About Us

For almost 200 years, Mission Society has helped generations overcome the tests of poverty through education, support and advocacy.  Mission Society’s approach is considered by many in the field to be a standard of excellence, helping kids to exceed expectations and reach their full potential.  We achieve this through one-on-one assistance combined with the involvement of positive role models, group peer, family and community supports, enabling children and families to learn, achieve and succeed.   Our efforts weave together seamlessly to benefit:
 

Children

Promoting healthy development and personal achievement based on school retention, academic success, career planning, work experience, financial literacy, family life and sex education, mental health support and recreation for youth aged 6 - 21.
 

Families

Promoting positive family development and family integrity through comprehensive mental health services, case management, peer and community supports and access to public benefits, including housing, health care and employment.
 

Communities

Promoting an active and engaged community at the local level, Minisink Townhouse has become the hub of Central Harlem, now serving its second generation of residents.  For many children and families, the Townhouse has become a year-round surrogate home, offering a safe, secure and supportive environment to discover, share and celebrate.  Our partnership with nine public schools and other community-based organizations ensures the same set of offerings are in place in the South Bronx and Brooklyn.
 

What We Do

Our services foster positive academic, personal and social development, including:

• teen-age pregnancy, school dropout and obesity prevention
• curriculum support and tutoring (during and after school)
• mentoring
• financial literacy
• computer instruction and internet access
• career preparation, job readiness and internship placement
• case management and mental health support. 

2008 Year in Review

This past year Mission Society impacted the lives of more than 10,000 individuals through direct services and community events, a 29% increase from last year. 
Our service numbers continue to climb exponentially demonstrating the need for and impact of our programs.  Our focus is on results.  We are proud to report that some of our most significant achievements from 2007 – both administrative and programmatic – were sustained in 2008 and include:

• 100% of high school seniors who participated in the Learning to Work program graduated high school.
• Exceeded goal in our Annual Champions for Children Luncheon, the organization’s main source of general operating support.
• Expanded our volunteer rank to include corporate partnerships with Washington Mutual, Merrill Lynch and American Express.

2008 Report Card

Overall, Mission Society would get an A+ in performance at 96%!  Even in light of this exponential level of growth and demand, budget cuts and the current volatile socio/economic environment, our quality in service was not compromised. 

Why is Mission Society needed? 

• Every day 541,985 children live in poverty and 25 babies are born to adolescent parents. 
• 57% of elementary and middle school students fail to achieve minimum state standards for reading.
• Over 50% of African American and Latino students drop out of high school.
• African-American and Latino children (who represent 80% of our clients) are more than 12 times as likely as white children to live in "double jeopardy," meaning they live in both low-income families and poor neighborhoods.
• The children and families we serve in Harlem, the South Bronx and Brownsville live in some of the city’s most underserved communities.
• During these times of economic hardship, the rising costs of inflation disproportionately affect the poor.
• Sources include Citizen’s Committee for Children, Health Affairs, NYC Depts of Health and Mental Hygiene and Department of Education.