COVENANT HOUSE NEW YORK MARKS 30^th ANNIVERSARY WITH GALA RECEPTION AND "RIGHTS OF PASSAGE" GRADUATION

             Other 2002 graduates may hail from posh halls of ivy, but none have worked harder to re-invent themselves than the graduates of Covenant House New York's "Rights of Passage" program. They will be awarded their diplomas October 17 at a very special ceremony and reception, which also celebrates Covenant House NY's 30^th anniversary.

            "Rights of Passage" (ROP) is a vital focus of Covenant House NY, the first and largest center of America's foremost privately-funded agency serving homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. A long-term transitional living program, "ROP" houses young men and women, ages 18-21, most of them without homes or jobs, without adequate education, skills or work habits --- and enables them to turn their lives around.

            All residents, some of whom are young mothers with babies are required to find a job, complete their high school education, take vocational training, learn daily living skills and prepare to assume adult responsibilities.  The average stay is 13-18 months.

Now these newly confident young people, wearing caps and gowns for perhaps the very first time, will be applauded by friends, family and VIPs as they proudly walk across the stage to receive their "Rights of Passage" diploma — their passport to future independent living.

A Very Special Day

Invitees to the gala event --- public officials, prominent citizens, major donors to Covenant house programs, families, alumni and volunteers -- can also go "behind the scenes" beforehand, to see Rights of Passage accomplishments. Visitors will be welcomed at an Open House from 4-6 p.m. at the Covenant House New York Regional Training Center at 345 West 17^th Street.

            The Graduation Ceremony, from 6-7 p.m at the same site, will honor the Rights of Passage graduates and will also acknowledge those mothers with children in the Infant/Toddler Program. This event -- in which toddlers also wear caps and gowns and "graduate" along with their moms – has become a cherished annual tradition.

                        As a final and fitting touch to the day, the reception will be catered by the staff of Ezekiel's Café, a popular downtown restaurant owned and operated by Covenant House New York as part of their on-the-job Culinary Arts training program. Other skills programs include training for jobs in desktop publishing, computers, silk-screen businesses and construction and as bank tellers and  state-certified nurses aides.  The Job Placement Services at Covenant House New York helped to find jobs for more than 800 Covenant House trainees last year alone!

            In celebrating its 30^th Anniversary of its service to youth in trouble or at risk, Executive Director Bruce J. Henry notes that Covenant House New York has been able to operate almost entirely on private funding -- 85% comes from individual gifts and grants from foundations and companies. The largest government segment is a HUD grant toward the residential part of "Rights of Passage".

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DATE: Thursday, October 17

SITE:  346 West 17^th Street, Manhattan

TIMES:  4- 6 p.m. --  Open House

                6 - 7 p.m.  --  Graduation Ceremony

                7 - 8 p.m.  --  Gala Reception