Queens Village, New York, April 30, 2011 – The anticipation was in the air, families gathered around the many tables enjoying an array of pasta and salads, and a projector along with a large screen awaited to tell the stories of impassioned youth. It is the first annual WOO Film Awards, the culmination of an annual innovative program created by nonprofit Windows of Opportunity. One would never know they were walking into the church basement at Hollis Woods Community Church, located on Bell Boulevard and 82nd Avenue, as the staff at Windows of Opportunity transformed this social space into part...


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Born and raised on Long Island, Shortstsack's "Host with most" is being honored as this years UNSUNG HERO award recipient. Though one of his greatest passions has always been with music, WBAB Radio Station's amazing voice has always lent himself out generously to sponsor and host many different fundraising events. Shortstack is extremely thankful that he has been with us from the very beginning but there are so many other charities that are just as grateful for his continuous support. Please join on on June 17th at the Shortstack Charity Fashion Show where we will honor a man who has become...


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by Holly Wilensky Queens Ledger Nov 22, 2010 This past Saturday was the first annual BQE Design Expo, featuring the talents of local designers! BQE Media, Windows of Opportunity (WOO, the outstanding not-for-profit organization for kids and teens) and yours truly hosted the event at Holliswoods Community Church in Queens Village. The purpose was to bring a network of local designers and creative small businesses together to support local creative talent as well as raise money for the WOO “Shortstack” modeling program. A full range of designers from all over the boroughs came, set up shop...


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by Sasha Hulse Cardozo Verdict March 2010 The first big fundraiser for Jayden Zapata, a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy who is awaiting a surgery which will give him a chance to walk, took place on Wednesday, March 3rd. The Open Mic event took place at the Producer’s Club, located at 358 W 44th Street. Hal Eisenberg and Mary O’Brien, former Cardozo SPARK counselors organized and hosted the event, with the help of seniors Matthew Pinchasick and Brandely Franco. Windows of Opportunity, a program run by Eisenberg, organized the performances, of mostly Cardozo students and alumni. SPARK...


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By Jessica Lyons The Queens Courier - Healthwise section June 2008 Windows of Opportunity (WOO), the Barbara Harmon Institute, is encouraging high school girls to believe in themselves while also raising money for charity through their Shortstack Program and 2nd Annual Charity Fashion Show. WOO was founded in 2002 and gained non-profit status in 2005. Its founder and Executive Director Hal Eisenberg had been working with parents and children in the community for many years. “From being active in the community and talking to families and parents, I started to get a feel that there were additional...


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By Gina Salamone Daily News Staff Writer Tuesday, May 5th 2009 Olivia Mignone Overcame Height Bias ...The 18-years-old from Queens dreamed of becoming a model since childhood. But at just 5' foot 1", she knew that wouldn't be easy. Instead of sitting around sulking, she started her own modeling agency for girls, donating money raised from shows to charity. "I've always wanted to model," Mignone shares. "I watch 'America's Next Top Model.' My freshman year of high school, when I was 14, I joined my high school charity fashion show. "My mom was friends with Hal Eisenberg who is the executive...


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September 2008 A&U Magazine June 20th, Flushing Town Hall in Queens, New York, was the setting for making a fashion statement – one that combined awareness about HIV/AIDS, eating disorders, and the power of teens to make a positive difference in the world. Members of the jazz trio, In Pure Thought, Shortstack’s second annual Charity Fashion Show saw its program’s models take to the runway in front of a packed house in order to raise funds for Windows of Opportunity’s HIV Empowerment & Leadership Program and “The Inner You” Program for Eating Disorders, a new addition to WOO’s...


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September 2007 A&U Magazine Pink and purple balloons anchored to benches on the Long Island campus of Adelphi University led the way to the first annual Shortstack Charity Fashion Show this past June. Attendees were greeted by three long tables of silent auction packages, from Morrissey concert tickets to airline tickets, as well as a LIFEbeat table sporting a fantasia of colorfully wrapped condoms. The runway set up in the University Center saw several walks, led off by the premiere of Sarah Jessica Parker’s fashion line, Bitten. J’Tor designs, by Joann, was another standout. Attendees...


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By Nathan Duke Thursday, April 2, 2009 1:22 PM EDT An 18 year old senior from Bayside’s Benjamin N. Cardozo High School said she is currently overseeing 18 teenage girls who do not fit the typical description of a fashion model, but will walk the runway at a Manhattan charity event this summer. Olivia Mignone, who lives in Bayside and attends Cardozo, founded Shortstack Modeling Agency in 2006 through the city-based Windows of Opportunity, a leadership development agency that empowers youth by allowing them to address issues with which they are struggling through the creation of community...


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