The Viscardi Center

at The Viscardi Center

Providing a lifespan of programs and services that educate, employ and empower children and adults with disabilities.
An employer membership organization and comprehensive resource for disability employment best practices.

DONATE

Header Links

  • Login
  • Media Room
  • Contact Us

Share

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • You Tube
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Abilities, Inc.
    • E-Learning
    • Henry Viscardi School
    • National Business & Disability Council
    • National Center for Disability Entrepreneurship
    • Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center
    • Services by Type
    • Services by Age/Audience
    • Services for Businesses
    • How to Obtain Services
  • Our Stories
    • Adults
    • Businesses
    • Children
    • Donors
    • Emerging Leaders
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give
    • Together We Soar Campaign
    • Advocacy
    • Volunteer
    • Share Your Story
    • Viscardi Alumni
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Media Room
    • Viscardi Voice Newsletter
  • Digital Accessibility
    • Document Accessibility
    • Web Accessibility
    • Captioning & CART Services
    • Audio Description
    • Viscardi Multimedia Learning Center
  • About
    • History
    • Staff Leadership and Boards of Directors
    • Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards
    • Sunny
    • FAQs
    • Careers
    • Financials
    • Contact Us
www.viscardicenter.org > News & Events > News > PROSPER Expands into Suffolk County

PROSPER Expands into Suffolk County

October 31, 2019 by Mike Caprara

  • A A A

Broadridge Foundation funds pilot class for at-risk high school students in Brentwood.

October 31, 2019

 

Broadridge Foundation funds pilot class for at-risk high school students in Brentwood.The Viscardi Center is proud to announce the Suffolk County expansion of its PROSPER program, developed to engage at-risk junior and senior high school students in a vocational-based curriculum that assists them in meeting vital education requirements.

PROSPER has been running for more than 20 years in school districts across Nassau County. Over 90% of the students who complete the half-day, yearlong program graduate from high school and move on to pursue higher education, job training, or employment.

With full funding from the Broadridge Foundation, The Viscardi Center has partnered with Brentwood Free Union Public School District to empower more young people in our local communities.

“The primary objective of this program is to improve attendance, boost self-esteem, and help students build important workplace and life skills,” Colleen Crispino, The Viscardi Center’s Chief Program Officer, said. “Through visits to local businesses and college campuses, students gain an understanding of the relevancy of education as it relates to their employment future.”

Representatives from The Viscardi Center and Brentwood School District gathered at Brentwood’s Central Administration Center to celebrate the launch on Wednesday, October 23.  They were joined by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, County District Attorney Timothy Sini, NYS Senator Monica R. Martinez, and Broadridge Financial Solutions Executive Chairman Rich J. Daly, who each spoke about on how the expansion into Suffolk County will strengthen Long Island at large.

“Here in Brentwood could be the next entrepreneur, the next founder, the next lawyer. What we’re looking to do is to enable an environment where young people have good alternatives and opportunities,” Daly said.

Kiara Groce, a junior who wants to study criminal justice and eventually become a police officer, enrolled in the program to hone leadership skills that can’t always be learned in a traditional classroom setting.

“In school you’re surrounded by walls,” Groce said. “People don’t always tell you what you’re going to experience when you get a job or go to college. Being in the PROSPER program can show you what it’s really like in the outside world.”

The new Brentwood PROSPER pilot class started October 30 and is based at Suffolk County Community College – Grant Campus. 

About The Viscardi Center
Founded by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., who served as disability advisor to eight U.S. Presidents and became one of the world’s leading advocates, The Viscardi Center educates, employs, and empowers people with disabilities. It provides Pre-K through High School education, school-to-work youth transition services, vocational training, career counseling and employment placement, assistive technology, and adapted driver education to children, adolescents, and adults with a wide variety of disabilities. The Center also assists businesses in diversifying their workforces, as well as developing and advancing disability inclusive cultures in their workplaces.

Filed Under: News

News & Events

  • News

    >

  • Blog

    >

  • Events

    >

  • Media Room

    >

  • Viscardi Voice Newsletter

    >

Explore News

Events

Whiskey being poured into a glass

“Whiskey & Wits” Party for a Purpose

[php snippet=2]

New York Yankee, Gleyber Torres, with Henry Viscardi School graduate, Jessica, at Celebrity Sports Night 2019.

Celebrity Sports Night

[php snippet=2]

View All Events

Recent News

View All >
  • AFB Consulting and Viscardi Announce Partnership

    December 21, 2020 Joining forces with the consulting arm of American Foundation for the Blind, The Viscardi Center aims to enhance digital accessibility and inclusion measures. Read More...
  • Steven Markowitz Joins Viscardi Board of Directors

    December 9, 2020 Great Neck’s Markowitz has been appointed to serve on Viscardi’s Center-wide Board. Read More...
  • Announcing 11 Global Leaders with Disabilities

    December 3, 2020 The Viscardi Center names the recipients of the 2020 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards, recognized for improving the quality of life of people with disabilities worldwide. Read More...
  • NCDE Hosts PitchFest Competition

    November 30, 2020 Founders with disabilities from across the country battle it out for funding in a first-ever competition from the National Center for Disability Entrepreneurship at The Viscardi Center. Read More...
  • NCDE Announces First-Ever PitchFest Competition

    October 26, 2020 12 founders with disabilities from across the country will battle it out in front of a panel of exacting judges in this event from the National Center for Disability Entrepreneurship at The Viscardi Center. Read More...
  • NBDC Announces Virtual NDEAM Summit

    August 31, 2020 The National Business & Disability Council at The Viscardi Center will host a “Moving from Awareness to Action” virtual summit in celebration of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Read More...

Contact Us

The Viscardi Center
National Business & Disability Council at The Viscardi Center
201 I.U. Willets Road
Albertson, NY 11507
516.465.1400
info@viscardicenter.org
Careers at the Viscardi Center | Staff Log in
Accessibility | Privacy | Site Map

Sign up For Enews

The Viscardi Center is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit recognized by the IRS.

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • You Tube
  • Instagram

© 2021 The Viscardi Center. All rights reserved. | Designed & Developed by Infinite Media Corp.