Karen Trank's Fundraiser
Remember growing up on a block where your neighbors were your extended family?
Become an honorary "Neighbor" to Thompson Drive teens by donating to our "Be a Neighbor" campaign today.
We are no longer accepting donations on this campaign, but there are other ways for you to support us today!
A supporter of Karen Trank
"Thank you Karen, I feel very good about this contribution! :)"
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Beatrice Frias
"I donated in support of this campaign."
$100
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Karen Trank
"In memory of my next door neighbor, Steve Bacas, who was buried today. Mr Bacas exemplified the neighbor every kid should be lucky enough to have. Xo"
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Holly and Matthew Landon
I donated in support of this campaign.
$100
A supporter of Karen Trank
I donated in support of this campaign.
$50
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Judy Halaby
"Benefited a great deal from neighborhood and community support. Thank you, Karen, for supporting this mission "
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E Cronin
"Love this! God bless all involved. "
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Kathleen Hayes
"76th street was a great place to grow up and luckily I met Karen and our friendship is still going strong after 50 plus years!! ❤️"
$100
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Ann Trank
I donated in support of this campaign.
$100
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Seiji Kawakami
"Karen!!!"
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Laura Halleran
"Takes a village..."
$200
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Stephanie Chen
I donated in support of this campaign.
$100
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Denise Merrill
"Sounds like a wonderful program Karen. "
$25
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Hope Romano
"What a great organization! We were so lucky to grow up where we did ❤️"
$100
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Thomas Trank
"Dedicated to my 3 boys! Danny, Sean and Thomas"
$50
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Rosemary Hogg
"Love our old Block! "
$50
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Michael Trank
"Good luck to the Thompson Drive from Mr. Michael Trank and Dr. Sissi Cossio"
$250
I am excited and proud to tell you about Thompson Drive, a new, nonprofit, youth development organization on Coney Island, for which I am a founding Board Member.
Thompson Drive opened its doors earlier this year and began helping struggling teenagers on Coney Island to navigate the complexities of their teen years, as well as the unbelievable stress placed upon them by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thompson Drive was created by Bobby Ferazi, a friend, former colleague and truly the most impressive youth development professional I have ever known. When I asked Bobby if he was concerned about starting a new nonprofit in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis, his answer to me was immediate and unflinching.
"Are you kidding? Have you seen what these kids are going through? If not now, when?"
He was right!
Teenagers have suffered tremendously through the pandemic with lockdowns, school disruptions, the loss of positive social connections, etc., etc.
Some people sat around and complained. Bobby stepped up and did something!
He pushed on with his plans to create Thompson Drive; an organization named for the street on which he grew up. Similar to 76th Street in Brooklyn where I was fortunate enough to have been raised, Thompson Drive was a place filled with caring adults and neighbors who all looked out for the kids on the block, while providing them with positive role models to emulate.
Thompson Drive (the organization) is now providing that same sense of camaraderie, community and support for teenagers on Coney Island, who too often are surrounded by crime, turf wars and negative influences on the very block where they live. A cohort of regularly attending teenagers from different schools, streets and housing developments are already taking part in counseling and life skills workshops and coming together to share a weekly dinner - forging the kind of friendships and bonds that are so important to healthy, thriving communities.
If you are like me, and your success story began on your block, surrounded by caring neighbors and positive role models, then please consider a donation to Thompson Drive's "Be a Neighbor" campaign.
Become the neighbor that you were so lucky to have!
Thank you and Happy Holidays.