2018 YMCA Spirit of Community Service Award Honors Broadway Stages and Other Community Heroes

On Wednesday, December 5, the Greenpoint YMCA hosted its third annual Spirit of Community Service Awards Dinner, "a celebration of lives impacted by the Y and the heroes who make it happen along the way." The event took place at Giando on the Water (400 Kent Avenue).  

Among the honorees was Broadway Stages, a supporter of the Y for more than 10 years. With a focus on environmental education programs such as SYSTEM (Summer Youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and after-school and summer camp STEM programs, Gina Argento, President and CEO of Broadway Stages, is also an active YMCA board member.

The Spirit of Community Service Award honorees are recognized for their contributions toward healthy living and youth development in the North Brooklyn community. Other honorees recognized at the event include Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, Martha Holstein, and Donald Minerva.

The funds raised at the gala event go toward helping North Brooklyn children and their families with after-school activities that include swimming, early childhood, and summer camp scholarships.

Learn more about the Greenpoint YMCA and please consider volunteering or providing financial support.

Broadway Stages, Ltd., New York's premier television and film production company, manages over three million square feet of integrated space with more than 50 sound stages, unique locations, production services, and over seven acres of parking throughout three boroughs in New York City. As a responsible company with local roots, we actively support economic and social growth, education, community betterment, and environmental sustainability throughout Brooklyn.

Support Camp Brooklyn – 2018 Gala and Auction

The Camp Brooklyn Fund 2018 Gala and Auction will be held on Thursday, November 15 at Giando on the Water. This fun-filled event will include dinner, open bar, dancing, and fabulous auction prizes. Gina Argento, President and CEO of Broadway Stages and a member of the board of Camp Brooklyn, personally invites you to support this valuable cause and join the festivities from 7 to 11 p.m.

Proceeds from this event support Camp Brooklyn, a non-profit organization founded in 2002. Since its inception, Camp Brooklyn has sent more than 3,500 Brooklyn children to summer camp. The children served live at or below the poverty level, which effects one in three of our children living in Brooklyn. With your support, these children can experience sleep-away camp that can transform lives, families, and our community. Just $750 will send one child to camp for two weeks. Please support our mission by making a donation, or join us at the gala and purchase your gala tickets here.

Broadway Stages, Ltd., New York's premiere television and film production company, manages over 1.5 million square feet of integrated space with more than 50 sound stages, unique locations, production services, and over seven acres of parking throughout three boroughs in New York City. As a responsible company with local roots, we actively support economic and social growth, education, community betterment, and environmental sustainability throughout Brooklyn and greater NYC. Through financial, in-kind, and volunteer resources, we strive to make a difference in the communities where we work and live.

Broadway Stages Hosts Arthur Kill Pumpkin Patch in Staten Island

Broadway Stages is hosting The Arthur Kill Pumpkin Patch on Sunday, October 21, 2018 from noon to 3:30 p.m. at 2911 Arthur Kill Road in Staten Island. The autumnal celebration is free and includes Halloween-themed activities for children of all ages, including pumpkin picking, face painting, arts and crafts, snack, drinks, and more; there will also be free parking on site. And of course, costumes are encouraged! As your Arthur Kill neighbors, we welcome you to join us in celebrating the season and our Staten Island community. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions: community@broadway-stages.com.

About Broadway Stages in Staten Island
Broadway Stages has been an integral part of New York for over three decades and together with its clients has employed thousands of people and created hundreds of local jobs. In 2017 we purchased the 69-acre former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility located in the Charleston section of Staten Island. The facility, which once housed more than 900 inmates, is being converted into a state-of-the-art full-service production facility offering ample space for film, television, and music video productions of all sizes. For Staten Island, that means economic growth and community engagement.

Broadway Stages is hyperlocal focused and committed to helping create new economic opportunities in the local Staten Island community, including an estimated 1,500 jobs over the next several years. In addition, Broadway Stages plans to apply its sustainable business practices at its Staten Island campus, including solar energy and rooftop gardens.

Please follow us at Broadway Stages News for more information.

Halloween Party hosted by Broadway Stages and 94th Precinct Community Council

Come one, come all to the Halloween Party hosted by Broadway Stages and the 94th Precinct Community Council on Thursday, October 25 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at 100 Meserole Ave., in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Wear your best costume and join in the fun of pumpkin painting, games and prizes, and face painting. This fun-filled celebration is free and includes snacks and drinks. As your Brooklyn neighbor, we welcome you to join us in celebrating the season and our Greenpoint Community. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions: community@broadway-stages.com 

About Broadway Stages
Broadway Stages is one of New York's largest growing full-service film, television, and music video production companies. With more than 50 sound stages in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, we have been an integral part of New York City for over three decades. With additional expansion underway, we have over 1.5 million square feet of integrated sound stages, locations, support space, and parking. Together with our clients, we have employed thousands of people and have created hundreds of local jobs. We are dedicated to giving back to our community through education, the arts, and environmentally focused programs. We are hyperlocal focused and whenever possible work with local businesses and vendors for our production needs. And we actively demonstrate our commitment to sustainability with our recycling program, rooftop solar panels, farms and gardens, and related educational programs.

