"How are you doing?" The weight of this question has truly changed over the past 14 months. We at Astor have seen firsthand the effects the pandemic has had on our community, especially on the over 10,000 children and families we serve in the Hudson Valley and the Bronx. So when I ask, "how are you doing?", I wholeheartedly want to know and it's my hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.

Since my last communication, we have provided over 167,000 tele-mental health sessions and admitted over 5,500 new clients. We have seen a significant increase in the amount of referrals and high-risk cases (i.e. suicide attempts, etc.) since March 2020.

We have applied for and received emergency funding to assist some of our neediest clients with basic needs (i.e. food assistance/groceries, baby supplies, clothing, transportation, etc.) who were living at or below the poverty line even before the pandemic hit.

As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel in regards to the pandemic, I am excited to share with you that we have two in-person events lined up for Summer! Our 22nd Annual Stenberg Cup Golf event resumes June 17th and our newest event, a wine tasting at Milea Estate Vineyard on June 26th. Both events will follow all proper CDC guidelines and we hope you will be able to join us. We have other ways you can support us through our Dine Out Event and Hudson Valley Gives.

I look forward to the days when we are on the other side of this pandemic. Until then, I wish you good health, security, and peace.

Sincerely,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! It's a time when we at Astor, along with members of the mental health community, come together to reaffirm our commitment to providing high-quality mental/behavioral health services to over 10,000 children and families in the Bronx and Hudson Valley.

Together, we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives — a nation where no one feels alone in their struggle.