At Showing Hearts Foundation, our mantra is simple: #ItsBecauseWeCare. We don’t just say it; we show it by rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands in the soil.
Recently, we brought that care to the Daniel O’Connell Playground in St. Albans, Queens, for a day of restoration, pride, and purpose. Through the Beautification Project 2025, we transformed a vital community space into a vibrant garden of hope.
Watch the video:
A Day of Restoration and Unity
The energy in St. Albans was electric as dozens of neighbors, local youth, and volunteers united to breathe new life into our park. The day was a true hands-on effort:
- Planting with Purpose: Volunteers planted a variety of beautiful flowers and greenery to add immediate value and beauty to the space.
- Restoring Shared Spaces: We cleaned play areas and “touched up” well-loved benches and gates with fresh coats of black and green paint.
- Celebrating Community: After the work was done, the positivity spurred a community lunch followed by music and dancing.
As Executive Director Denise Dixon noted, “Part of preserving our community is adding value… sometimes it means just physically showing up so that the community sees that someone cares”.
Collaboration is Our Foundation
Nothing we do happens in a vacuum. Our founder, David Tanis, envisioned a “co-working” community where nonprofits, officials, and neighbors work in tandem. This vision was on full display through our incredible partners:
- URW (Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield): Joshua Mandel and his team of 10 volunteers from JFK Terminal 8 joined us to give back to the Queens community they serve every day.
- Legislative Support: We were honored to have Assembly Member Clyde Vanel and representatives from the New York State Senator’s office digging in the dirt alongside us. Assembly Member Vanel reminded us that these projects provide a necessary space for both our youth and our seniors to enjoy nature and beauty.
More Than Just a Park: Our Three Pillars
While we were painting and planting, Deputy Executive Director Renee—who started her journey with us as a Youthpreneur program winner—explained how this event fits into our broader mission:
- Heart for the Community: Physical restoration and beautification of the spaces we call home.
- Non-profit Helping: Providing resources and collaboration through The Hub.
- Youth Economic Development: Empowering the next generation through initiatives like our Youthpreneur Summit.
From Participants to Leaders
The most rewarding part of the day was seeing our mission come full circle. Both Renee and volunteer Crystal first joined Showing Hearts as participants in our youth programs. Today, they are leading the charge, proving that “a little bit helps a little bit, and goes a long way”.
Join the Movement
Our impact is growing. To date, we have partnered with 15 community stakeholders to influence over 5,200 lives across 25 neighborhoods. But there is more work to be done.
Together, we can change the world.
- Partner with us: Whether you’re a local official or a fellow nonprofit, visit The Hub to see how we can collaborate.
- Volunteer: Join us for our next neighborhood project and help us reach our next 5,000 lives.
- Support: Your donations directly fund the flowers, paint, and programs that uplift our community.
Follow the journey: Check out #ItsBecauseWeCare on Instagram and Facebook for more updates on the Beautification Project 2025.