For more information follow us at Broadway Stages News.   

Broadway Stages Supports 35th Anniversary of 94th Precinct's National Night Out

For 35 years the NYPD's 94th Precinct has been hosting National Night Out in Greenpoint. Over the last seven years Broadway Stages has supported this community event. This year, Broadway Stages provided all of the entertainment, activities, and food, including Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, a rock-climbing wall, spin and sand art, games, and music.

"We believe that it is important to honor the hardworking and brave men and women who serve and protect us every day," Gina Argento, CEO of Broadway Stages, said. "Especially our local precinct in Greenpoint." Gina said it's a great feeling to watch residents engage with the men and women of the 94th Precinct to introduce themselves and thank them for their service. For the full article by Mark Garzon with the Queens Ledger click here.

Broadway Stages Celebrates Earth Day 2018!

Welcome to Earth Day 2018! It has been over 365 days of energy saving, water conservation, and more by you and members of your community! For a quick recap, let's talk about some of the things that have helped make this Earth Day incredible.

This year, the U.S. has increased solar and wind generation projects while also using fewer non-renewable energy sources, such as coal. These projects reduce carbon emissions in the air, decreasing the greenhouse effect and helping to combat global warming. These projects also clear the air of dangerous chemical pollutants that are the byproducts of coal plants.

And most importantly, global citizens are making being green a trend through social media. This year has marked one of the most unified efforts for global citizens to become environmentally conscious. The progressive movement toward a global system of responsible energy use brings us one step closer to making non-renewable energy sources obsolete.

To encourage and continue the Earth Day celebration, Broadway Stages will share some more tips and tricks to help encourage a greener environment.

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle…. and repair!
   Everyone knows the 3R's reduce, reuse, and recycle, but not many people know its cousin repair. Repairing goods instead of replacing them can significantly reduce your footprint and save you money. For example, durable goods will last longer than lower quality items that need to be replaced more often.

2. Start the compost station!
   A large percentage of most trash in U.S. households is denoted to organic compounds and foods that can be composted. It is time to start considering the benefits of composting. Composting relieves your trashcan of most of its weight and size. Key benefits include replacing your trash bags less often and producing fertile soil that helps your garden grow!

3. Keep the paper in the trees!
   With modern technologies, paper could be made obsolete by writing on tablets or other devices. As deforestation continues to destroy whole ecosystems, global citizens need to protect our precious forests and trees. So next time you are thinking of writing down anything, make an effort to leave no paper trail!

YMCA Summer Camp Around the Corner!

Summer is right around the corner! The YMCA offers an amazing summer experience for youths in the New York area. From sports to the arts, the YMCA offers a wide variety of specially designed youth camps to satisfy a range of educational interests.

Open to all families across the five boroughs, the YMCA operates 11 camps with specific designations based on location, age, and activity. Enrichment programs spread throughout the day include group activities and also focus on healthy habits like daily nutrition and staying active. With many activities and friends to be made, YMCA summer camp will provide many positive memories for your children and family.

A proud supporter of the YMCA, Broadway Stages President Gina Argento encourages families to enroll their children into the summer camp program. As a financial contributor to the YMCA, Gina is among the community members who help supplement or secure funding for families qualified for financial support. Her contributions toward supporting local families is part of her efforts to reinvest in local community members, always acknowledging the importance of community cohesion. With that in mind, you can be assured that Gina and fellow community contributors want your family and children to experience an amazing summer with YMCA!

Broadway Stages Encourages You to Support Your Local YMCA

At the core of every New York City Community is a YMCA ready to serve the youth and families of each neighborhood. With the mission to improve the health and body of each individual, especially youths of the next generation, the YMCA dedicates a plethora of programs to provide unlimited opportunities to grow future community leaders. YMCA programs foster the growth of teamwork, critical thinking, and friendship.

Critical to the operation of YMCA community programs is the support received from the community itself. Sharing similar philosophies as the YMCA, Gina Argento, President of Broadway Stages, believes that programs that promote community adhesion will ultimately lead to positive influences. As a financial sponsor to the Greenpoint YMCA, Gina has helped finance the new hardwood floors in the basketball courts, the continued operations of after-school enrichment programs, and summer camps for Greenpoint families. With support from local Brooklynites like Gina and yourself, Greenpoint families can enjoy YMCA programs for free!

Broadway Stages Is Excited to Support the Community-Word Project in 2018

The Community-Word Project (CWP) inspires thousands of young students in numerous communities to explore and develop their creative arts. The CWP focuses on providing New York children with a stimulating arts curriculum to encourage self development while integrating critical discovery of personal art and personal learning.

