New York Yankees: “Rising Ground is a Champion in its Field”

New York Yankees: “Rising Ground is a Champion in its Field”

  New York’s Most Storied Franchise Recognizes City’s Largest & Oldest Nonprofit Human Service Agency Before First Pitch

For Many at Rising Ground, It was Their First Visit to Yankee Stadium

(Yonkers, NY) More than 150 students, families, staff and volunteers from Rising Ground joined the New York Yankees Friday night as part of a pre-game ceremony celebrating the great work of the organization. For many in attendance, it was their first time visiting the Stadium.

In honoring Rising Ground moments before the first pitch in front of a packed crowd of approximately 50,000 people, the Yankees cited the organization’s long history in New York City and its unflinching commitment to the people it supports.

“Rising Ground is a pioneering agency where innovation, growth, and excellence are always part of their winning game plan,” the announcer said. “Much like the Yankees, Rising Ground is a champion in its field, and an integral part of New York.”

Rising Ground supports more than 12,000 of the Greater New York area’s neediest children and adults each year through special education, early childhood programs, foster care and adoption programs, family mental health services, services for children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and juvenile justice services, among other areas of support.

Alan Mucatel was among 15 people present for the on-field pre-game honors, which included staff, volunteers, mentors, and children, adults, and families whom Rising Ground supports.

He noted how thrilling it was for Rising Ground to celebrate with the Yankees and their fans.

“It’s a great honor to team up with the New York Yankees, who understand the critical role we play in providing solid foundations of support so that our neighbors can rise above adversity,” Mucatel said. “It was especially fun for a group of our young people to experience Yankee Stadium firsthand. They had a great time today. We at Rising Ground are immensely grateful to the Yankees and the fans for their support of our life affirming work.”

The Stadium honors came weeks after Rising Ground announced it had rebranded to better communicate what the organization does. Rising Ground was founded as an orphanage (then known as the Leake and Watts Orphan House), at the site of Trinity Church in lower Manhattan, and has evolved to become an award-winning human services organization with 47 programs at 25 sites in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Westchester. Rising Ground employs a workforce of 1,400 people, of which roughly half are Bronx residents, making it one of the city’s largest human services organizations.

About Rising Ground

Rising Ground, formerly Leake & Watts, is a leading nonprofit human services organization, providing the children, adults, and families in the Greater New York City area with the resources and skills needed to rise above adversity and positively direct their lives.

Rising Ground delivers: innovative educational programs from early childhood through high school; dedicated support that facilitates safe environments for children and helps families thrive; result-focused programs that help youth involved in the juvenile justice system change the trajectory of their lives; caring services that help promote independence for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and pro-active community health initiatives that foster physical and emotional well-being.

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs and has become a leader in utilizing result-driven, evidence-based practices. Today, the organization’s work is a positive force in the lives of more than 12,000 individuals annually. The organization was honored as the Gold Winner of the New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Awards. For more information, visit www.risingground.org.