LMTIF in the News with City Harvest, Teachers College and CMOM

LMTIF’s programs and strategies recently received coverage in the New York Times, Huffington Post, Crain’s and other media.

• According to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) latest report, obesity rates for low-income preschoolers dropped in 19 of the 43 states examined, including New York.  But as Laurie M. Tisch outlined in her latest editorial for the Huffington Post, “Affording a Healthier Future,” now that we are making gains, we have to hone in on what works and redouble our efforts—especially via successful, public-private partnerships.

• Working closely with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), LMTIF joined an impressive roster of partners for CMOM’s national launch of the EatPlayGrow™ Early Childhood Health Curriculum in New York City on November 8, including Let’s Move! Executive Director Sam Kass, New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler, and New York City Housing Authority Chairman John Rhea.  The full curriculum (which can be downloaded here) represents the first of its kind to be approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC), combining the latest science and research from the NIH with CMOM’s holistic arts and literacy-based pedagogy to engage young children with creative programs and consistent health messages. More information can be found in The New York Times’ coverage, here.

• The following morning on November 9, LMTIF’s Rick Luftglass helped officially mark another milestone at the grand opening of City Harvest’s second Mobile Market in the South Bronx (as seen in NY1, NY1 Noticias and the Bronx Free Press). In collaboration with New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the Mobile Market aims to increase access to affordable, healthy food in this high-need community by putting fresh produce directly into the hands of hungry New Yorkers who need it most.

• Teachers College at Columbia University honored Laurie M. Tisch as a philanthropic leader and visionary at its 125th Anniversary Celebration Gala at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem on November 12. Recognized for her philanthropy and leadership in education, health, the arts and nutrition, Laurie joined four other honorees to celebrate the occasion, including Susan Benedetto ’98 and Tony Bennett, for their contributions to arts education through their nonprofit, Exploring the Arts; James P. Comer, M.D., for his work in psychosocial development as a key factor in children’s educational success; and General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt, for support for and investment in education in Harlem.

Teachers College (TC) also announced a $300 million fundraising campaign to invest in the future of the school. In Crain’s New York Business, Suzanne Murphy, TC’s vice president of development and external affairs for the college, explained “We want to continue to support our faculty, our students and work in our neighborhoods.”  Putting the campaign in the context of TC’s 125-year “Legacy of Firsts” – the nation’s first programs in nursing education, nutrition education, special education, educational psychology, and comparative and international education – Ms. Murphy said “We want to build on our rich history.”  Coverage of the event and campaign included the Illumination Fund’s $10 million campaign gift and the newly-established Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy.