The Parent Resource Center (PRC) celebrated it newly renovated facility with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, Oct. 24. The PRC Board and many local politicians came to celebrate.
The PRC has been in Port Washington for 35 years and has been a touchstone for every young parent with a new baby. It’s a unique nonprofit that is another special feature of Port Washington. “The PRC has been in Port for 35 years,” said Amanda Khalil, copresident of the PRC. “But in the last few years membership had declined dramatically. We knew we had to do something big. We had to go big or go home.”
The PRC received funding and grants from many sources for the renovations, including from North Shore-LIJ Cohen Children’s Medical Center, the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation, the Donald & Barbara Zucker Family Foundation and the Community Chest, among others.
Laura McDonough of Cohen said, “It’s incredible to see what our donation has helped to do.”
Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, Town Clerk Wayne Wink, Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman, Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio and Delia Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton were all in attendance and spoke about how important a part of Port Washington the PRC is.
Khalil said, “The renovation project was led by board members Camilla Pavone and Valerie Steinberg. We renovated all the classrooms. There is a parent lounge with Wi-Fi and screens where you can watch your children in a class.”
Steinberg said, “It came out better than I expected thanks to the work of the board.”
Copresident Arlette Landers said, “The floors hadn’t been renovated in 20 years. We tackled that and now we have these new, beautiful, clean floors.”
In addition to the ribbon cutting and a facility tour on Saturday, children could enjoy the annual Not So Scary Monster Bash, as well as pony rides, a petting zoo, the Sausage King food truck, concessions, crafts, monster slime, games and a photobooth with professional pictures taken by Elizabeth Kristen Photography. The children’s band, Music for Aardvarks, performed from 12 to 1 p.m.
The Parent Resource Center is a nonprofit community center for parents with young children (ages birth to 5) in the Port Washington community. The PRC offers mommy & me classes, separation classes, play preschool, open play, social events for parents and kids, Parent University, an Outreach Program for low income families and much more. The PRC is located in the Landmark building at 232 Main St. For more information go to www.parentresource.org.
