Babyland Family Services will host their Annual Gala on Thursday evening.
The history of Babyland began after the summer rebellions of 1967 in Newark, New Jersey. Mary Palmer Smith along with her sister Martha Palmer Chaneyfield launched grassroots efforts to address the poor living conditions of its tenants. Together they led a coalition of suburban and inner-city housewives, calling themselves Operation Housewives, to advocate for low-income parents who did not have access to child care. This coalition of women, along with a $1,000 loan from the Telephone Pioneers of America, thrift shop sales, Girl Scouts, volunteers, and a pediatrician, established Babyland Nursery as the first and largest nonprofit interracial infant childcare program in the state of New Jersey in August 1969. Currently, Babyland offers child and family development programs which, through its age-appropriate curricula and certified caregivers, teachers and counselor, enhance the emotional, social, physical, and intellectual development of over 400 children (who’s ages range from three months to 13 years) and families at 5 facilities.
All childcare centers offer convenient full-day services and vital health services. In addition, Babyland offers a child development and parent education program for numerous abused and neglected children and their parents. The Babyland Domestic Violence Shelter, established in 1979 as Essex County’s first family violence program, provides 24 hour crisis intervention, shelter, counseling, legal and housing advocacy.
The night will honor:
* Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D)
* LY Marlow – Founder of Saving Promise Domestic Violence Prevention Organization, Award Winning Author, Inspirational Speaker- Washington D.C.
* Gemar Mills – Principal Malcolm X Shabazz High School, Motivational Speaker, Author and Professional Development Professional
* The Shauger Group – Multifaceted privately owned company
* Honorable Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. (R)
All proceeds will contribute to building a better future for the community.
November 6, 2014
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Robert Treat Hotel
50 Park Place Newark, NJ 07102
RSVP by contacting Ms. Annette McDonald at amcdonald@babylandfs1.org or (973) 399-3400ext. 265.
