Campaign to Save Big Apple Greeter Exceeds Initial Goal
Long-Term Fundraising Plan Underway

Launched in June, the Campaign to Save Big Apple Greeter has raised nearly $340,000, providing enough funds to keep our organization afloat for the short-term. These funds encompass contributions from over 700 donors including a $200,000 gift from the Fuserna Foundation (see related article).

Although Big Apple Greeter is no longer in immediate danger of closing, our long-term financial health remains less certain. The Board of Directors has set two additional fundraising milestones to help ensure Big Apple Greeter is here to stay. The first is to raise $825,000 by December 31. Our long-term goal is to raise $2 million, providing Big Apple Greeter with a solid foundation for the future and setting the stage for growth.

"We are extremely grateful for every gift that has enabled Big Apple Greeter to continue to provide a unique welcome to New York City for thousands of visitors each year," says executive director Alicia Pierro. "Despite the current challenges, Big Apple Greeter has tremendous opportunity to grow from this experience and become a much stronger organization. Building a solid financial foundation for the future is essential. Big Apple Greeter needs much more financial support to help it serve more visitors, further enhance New York City's image worldwide and make a greater financial impact on the local economy."

Make a Difference with a Year-End Gift

Our program needs your help! Please consider a gift to Big Apple Greeter as part of your year-end charitable contributions. Since corporate grants have dramatically decreased during the economic downturn, contributions of all sizes from visitors, volunteers, funders and other friends are more important than ever. Every gift, whether for $20 or $2,000, supports our mission and demonstrates the passion and commitment Big Apple Greeter inspires.

You can make your gift today by going to our Donation Page or by sending a check to Big Apple Greeter, Attention: Development Department, 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007.

A recurring monthly gift via credit card is one way to easily increase the size of your contribution by spreading it out over time. For more information, contact the Development Department at (212) 669-8281.

With your support, we know that we can continue to "show New York through the eyes of a real New Yorker" for years to come.

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Lynn Brooks and Brad Smith

Award Nominations for Lynn Brooks and Brad Smith

Photo Credit: Lynn Brooks

Global Greeter Network Annual Meeting

Lynn Brooks, Gail Morse, and Kate Sheahan recently returned from an exciting and information-filled trip to Canterbury (United Kingdom) and Nord Pas de Calais (France) where they attended the sixth Global Greeter Network (GGN) annual meeting. Formed in 2005, the Global Greeter Network is an informal association of greeter programs around the world, and the meeting is a forum for sharing best practices.

Global Greeter Network member organizations are all based on the Big Apple Greeter model: their services are free and open to all visitors, they engage only volunteer Greeters, have an active web site and serve visitor groups of no more than six people. Today, there are 16 programs in the Network: New York City, Chicago, and Houston in the US; Toronto in Canada; Buenos Aires in Argentina; Melbourne and Adelaide in Australia; Paris, Lyons, Nantes, Pas-de-Calais, and Marseille-Provence in France; Kent and Brighton in the UK; Belgrade in Serbia; and The Hague (Den Haag) in The Netherlands. In addition, there are 11 more programs joining soon, in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and China.

The meeting, uniquely held in two countries, highlighted the growth in the number of Greeter organizations around the world. As a result of this growth, there was much discussion about the future direction of the Global Greeter Network. "Hearing about new programs, especially in major cities such as Brussels and London, was especially exciting," says Gail.

Big Apple Greeter, as the original Greeter organization, received a great deal of attention from the media covering the meeting. Lynn, who was interviewed for both radio and television in Canterbury and Calais, said the reporters were "always fascinated by the story of how Big Apple Greeter began."

The Global Greeter Network meeting also included excursions to major cultural and historic sites in both locations including Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury and a new Lace Museum in Calais.

Lynn says, "This conference is so important because it brings together people from different cultures who all hold the same values: opening their hearts to share their love of homeland with visitors from around the world."

"Fan" Mail

We receive many wonderful comments from visitors on their Big Apple Greeter experiences. Here are just a few!

"...the time we spent with Chafin in NYC will forever remain one of our favourite travel memories. We also got used to riding the bus and subway, to the point where at the end of the day we truly felt like NYC was ours to discover. We now want to go back and keep on exploring new neighborhoods. When we heard that BAG was having some financial problems, we didn't hesitate to make a small donation, and we hope that others will do the same in order to save this fantastic organization. Best of luck for the future!"

Visitors from Quebec City, Canada

"We had a great time with Verica...She took us to this really awesome burger restaurant, where we had the best burgers EVER!"

