Local sixth grader makes a difference thanks to his love for Bay Ridge

March 23, 2016 Jaime DeJesus

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/file photo

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There’s a Bay Ridge kid with a deep passion to improve his neighborhood in every aspect

Ambitious and intelligent, 11-year-old Preston Ferraiuolo may just be in the sixth grade at I.S. 187, the Christa McAuliffe School, but his contributions to the community have already been profound. From cleaning parks to helping feed the less fortunate, Ferraiuolo is dedicated to making a difference in the neighborhood despite his young age.

“During the annual Summer Stroll, a group of friends and I had a lemonade stand to raise money for Reaching-Out’s food pantry,” he said, citing the group called the Bay Ridge Lemonade Coalition. But, he stressed, “We don’t just do a lemonade stand. We do other things to benefit the community. I volunteer for the 68^th Precinct Community Council during National Night Out. I also helped clean up parks with Bay Ridge Cares.”

Just recently during a Community Board 10 meeting, the youngster who did a survey on benches at local parks, discussed their poor condition. “A lot of them are broken, damaged and dangerous. We are working with the Parks Department to have it fixed,” he said. “Kids and families should have a safe place to sit.”

Ferraiuolo’s attributes his motivation to help the Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights areas to his love of his hometown.

“I think it’s important to give back. One day, my kids will be a part of the community and we want it to be a great one as long as it can be,” he said. “We want to make the community a better place. I have no intention of leaving Bay Ridge and I want to make it my home. We’re a diverse community with lots of different people here.”

Although not even a high school student, Ferraiuolo has lofty goals that he appears well equipped to achieve.

“I want to be CEO and president of my own hotel chain. I’d love to have one in Bay Ridge and all over the world,” he said, citing his love for travel. “When I check into a hotel with my family, I do all the talking. You get to meet a lot of new people. I love traveling and experiencing new things.”

He’s already traveled to Europe, but wants to explore the states further. “This summer, I plan on going to Yellowstone,” he said. “I want to see my own country and its wonderful places.”

Ferraiuolo’s goals just don’t stop with hotels. “Hopefully one day, I could go into politics,” he said, noting he has a deep interest in the field. “It’s interesting. They’re the ones governing us and setting laws. If you have problem, you go to them and they help you.”

Ferraiuolo knows this from experience. “When my elementary school had no water because of the pipes, I had a meeting with [Councilmember Vincent] Gentile to get it fixed so we had running water,” he recalled.

This past February, Ferraiuolo attended a town hall at Fort Hamilton High School with Mayor Bill de Blasio and asked him why his school doesn’t have its own student government. “I’m happy that he came to Bay Ridge,” he said.

In turn, de Blasio appeared pleased with Ferraiuolo’s question. “I admire your poise and your intelligence,” he told the youth. “Student government is very important, and we will follow up with your school and see how we can fix that.”

Despite the lack of a student government, the young Bay Ridge resident has had a great experience at I.S. 187. “I love my school. My teachers are wonderful and you couldn’t get better than them,” he said.

Along with being a stellar student and giving back to the community, Ferraiuolo finds time to be a part of the debate team and an altar server at St. Patrick’s Church, and also plays baseball.

With aspirations to attend Princeton University, the future for this Bay Ridge resident is bright. “My parents are proud, but I always want to do more,” he said.