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The celebration was a thank-you to the North Street Community Partners for donating the building and property at 317 North St. This is the location of the John A. Coleman School and Children’s Rehabilitation Center.
Attending the celebration were many sponsors, partners, staff members and community members who support the children’s foundation. Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, also attended. Other officials present included state Sens. George Latimer and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblyman David Buchwald, White Plains City Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona and former White Plains Mayor Joseph M. Delfino.
Patricia Tursi, president of the John A. Coleman School and Children’s Rehabilitation Center, offered her thanks to begin the ceremony.
“If it wasn’t for the generosity of the North Street Community Partners, we would not be here today,” Tursi said. “The John A. Coleman School and the Children’s Rehabilitation Center provide critical educational and therapeutic services to over 5,000 of New York’s most medically complex children, and we are relieved that we now have a permanent home to continue to provide care for many more children in the future.”
Dolan walked through the school and blessed children and families, and staff members as he toured the facilities.
“His Eminence was very loving toward the children and spent lots of time with them,” said Dr. Maria A. Pici, medical director of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center. “It was very emotional to see how he embraced our kids and their families.”
“This was such a special day for us,” Maureen Tomkiel, executive director of the John A. Coleman School added. “The support for the Coleman School and the Children’s Rehabilitation Center was palpable. We are so grateful to have received blessings from the cardinal and the commendation of the community to continue to better the lives of the children we serve.”
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