Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland Awards Samaritan Daytop Village $20,350 to Expand School Music and Technology Programs
Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland Awards Samaritan Daytop Village $20,350 to Expand School Music and Technology Programs
Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland Awards Samaritan Daytop Village $20,350 to Expand School Music and Technology Programs
(BLAUVELT, NEW YORK) – August 27, 2026 — Samaritan Daytop Village and the Fund for East Ramapo’s Public School Students, a donor-advised fund established by Latham & Watkins for the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland (CFOSR), today announced support for expanded, hands-on music and technology programming at The Daytop Preparatory School in Rockland County.
A $20,350 CFOSR grant will help the school grow its career-oriented and STEM electives to include DJing and music production, as well as introduce robotics and coding instruction using LEGO-based technology.
The Daytop Preparatory School in Blauvelt, NY, serves middle- and high-school students for whom traditional school settings have not worked. Many of these students face challenges including substance use disorder, trauma, and co-occurring mental health conditions, or have been suspended or expelled from school. For more than 25 years, the New York State-registered private school has used a social learning model that integrates academics with clinical care. Students also receive treatment through Samaritan Daytop Village’s Rockland County outpatient program, so academic progress and recovery move forward together.
“This investment gives our school valuable resources to help young people build confidence and stay connected to their education and their recovery journeys,” said Diane Gabriel, Business Education Manager at The Daytop Preparatory School. “When our students step into a music studio or sit down to build and code a robot, they’ll begin to see that they are capable, creative, and resilient. That confidence carries into their recovery, their academics, and their future goals.”
“We’re proud to steward the Fund for East Ramapo’s Public School Students to support educational opportunities for local youth,” said Elizabeth Rowley, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan and Rockland. “Programs like these help students build confidence, discover new talents, and develop skills that will benefit them in school and beyond. We’re excited to see these opportunities come to life for students at The Daytop Preparatory School.”
Starting in October, the school will offer each program for an hour, twice a week, for 10 weeks. Research shows that creative, hands-on learning can play a meaningful role in creating the atmosphere needed for long-term recovery. Music-based interventions are associated with positive emotional change and greater engagement in treatment. Studies have also linked structured music activities to reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress, as published in the National Library of Medicine. When adolescents are given safe, supportive spaces to express themselves and work collaboratively toward a goal, they build emotional regulation, persistence, and self-esteem—factors that strengthen recovery. By expanding music production and introducing robotics and coding, The Daytop Preparatory School is creating structured opportunities for students to strengthen these important skills.
“We were inspired to raise this funding for Rockland County students following the success of a similar program at our school on Long Island,” said Mitchell Netburn, President & CEO of Samaritan Daytop Village. “When students discover a talent or master a new skill, they start to see themselves differently and build confidence. We are deeply grateful to the Fund for East Ramapo’s Public School Students, a donor-advised fund of the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland established by Latham & Watkins, for helping us expand opportunities for the youth we serve.”
To learn more about The Daytop Preparatory School, visit
https://www.samaritanvillage.org/get-support/alternative-education/ or reach out to Diane Gabriel at 845-353-2730, ext. 6849, or [email protected].
ABOUT SAMARITAN DAYTOP VILLAGE:
Since 1960, Samaritan Daytop Village has been improving the quality of life for New Yorkers. We are nationally recognized for our treatment of substance use disorder as well as for the veteran-specific approach we pioneered. Our continuum of services also includes primary and mental health care, transitional and supportive housing, educational and vocational assistance, peer-assisted recovery, and specialized programs for adolescents, families, and older adults. Annually, Samaritan Daytop Village serves over 36,000 people at more than 80 programs throughout New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.
ABOUT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ORANGE, SULLIVAN & ROCKLAND:
Based in Montgomery, NY, the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan and Rockland connects people who care with causes that matter. Established in 1999, the Foundation helps philanthropic individuals, businesses and organizations establish charitable funds that will award grants and scholarships, for good, forever. The Foundation has significantly increased the region’s charitable capital and has empowered donors to make a profound difference in the quality of life in our region. Since its inception, CFOSR, with its donors and fund representatives, has awarded more than $46 million in grants and scholarships. The Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan and Rockland currently administers 630 active charitable funds that represent $74.5 million in assets to support animal welfare, arts and culture, education, the environment, health and human services, recreation, and youth. To learn more, visit cfosrny.org.
