Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle Celebrates Success of PepsiCo-Funded Health, Environmental Education and Community Programs

Three-week initiative Teaches Youths in Grades 3 to 5 About Gardening, Cooking and Watching Caterpillars Transform into Butterflies.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Aug. 31, 2026 – The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle has marked the successful completion of a series of programs funded through a PepsiCo grant initiative that transformed youngsters into cooks, gardeners and biologists, while developing healthy habits, community connections and an appreciation of where food really comes from.

Over three weeks, students in grades 3 to 5 engaged in three hands-on workshops: healthy cooking sessions, garden education at grow! Eat and a butterfly life cycle program.

“Together, these three programs formed a cohesive learning experience,” said Becky Mazzanobile, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle. “The young participants explored how fresh food is grown, learned about the pollinators that make that growth possible and then prepared and enjoyed nutritious meals using fresh ingredients. We are grateful to PepsiCo for the generous support that made this program possible and helped foster the growth of these students with hands-on experiences they will never forget.”

At the Remington Clubhouse, participants took part in a three-week Healthy Cooking Workshop series led by Chef Georges Aines of the Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe University, which partners with the Club’s culinary program. Each week, the young apprentice chefs prepared a new healthy dish: fresh fruit smoothies, vegetable kebabs and veggie wraps, all made from scratch.

Participants learned kitchen safety, proper hygiene and food preparation, safe knife skills and basic cooking as they completed all the food preparation themselves, then sat down to enjoy the meals they created. Each child received a chef hat and apron to wear during the workshops and to keep afterward as a memento of the experience.

“The children had a wonderful time and learned the satisfaction of creating their own healthy, delicious meals,” said Yolanda Roberson, Director of the Remington Clubhouse. “The strong interest in the program shows just how much demand there is for opportunities like this, and we hope to offer similar programs again.”

Just next door to the Club, the youngsters engaged in garden education workshops at the Lincoln Park Conservancy and its grow! Lincoln Park Community Garden, a 10,000-square-foot urban farm.

Through the conservancy’s grow! Eat program, participants learned about this history as well as the fundamentals of gardening, the anatomy of a seed and what plants need to thrive: healthy soil, sunlight, water and a chemical-free environment. They observed vegetables at different stages of growth, watered crops and learned proper harvesting techniques. Each participant received a gardening toolkit and took home herbs and fresh produce along the way.

In one especially meaningful activity, the young participants harvested vegetables and gave them to neighborhood families visiting the park, connecting lessons on nutrition and sustainable agriculture to a firsthand understanding of food insecurity and community service.

“At grow! Eat, we’re not simply growing food, we’re making sure fresh produce reaches the families who need it,” said Linda Tarrant-Reid, founder and executive director of the Lincoln Park Conservancy. “We wanted these young people to understand that food doesn’t just come from a store, that growing it yourself is possible and empowering, and that they can play an active role in building healthier, more sustainable communities.”

Rounding out the initiative, the Club’s Keystone Teen members led younger participants through a hands-on Butterfly Life Cycle Program, guiding them through a structured curriculum on the phases of a butterfly’s life, pollination, and the vital role butterflies play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Participants cared for live caterpillars from arrival through the chrysalis stage, documenting their development. In the final week, the caterpillars completed their transformation into beautiful butterflies, and participants released them into the garden near grow! Eat.

“Learning about butterflies was fun, and I enjoyed myself,” said Trevell R., a sixth-grade youth participant. “The teens presenting were nice and hands-on.”

Together, the three PepsiCo-funded programs gave Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle members a well-rounded educational experience that encouraged curiosity, healthy habits, environmental stewardship and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

For 96 years, Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle has been an integral part of the community, offering quality, achievement-driven programming encompassing academics, mental wellness, fitness, leadership and civics. Today, it is one of Westchester County’s largest nonprofits and a leader in youth development, serving over 12,100 youths annually at 12 school sites and two clubhouses.

Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle’s impactful before-school, after-school, elective, and summer offerings empower members to excel in school, become good citizens, and lead healthy, productive lives while effectively bridging the gap between school and home. Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle is proud to be affiliated with Boys & Girls Club of America, widely considered as both the leading youth organization and among the top nonprofits in the United States. Learn more at BGCNR.org.