I’M RUNNING THE 2023 NYC MARATHON FOR
P.S. 347, THE ASL & ENGLISH LOWER SCHOOL!
P.S. 347 is an official charity partner for the TCS NYC 2023 Marathon.
I’m raising $2,950 for the school. Please help me meet my goal!
ROBERT CASTELLANO
CODA, Son of PS 347 Alum
Hi Everyone! I am very excited to share with you that I am an official member of the PS 347 2023 NYC Marathon Team for the 2023 TCS NYC Marathon! After years of running, I finally completed my first marathon — in Disney World — back in January. With one item off my bucket list I decided this was the year to pursue NYC, which has always been at the top of my running bucket list. And I am honored to be running this year’s race on behalf of PS 347.
PS 347 is a wonderful dual language school dedicated to bringing together the Deaf and hearing communities in New York City. Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and CODA children from all boroughs attend the American Sign Language and English Lower School for the least restrictive environment for these students in the NYC system. Environments like these are invaluable to children growing up in the Deaf community — and that includes my dad, who was once a student here (a longgg time ago)!
As a Child of Deaf Adults, I have long appreciated the bridge between the Deaf and hearing communities that places like this can create. However, through my mom, who is at another school for the Deaf, and my wife, also a public school teacher, I know first-hand that public schools are perpetually underfunded. By joining Team PS 347, I have pledged to achieve a fundraising goal (which I hope to greatly exceed!) furthering their mission to be that bridge as well as support Deaf culture and ASL for many generations to come. I am asking that if you are able, please support me in my fundraising efforts as I take on this challenge. (Note: Ask for corporate matching for your gift, too! All contributions are tax-deductible.)
Thank you all for whatever support you can provide — financial, emotional, or otherwise. I am truly grateful.
The PS347 mission is to provide a bilingual education that values American Sign Language and Deaf culture and to help bridge the Deaf and hearing communities in New York City.
P.S. 347, The American Sign Language & English Lower School, is a PreK-to-8 public school in NYC serving d/Deaf, hard-of-hearing (D/HOH), CODA (children of deaf adults), and hearing students. We are a non-zoned mainstream school centrally located in Manhattan.
Our families come from all over NYC to be a part of this special place - a place where hearing differences are the norm, and everyone feels like they truly belong. We are on a quest to become the most inclusive school for the Deaf community, and strive to create a new generation of hearing allies and advocates.
P.S. 347 is able to do all we do thanks solely to the resourcefulness and dedication of our staff, parents, and our community. We work hard for every penny we raise, and we rely on grants and the generosity of those who are able to contribute. Thank you for your support!
P.S. 347 gives its students strong academic support and many amazing opportunities, from garden residencies to theater collaborations. But these don’t come easy. While many other public schools in our district are able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, the P.S. 347 community cannot. The unfortunate reality is that the majority of our families live in poverty. Many of our students experience daily food insecurity and live in the shelter system. Thus our school does more than just provide an education; we help fulfill basic needs so that these children can simply make it to school everyday.
