Friedrich Air Conditioning Helps New York City Youth Beat the Heat with Donation to Cool Community Centers

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Friedrich announces the donation of 150 air conditioners to the Department of Youth and Community Development. DYCD supports New York City’s afterschool and youth workforce development programs throughout the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. DYCD Cornerstone Programs are housed at 38 New York City Housing Authority, NYCHA, community centers. The donation benefits centers that lack cooling or need replacement units.

“For over 60 years the people of New York have supported Friedrich Air Conditioning. You can see our units keeping New Yorkers cool across the City,” said Wink Chapman, vice president of sales and marketing for Friedrich Air Conditioning. “It is a privilege for us to work with the city on its mission to improve the quality of life for thousands of New Yorkers this summer and throughout the year.”

Cornerstone programs provide engaging, high-quality, year-round programs for adults and young people. DYCD also oversees funding for anti-poverty programs such as adult literacy and immigrant services.

“With the doubling of available summer enrichment seats and expanded evening hours at Cornerstone programs this summer, this generous donation couldn’t have come at a better time,” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong. “Friedrich is a wonderful example of how public-private partnerships can have a dramatic impact on thousands of New Yorkers, and it’s our hope that other community partners are inspired to step up to the plate.”

NYCHA’s mission is to increase opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers by providing safe, affordable housing and facilitating access to social and community services. More than 400,000 New Yorkers reside in NYCHA’s 334 public housing developments around the five boroughs, and another 235,000 receive subsidized rental assistance in private homes through the NYCHA administered Section 8 Leased Housing Program.

“We appreciate the helpful upgrade to facilities in NYCHA buildings, and also the example Friedrich is setting here about partnering with government to improve people’s lives,” said NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye. “All of these pieces link together. The centers will be more comfortable, so more kids will hang here. There’s supervision and things to do, and we will be collectively working toward the goal expressed by the Mayor, Council, NYPD and NYCHA residents of making communities safer.” “

A press conference announcing Friedrich’s donation was held on Tuesday, July 29 at the Butler Community Center in the Bronx, one of the centers that received new units. Approximately sixty people attend the event and included Friedrich Regional Sales Manager Chuck Goldberg, New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong, DYCD Assistant Commissioner Darryl Rattray, NYCHA Vice President for Community Operations Deidra Gilliard, Deputy Bronx Borough President Aurelia Greene, Executive Director of Directions for Our Youth Dennis Carter, community center staff and youth who take part in the programs.

Photos courtesy of New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.