with access to fresh produce, meats and packaged goods two days a week.
“The appointment of Jerry Rodriguez as the new Executive Director of the Don Bosco Community Center is great news for all of the community! Jerry is an outstanding young husband and Dad with deep Salesian roots. While bringing his many administrative and creative skills to the position, Jerry also brings to the Center a Salesian heart and Don Bosco’s love for the young, the poor and the most marginalized. Under his leadership we will move forward with greater energy to our centennial year!” Rev. Patrick Angelucci, SDB, Pastor, St. John Bosco, Port Chester.
“It is humbling to have the opportunity to serve the community through such an intentional and meaningful mission as that of the Don Bosco Center. Learning about what the Center provides has been exciting and positively thought-provoking. We are excited to partner up with the community and other mission-driven stakeholders to make of the Center what Saint John Bosco envisioned for the youth and those living at the margins: a home that welcomes, a school that teaches for life, a Church that evangelizes, and a playground where friends meet.” Jerry Rodriguez, Executive Director, Don Bosco Community Center.
For further inquiries please contact Mary Keating in the Development and Marketing department at the Don Bosco Community Center at mkeating@donboscocenter.org