Garden of Dreams Foundation and SCO Unveil Refurbished Gymnasium at Ottilie Residential Treatment Facility

Ribbon cutting ceremony included appearances from Knicks, Rangers and Liberty current and legendary players

The Garden of Dreams Foundation unveiled a completely refurbished gymnasium at the SCO Family of Services, Ottilie Residential Treatment Facility in Briarwood, Queens on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Both current players and legends from the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony, emceed by MSG Network’s Al Trautwig, to celebrate improvements made to the gym. The newly transformed two-story space, which is the Foundation’s largest community project to date, features a new scoreboard, wall padding and gym floor with Garden of Dreams, Knicks, Liberty and SCO Family of Services logos, as well as new vinyl tile flooring on the balcony level, new lighting throughout the gym upgraded Lexan windows to provide natural light. Additionally, the entire facility has been painted and Garden of Dreams has also provided equipment including basketballs, floor hockey sticks, nets and balls, volleyballs and has even outfitted the facilities’ basketball team with brand new uniforms.

The SCO Family of Services facility in Briarwood is a 24-hour residential campus for approximately 50 youth with severe emotional disturbances and mild developmental disabilities and the gym is the single location on campus that serves as a play area during school and non-school hours. The completed project, provided through a grant of nearly $230,000 by the Garden of Dreams Foundation, served as a kick off to “Garden of Dreams Week” and is a part of the Foundation’s Giving Program, which main goal is to provide vital resources and aid to Garden of Dreams partner organizations and their communities in the tri-state area, through targeted assistance for community improvement, program enhancement and educational opportunities.

Garden of Dreams works with MSG and MSG Networks to help children facing obstacles such as homelessness, extreme poverty, illness and foster care.  Since it began in 2006, the Foundation has used the magic of these two companies – which include the Rangers, Knicks, Liberty, Rockettes, famed showplaces and two sports and entertainment television networks – to brighten the lives of these deserving children.

SCO Family of Services helps vulnerable New Yorkers build a strong foundation for the future, getting young children off to a good start; launching youth into adulthood; stabilizing and strengthen families; and unlocking potential for children and adults with special needs. SCO has delivered human services in communities throughout New York City and Long Island for more than 100 years.