Applause roared from inside of the Colden Auditorium at Queens College during Richmond Hill High School graduation 2017.
Jay Sobhraj, Executive Vice-President of Zara Realty, just announced the names of two RHHS graduates who will be receiving a scholarship to study computer science at the college of their dreams.
Estrella Perez will be studying at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and Malik Assad will be studying at the New York Institute of Technology.
"We are so grateful to Zara for this opportunity," said Perez, who is passionate about computer science. "I will not let you down Mr. Sobhraj," Assad proclaimed, as photos were being taken of the two.
The relationship between Richmond Hill High School and Zara Realty began last year when Zara Realty donated a $125,000 computer lab to the school. The computer lab has been used by a plethora of students for everything from curriculum to extracurriculars.
“This is a model for building real community between the school and the private community,” Principal Neil Ganesh said. “We have future leaders in our program and we’re really excited about this new resource for us.”
Recently, Sobhraj and information technology specialist Naresh Singh returned to the school recently to see how the “seed turned into a plant with burgeoning fruit.” Not only have students been able to focus on their passion of computer science, but there has been a trickle down effect into the school’s robotics program.
They found that the computer lab helped Perez, Assad, and the rest of the robotics team focus on enhancing their computer science knowledge, engineering skills, and form a serious direction for their robotics team, Qubit. In just one year, the team has been able to achieve incredible success which includes building their own robot.
Sobhraj and Singh were so impressed with the focus and determination of the these RHHS students, that they decided to announce the plan to award two computer science college scholarships right then and there.
“I really want to give back,” said Jay Sobhraj. “Never forget where you come from and always give back to the community... that's what Zara is focused on.”
Richmond Hill High School offers several pathways, which include computer science and IT, art, criminology and forensics, business and engineering. As a supporter of computer science and IT, Zara Realty plans to grant one or two students with this opportunity each year.
"We are grateful to Mr. Sobhraj and Zara Realty for being an active community partner with their vision set on making a long term change," said RHHS Assistant Principal, Paul Wilbur.
Zara Luxury Homes, the innovative real estate holding company, provides quality homes in both Queens and Long Island. They have been serving the rental community for 36 years. Visit theirwebsite or call them at 718-291-3331 to inquire about their rental properties in Jamaica, Queens and Long Island.
When a pediatric practice outgrows its first location, that tells you something. It tells you families trust what’s happening inside those walls enough to keep coming back, enough to tell their neighbors, enough to fill an appointment book so consistently that expansion becomes the only logical next step. That’s exactly the story behind Healthy Kids Pediatrician, which built a devoted following in Fresh Meadows and has now planted a second flag in the heart of Flushing.
For families in one of Queens’ busiest and most diverse corridors, this isn’t just another medical office opening its doors. It’s a practice with a track record arriving closer to where thousands of young families already live, work, and send their kids to school.
What Fresh Meadows Taught Them
Healthy Kids Pediatrician didn’t expand on a hunch. The Fresh Meadows office became a go-to resource for families across northeastern Queens by doing something deceptively simple. They listened. Parents wanted same-day sick visits that didn’t require a half-day of waiting. They wanted a practice that could handle routine checkups and more specialized concerns under one roof. They wanted providers who spoke their language, sometimes literally, in a borough where dozens of languages are spoken at any given playground.
The Fresh Meadows location delivered on those expectations, and word traveled fast. Families in Flushing, Bayside, and surrounding neighborhoods started making the trip. At some point, the math was clear. Rather than asking Flushing families to come to them, Healthy Kids decided to meet those families where they are.
Shorter Commutes: Flushing families no longer need to schedule around a cross-neighborhood drive for routine or urgent pediatric visits.
Consistent Quality: The same clinical standards, bilingual staff, and family-first scheduling carry over from the original Fresh Meadows office.
Neighborhood Access: Located on Kissena Blvd, the new branch sits along one of Flushing’s most accessible corridors, near public transit and local schools.
Allergy Testing Without the Runaround
One service that helped put Healthy Kids on the map is their in-house allergy testing. Any parent who has tried to get a young child tested for allergies knows the usual drill. You visit your pediatrician, get a referral, wait weeks for a specialist appointment, then shuttle your child to an unfamiliar office across town. It’s exhausting for everyone involved, especially the kid.
Healthy Kids streamlined that process by bringing allergy testing directly into the pediatric visit. If a child is showing signs of seasonal allergies, food sensitivities, or environmental reactions, testing can happen right there. No separate referral loop, no second waiting room, no lost afternoons.
This matters especially in Queens, where environmental triggers vary block by block. Flushing’s dense urban landscape, proximity to major highways, and older housing stock all contribute to allergy profiles that differ from suburban communities just a few miles away. Having a provider who understands those local factors and can test on-site makes a real difference in how quickly a child gets relief.
Single-Visit Convenience: Allergy concerns are evaluated and tested during the same appointment, saving families a second trip.
Locally Informed Care: Providers factor in Queens-specific environmental triggers when assessing allergy symptoms.
Faster Answers: Results come back quickly, so treatment plans start sooner rather than stalling in a referral queue.
Telemedicine That Actually Works for Busy Parents
The pandemic forced almost every medical practice to experiment with virtual visits. Many dropped the effort once offices reopened. Healthy Kids kept it, and for good reason. Flushing is a neighborhood where both parents often work demanding hours, where childcare logistics are a daily puzzle, and where pulling a mildly sick child out of the house in January isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time.
Their telemedicine option covers follow-up consultations, minor illness assessments, and medication check-ins. It’s not a replacement for hands-on exams, and the practice doesn’t pretend otherwise. But for the kinds of visits that genuinely don’t require a stethoscope, a video call with a familiar provider beats dragging three kids onto the 7 train.
Vaccine Consultations Parents Can Trust
Few topics generate as many questions from new parents as vaccines. Healthy Kids approaches those conversations with patience rather than pressure. Their vaccine consultations walk families through recommended immunization schedules, explain what each vaccine protects against, and address concerns with straightforward medical evidence.
This is particularly valuable in a community as culturally diverse as Flushing, where families may arrive with different healthcare backgrounds and expectations. Having a provider who takes time to educate rather than simply administer builds the kind of trust that keeps families coming back year after year.
Personalized Schedules: Providers review each child’s history and discuss timing that aligns with medical guidelines and family comfort.
Open Dialogue: Questions are welcomed and answered with clear, evidence-based explanations rather than dismissive reassurances.
A Practice That Grows Where Families Need It
The new Flushing pediatrician office from Healthy Kids represents something bigger than a second location on a map. It reflects a practice paying attention to where demand is coming from and responding with real investment. Flushing families now have a pediatric home that offers allergy testing, telemedicine flexibility, vaccine guidance, and the kind of continuity that only comes from a practice already proven in the community next door.
Contributed by Dan Rose,A Senior Local Business Guide Specializing in Pediatric Care.
Your Family’s New Pediatric Home in Flushing
Healthy Kids Pediatrician is now seeing patients at their brand-new Flushing location, with the same trusted care that made their Fresh Meadows office a neighborhood favorite.
Visit us at https://healthykidsqueens.com to get the best care for your children.