Visitors from Leipzig, Germany 

"On a recent trip to the US with a friend, we stumbled upon Big Apple Greeter's website. That little bit of Googling was one of the best things I could have done. Not only was NYC our favourite stop on our west to east coast journey, all the way from Western Australia, but we were able to get the most out of our time in the Big Apple thanks to your fantastic program - and Ellen - who was everything we'd hoped for in a real live New Yorker!"

Visitors from Australia

"We very much appreciated this opportunity to look at the city with different eyes. It is special to walk around with 'real' New Yorkers. I am planning another trip to the Big Apple in 2011 and definitely intend to book a Big Apple Greeter again!"

Visitors from the Netherlands

"We had a fantastic day, Joel spent 12 hours with us from 9:30 am in the morning we walked and walked and had 2 stops all day, one of the best days of our lives, we will never forget."

Visitors from Stockport, U.K.

"Myrna took us to Grand Central and introduced us to the subway system. We learned Uptown from Downtown and then we were off to Nolita, the Village and ended up at the Bowery. We tasted knishes, had a great sandwich at Katz's Deli and saw one of the biggest candy stores ever! Because we have an interest in cooking Myrna took us from the 'basics' in groceries to Dean and DeLuca. On top of that we got to talk to a native New Yorker and learned a little about living in the 'city'."

Visitors from White Rock, B.C., Canada

We would love to hear what you have to say about your experience. Send photos of you with your greeter and a comment to eholmes@bigapplegreeter.org.

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Central Park. Photo Credit: Al Riggi

It was a chance encounter 20 years ago in Italy that inspired Gustavo Asto to become a Big Apple Greeter. "I was 19 years old and was on a bus in Rome when I needed help with directions," he says. Another passenger on the bus, who spoke no English, motioned to Gustavo and pointed out places to visit on a map. He then offered him food and gave him his headphones so he could hear some Italian music. As the man got off the bus, Gustavo offered him money but he wouldn't accept it. That 10-minute encounter did much to shape how Gustavo viewed his time in Rome. Twenty years later, he often thinks about the Italian man while showing visitors around New York City.

Gustavo lives in Chelsea and enjoys introducing visitors to the sights of his beloved neighborhood including the High Line, Chelsea Market and Union Square Park. Gustavo's visitors, like many, are often surprised by what they see. "They've often not heard of the High Line which gives them an amazing and different perspective of New York City."

Nearby, he takes visitors to see the current art installation in Madison Square Park; the Meat Packing District where celebrities are often seen; and the arch, fountains and performers in Washington Square Park. The parks provide outstanding people-watching, he observes.

We recently asked other Greeters to tell us about the places they most enjoy showing to visitors, especially in the fall. Here are just some of their recommendations of things to see and do:

"I love to visit the hotels in Midtown this time of year," says Sharon Messing. "They usually decorate for the season with flowers in the autumn colors. As you walk from one place to another the wonderful aroma of roasting chestnuts permeates the air. The Mandarin Oriental's 35th floor lobby affords a view of Central Park that is spectacular in the fall. They are usually very happy to allow visitors to photograph from the wall of windows."

Helen Lento says, "The Secret Garden in Central Park, at 105th Street and Fifth Avenue is one of the most beautiful spots in Manhattan. You hear very little about it."

"One of my favorite places to take visitors is the Bronx," says Margot Heuman. "I usually start with my neighborhood, Riverdale. Most visitors think of the Bronx as dangerous, dirty and a place where one would not want to live. Photos are taken of the beautiful private houses, Wave Hill, and most of the comments are 'nobody at home will believe that this is the Bronx.'"

Says Mary Alice Kellogg: "Halloween is Greenwich Village's national holiday, and the whole world comes to - and marches in - the colorful parade. But here's an insider tip: we citizens of the Village cherish the hours before the parade, when our neighborhood families go door-to-door trick or treating and it's a true Village event. The brownstone/storefront decorations are elaborate, fun and creative throughout the Village."

Linda LaValle recommends the Voelker Orth Museum in Queens, a charming 100+-year-old home that was inhabited by the same family for three generations and offers a glimpse into modest living in the year 1907 in Flushing. She adds, "Not far from us is a wonderful Hindu temple, that welcomes all and offers up home made Indian snacks in the canteen downstairs."

Barbara Rohdie says, "The Eldridge Street Synagogue on the Lower East Side has recently opened after a fabulous multi-million dollar restoration - stained glass windows, fascinating videos of the early days on the streets of this famous enclave and engaging docents." She adds, "It's a little tricky to find, but its Website will give you directions and list the guided tours which are an hour long and start every half hour."

Jean Papazian recommends taking a free ferry ride to see the foliage on Staten Island. She says, "The Greenbelt is alive with brilliant color, and coming soon will be our Fresh Kills Parks."

What are your favorite places to visit in New York City? E-mail us at volunteerdepartment@bigapplegreeter.org.

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