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Personal Blog Post Celebrating Ms. Bush

In honor of a dear friend, teacher and mentor, I am dedicating this blog post to the memory of Connie Bush.

There are no words that can justify the goodness and selfless love that Connie shared with the students, teachers, parents and graduates from the small, all-girls middle school on East Fourth Street. My intention with this post is to introduce you to the Connelly Center, a school that is more like a home and had a great influence in my upbringing.

Connie Bush was a co-founder who dedicated her life to making sure girls from the underserved community in the Lower East Side had an opportunity to excel. I graduated from the school in 1996, and 15 years later I’m still very much involved. Learn more about Connie here.

Paying It Forward

My goal is to pay it forward and spread the love and dedication that Connie had for giving others a chance– in education, work and life.

If you’re looking for a way to pay it forward, please consider making a gift donation to the Connelly Center in memory of Connie Bush through NYCharities.org here. OR, see other ways you can contribute to the center by either volunteering, gifts of goods or planned giving.

Why give?

If you have a moment, please take a look at the two videos below. One is a segment on the school that aired on WNBC-TV in 2007. The second is a more recent video with commentary from current students and graduates on what the Connelly Center/Holy Child means to them. These two clips capture only a glimpse of what the school and its mission is all about. Thanks in advance for your time.

Connelly Center on WNBC-TV

Connelly Center Spring Gala Video

For more on the Connelly Center visit ConnellyCenter.org.

Memorial donations can be made out to the Cornelia Connelly Center, 220 E. Fourth St., New York, NY 10009, or through NYCharities.org here.

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Celebrity Makeup Artist Jackie Gomez with our editor and interns at the Connelly Center

Makeup artist to the stars Jackie Gomez held a two-hour beauty workshop on Saturday to benefit the Cornelia Connelly Center, an all-girl middle school in the Lower East Side. Beauty enthusiasts, bloggers and graduates of the school gathered to raise money for the Center while learning how to apply makeup for work.

Gift bags were sponsored by Olay, Pantene and CoverGirl while the sparkling wine was donated by September Wines.

All proceeds went to the Connelly Center which gives students from low-income families access to high school and college. To learn more about the school, visit ConnellyCenter.org

See a brief video from the fundraiser below:

Mercedes Sanchez accepted the 2006 Blackboard Award on behalf of the Cornelia Connelly Center Holy Child Middle School for “Outstanding Religious Middle School.”

Manhattan Media and The Blackboard Awards salute professionals, parents and graduates who provide moral and financial support to the schools honored each year. Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey and Gabriela Rowe of the Mandell School co-hosted the ceremony at the Claremont Preparatory School. Randi Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer also presented awards at the ceremony.

“When my former teacher, Ms. Connie Bush, asked me to accept this award on behalf of all the Holy Child students, I was deeply honored,” said Sanchez. “I am a true product of the school, and if it weren’t for Holy Child’s financial assistance throughout high school and its graduate support program that provides SAT Prep courses, college visits and help throughout the college application process, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Holy Child always told us ‘to be all that God wants us to be,’ and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

The Connelly Center received a new microscope from the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.

Continue reading “We accept award on behalf of the Cornelia Connelly Center” »