The sponsored classroom programs collaborate with visual artists, writers, musicians, photographers, and theater performers, making sure that students can participate in a variety of art forms to expand their creative nature. In fact, each student is able to intimately engage in and explore different forms of art thanks to the student-to-teacher 6-1 ratio central to CWP learning styles. The CWP ultimately seeks to build a community for young people to learn and contribute to the New York arts scene.

Gina Argento, President of Broadway Stages, seeks to enrich the artistic education of over 2,500 students across 22 schools. She is excited to have helped support the project, which has positively impacted students for 19 years. Her sponsorship of the annual CWP benefit Writing Our Future helped raise over $160,000 from the New York community. This year's amazing dedication from community members propels CWP to reach even more students and schools. Gina is excited that more students will receive high-quality artistic education lessons this year and hopes you can join her and the CWP community to reach even more students next year.

Broadway Stages Sponsors Toy Drive at Kingsland Avenue

In anticipation of the holidays, Brooklyn's largest full-service sound stage studio is preparing for another year of supporting local children! On December 16, Broadway Stages, in partnership with the 94th Precinct, is organizing a toy drive to collectively donate to Brooklyn families.

Dozens of dedicated Broadway Stages employees collect and distribute over a hundred toys during the annual donation drive. Purchasing dolls, actions figures, cars, and Legos, the staff at Broadway Stages and the officers at the 94th Precinct encourage each other to contribute to the drive to benefit our fellow neighbors.

The toy drive is open to all Brooklynites to participate, and the more the merrier! Whether you want to donate to the cause or come celebrate with your family, Broadway Stages welcomes you from noon to 3 p.m. next Saturday! Be sure to stop by; we would love to celebrate the night with our Greenpoint family!

Broadway Stages and North Brooklyn Boat Club Provide Environmental Education

Row, row, row your boat! That was exactly what 100 fourth-grade students did down the Newtown Creek advised by staff from the North Brooklyn Boat Club (NBBC). The boat ride at Broadway Stages' Boatyard located along Newtown Creek, is part of an educational program designed to teach students about the history of the creek and how to keep it clean for the future.

The local creek was once a high-density highway for transportation between New Jersey and New York and a common destination for dumping waste. It eventually became a Superfund site marked for environmental cleanup. However since then, in part thanks to the Newtown Creek wastewater treatment facility and increasing awareness and government intervention, it has become considerably cleaner and safer. Though the water has significantly improved, there is a continuous need to educate locals and boost communal efforts to prevent it from reverting back to how it was.

As a Brooklyn business, Broadway Stages believes that it is part of our duty to the Brooklyn community to increase awareness about the environmental importance of the iconic creek. Believing it is important for future generations to appreciate and preserve the natural ecology of our shared creek, Broadway Stages wishes to improve the Newtown Creek for all Brooklynites to enjoy and works to achieve that dream by setting up educational programs with NBBC. By working with NBBC, Broadway Stages has invited many Brooklynites, with a focus on students, to come to the Broadway Stages Boatyard to learn about the ecology of the Newtown Creek.

Leading the success of the partnership program between NBBC and Broadway Stages are the fun but educational teaching methods. To allow students to thoroughly enjoy the creek, staffers take them on 12-man boat trips down the creek to experience firsthand the amazing ecology of the creek, in the hopes of inspiring them to preserve its current state and work to improve it even more in the future.

Broadway Stages and NBBC hope to restore the Newtown Creek to its natural beauty completely and can only do it with the help of Brooklynites of the next generation. Let's keep Brooklyn clean and eco-friendly!

Broadway Stages Gets Spooktacular at the Staten Island Zoo

The annual Staten Island halloween event Spooktacular took over the Staten Island Zoo last weekend. The local event is a hotspot for Staten Island families seeking family fun, even attracting families from other boroughs as it grows in popularity each passing year.

Year-round zoo attractions, including "The Africa and Tropical Forest Wings," "The Otter Tunnel," and "The Kid's Korral," were transformed into designated trick and treat zones, performance spaces, and halloween-themed attractions.

The most infamous attractions at Spooktacular never fail to be Halloween Town, Monster Alley, and Candy Land, decorated with lifelike bats, spider webs, and skulls. Not to mention the tremendous number of volunteers who dressed up as ghosts, zombies, and skeletons and helped bring out the Halloween spirit! The two-night event scares over a thousand visitors who walk away with treats, prizes, and crafts.

This year, Broadway Stages was excited to be part of Spooktacular as a sponsor. We would like to thank the incredible combined efforts of fellow sponsors and volunteers in helping creating the best Spooktacular fun for Staten Island families. We look forward to helping make next year's Spooktacular even more spooky and spectacular!