Bronx, NY January 23 2004–Side Street Kids, Inc. one of the leading Latino Youth Development and Arts organizations in New York City, will be honoring Mr. Bill Aguado, Executive Director of the Bronx Council on the Arts and a recent recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award.

Mr. Aguado is being honored for his years of service to the Bronx arts community at large. The award ceremony will take place at Side Street Kids, Inc.’s Seventh Annual Black and White Ball Gala on Saturday, March 13, 2004

SSK, Inc.

is a 501 (c)(3) not for profit organization founded in 1996. Their mission is to empower youth with the necessary skills to understand and appreciate the importance of education, positive family interaction and cultural awareness through dance. Report Cards are collected on a regular basis with peer counseling and tutoring being an integral part of the SSK, Inc. formula for success. A formula that has catapulted SSK, Inc. graduates to higher completion rates than many secondary schools in NYC.

Dance sessions are devoted to promoting positive self-esteem, heightening cultural awareness, and building teamwork skills. Currently there are 200 children in the SSK, Inc. program.

Over 500 guests will be treated to an elegant evening, at the Eastwood Manor, which will include dinner, open bar and an exciting floorshow. As a special added attraction guests will dance the night away to the live sounds of Los Soneros del Barrio featuring Frankie Vasquez. Tickets for the evening are priced at $60*, in addition there will also be a commemorative journal printed for this event.

Proceeds of this gala will go towards the Side Street Kids Inc. Educational Fund, which provides scholarships towards college related expenses to graduating SSK. Currently SSK alumni that have benefited from this fund are attending the following institutions: Cornell University, Syracuse University, Penn State University, College of New Rochelle, C.W. Post, Queens College, Ithaca, Manhattanville, Utica, Binghamton, John Jay and various other colleges and universities.

*All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Contact:

Carlos Mendoza (917) 972-2368

sidestreetkids@hotmail.com

For more information on tickets to the Seventh Annual Black and White Ball, placing an ad in the commemorative Black and White Ball journal or Side Street Kids, Inc. please call 718.595.1000