This will be the first community service of the newly established Sigma Lambda PEARLS Program, which is being piloted with a group of fifth grade students at P.S. 43 in the Bronx, NY.

Sigma Lambda Promoting Education, the Arts, our Roots, Leadership and Service is a mentorship program designed and geared toward girls ages 8 to 14 with the intention of instilling a sense of sisterhood, cultural pride, academic excellence and service to the community within its participants, through team-building activities and projects.

"Giving back to one's own community is an essential lesson that every child should learn in life. One of

the main tenets of our program is service, I believe that there is no better way to instill this concept then to have our PEARLS participate in NY Cares Day along with us," said Hermana Alina Ocasio, Vice President of Expansion.

The Hermanas and the Sigma Lambda PEARLS will join 3,500 volunteers at 35 parks and community gardens throughout New York City on this day, to plant flowers and shrubs, rake leaves, paint benches, mulch, weed, and clear litter. Their combined efforts will make New York City’s open spaces cleaner, greener, and ready for everyone to enjoy this summer.

New York Cares is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes more than 2,000 volunteers each month to serve on flexibly-scheduled, team-based projects that we coordinate in partnership with schools, social service agencies, and environmental groups.