Brooklyn, NY – MASK, the Brooklyn based organization helping families prevent at risk behaviors, has been forced to cut many of their programs and to relocate from their Nostrand Avenue headquarters, after losing most of their funding due to government budget cuts. At a press conference held yesterday just prior to their move in the nearly empty MASK office, Assemblyman Dov Hikind expressed his remorse that he was not able to secure more funding for vital organizations such as MASK and called on the community to step up and help MASK through their current economic crisis.
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In attendance at the press conference were Ruchama Bistritzky-Clapman, founder and executive director of MASK, Assemblyman Dov Hikin, Rabbi Dr. Bentzion Twerski, Avi Fishoff of Home Sweet Home, Wolf Sender, Ikey Dwek of SAFE, Yossi Clapman, Esther Gewirtzman and Miriam Turk.
MASK, which has served 14,000 clients over the past thirteen years ago to deals with at risk children and their families by providing referrals, prevention and awareness programs, a confidential hotline and support groups.
MASK have asked the Jewish community to please extend their support and donate to help them stay open. click here to help.
Watch below Press Conference Credit: Shimon Gifter
This is a very sad day. Mask is an excellent org. that really helps parents.
They are responsive, have a listening ear – run excellent weekly, monthly workshops.
I am really sorry – I hope they can stay open. We Need Them.
dov is on the job
It is very sad that this has come to pass. MASK has done and continues to do excellent work helping families in a timely and sensitive manner. I hope and pray that they will be able to recover, continue and expand their vital work. The community needs MASK and now MASK needs the help of the community. Hakaros Hatov is so very important.
maybe the time has com to fight these government cuts with fire . we should all register our kids at the public schools . now i know that the pessimist will say this can’t be done , however please remember that the nyc public school system does not have the room for this influx of another two hundred thousand parochial school kids , therefor thety will somehow find the funds to give to our schools for there english departments.
Ruchama is a woman of action She has been there for our children now it is time for the k’llal to step up to the plate and make sure that she can continue to do this important chesed saving our future generations
Please send money to this charity!! it is one of the most needed charities out there and would be a real shame for it to go unattended like this!!
These places really need to be moved to the country where kids can get a better experience and some fresh air.
It really is a shame that it has to come to this even after Mask has helped over 14000 families in our community this past dozen or so years. It is quite important for the parents in our community who have children acting out, to have this one place to go via an anonymous hotline that would be able to give them a lifeline, with a frum perspective, in times of confusion and great crises. Please do not just read this as just another article and figure that it is someone else’s problem or that anyone else will just come and fix it. We EACH need to do whatever EACH of us can do. I do hope everyone clicks to donate whatever amount they are able to…and by doing this it would allow MASK to continue to help parents guide the next generation of Klal Yisroel.
Let this comment be testimony for many hundreds (according to the article – thousands) of parents who need to rely on MASK for guidance, referrals, support, and connection to other resources. There are many other askonim, and there are lots of agencies. MASK has the distinction of not competing with any of them. Ruchama has gone to bat for many of them, connecting them to resources for funding, professional and political contacts, etc., all with nothing but the health of Klal Yisroel and its families in mind. Esther is always there, answering calls, monitoring each family, keeping track, and managing a large office. Each child is a neshomoh, an olam molei, and deserving of the attention of all Yidden.
The support groups serve to maintain the sanity of the parent that is struggling. If you, the reader of this, are fortunate to have no direct need for the myriad of services that MASK does tirelessly, than recognize that many around you do need or have needed its services. MASK’s heart is always open. I, for one of many, credit MASK and its staff for my sanity. Please help. It is not “just another organization”. It is crucial to the future of Klal Yisroel.
what a shame. This wonderful organization was a big help to me when I needed it for my child ten years ago. I wish I could send in a donation, but unfortunately things are very tight for us and we cannot do it right now. It breaks my heart that I cannot help mask as it has helped us. Hopefully IYH they will be able to get the funding from a different place.
Has anyone noticed how no mention is made with regard to their new location??
Maybe they don’t have funds to secure a lease anywhere.
Let every one of the 14,000 who have called the hotline to receive advice, gone to a meeting etc place an immediate donation of any amount for the yeshua and hatzlocho of a struggling preteen, teen or young adult. In the merit of supporting MASK, may there not be a need for such a gemach in our midst. In the meantime, each of us knows quite a number of neshomos in despair, struggling with their self esteem, emunah, emotions and sense of identity. Lets do our part for the sake of those we know and to prevent future neshamos for falling through our cracks. It can happen in everyone/anyone’s family. The nisyonos of having children/teens/young adults in conflict does not just befall on certain families. No family, rich,poor, well connected, with yichus etc can escape its prevelence, unfortunately.
EVERYONE do your part. I’ve sent my $100 check, have you?
Dear Mrs. Clapman:
I was so saddened to hear that your program’s existence is in jeopardy. The unique service that MASK has provided in so many life threatening situations is duplicated by no other agency. The dedication, professionalism, and warmth that you and your staff have demonstrated have been exemplary.
CounterForce and MASK have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship to the benefit of so many children and families. We believe that the powers that be should make every effort to assist the MASK program in remaining viable, so that you can continue to literally save lives.
May G-d bless you and your staff and may you be able to continue your vital work.
Moshe Wangrofsky Program Director, CounterForce