Holiday toy drive kicks off at Bronx Zoo

Here's a story from this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

Children of PS 205 kicked off the
annual holiday toy drive in the Bronx.

Donating a new toy for underprivileged children this holiday season can offer not only the feeling of generosity, but also a free ticket to the Bronx Zoo.

 The Bronx Zoo has teamed up with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. for the third annual toy drive. Last week, students of PS 205 and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce made the first donations. 

“This year there’s going to be a lot of happy faces,” said Lenny Caro, president and CEO of the chamber of commerce. “It’s a nice feeling when you’re able to give like that.” 

Caro donated 1,000 toys in this toy drive and will be holding his own toy drive as well, where he’ll be donating 10,000 additional toys. Among the toys are sports balls, electric mini-helicopters, stuffed animals and toy police cars and fire trucks. 

The second graders of PS 205 are glad to be helping others.
 

“We’re donating stuff to children who need it,” said 9-year-old Guadelupe. “They’re going to be happy about it.”

Jump below for the full story.

PS 205 students kick off holiday toy drive at Bronx Zoo

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Deputy Bronx Borough President Aurelia Greene joined John Calvelli, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo; Lenny Caro, President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and children from P.S. 205 at the Bronx Zoo’s Elephant house to kick-off the zoo’s annual holiday toy drive, co-sponsored by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. In honor of the start of the holiday season, students from P.S. 205  donated the first toys of the year.

Check out next week's issue of the Bronx Press to see the full story.

For more information on the toy drive, visit wcs.org/foodtoydrive.

Greene Named As Likely Deputy Beep

Assemblyman Ruben Diaz has announced the first major hire of his presumptive Bronx borough presidency. South Bronx Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene, who had been considered a front-runner to be the next county clerk, will serve as his deputy borough president, assuming he's victorious in the April 21 special election.

“Throughout her distinguished career, Aurelia Greene has been a champion for Bronxites and for all New Yorkers. She has been on the front lines fighting for tolerance and understanding among all peoples, and she has been a champion for women, children and families; tenants and homeowners; students and teachers; youth and seniors; and consumers, workers and job-creating businesses in the Bronx. She will bring to bear her distinguished record of accomplishment and leadership in our efforts to bring the Bronx to a new level,” said Assemblyman Diaz.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work with the next Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr., who will bring dynamic new energy to Borough Hall,” said Assemblywoman Greene. “I look forward to working with him to implement his vision for a revitalized Bronx. As Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr. will balance the needs and desires of our local communities with sensible, job-creating policies that benefit us all. I am thrilled at the chance to help him implement that vision and to make the Bronx an even better place to live, work, or visit for all of us,” she said.

Greene has been in the assembly since 1982, and is the first African-American to hold that body's Deputy Majority Leader position.

Reports: Diaz Petitions North of 16,000 Signatures

We don’t have official word yet, but we’re hearing that the campaign of Assemblyman Ruben Diaz has already collected more than 16,000 signatures on its nominating petitions, which is quite a number given that they only started on Monday.

Only 4,000 signatures are required to run in the special election, though candidates typically come in much higher than that to prevent challenges.

Since this is a special election, candidates cannot use traditional party labels and must come up with their own unique ballot line names. Diaz has chosen to place his campaign under the “Bronx Unity Party” banner.

We can also tell you who makes up Diaz’s committee to fill vacancies, which would decide who would take over the ballot line in the (highly unlikely) event that the assemblyman declined to run in the special election. That trio is State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz (his father) and Assembly Members Aurelia Greene and Jeffrey Dinowitz.