United Way awards more than $200,000 in grants
United Way of Westchester and Putnam awarded 28 grants to local nonprofits totaling $210,000. The grants support the program and operational needs of organizations working to improve the quality of life of the underprivileged, marginalized, or ALICE (those employed but living paycheck-to-paycheck) populations in Westchester or Putnam Counties.
Over 100 proposals were submitted for consideration. The funding will support initiatives related to mental health, violence prevention, food insecurity, workforce development, access to quality education, and homelessness prevention.
“The United Way has a long tradition of working with and supporting the nonprofit community,” said Tom Gabriel, president and CEO of UWWP. “We are thrilled to invest in many wonderful nonprofits and their critical work. Through these community impact grants, we support their ongoing efforts to serve the 40% of our neighbors living in poverty or paycheck-to-paycheck.”
Brewster Cares, a nonprofit dedicated to caring for those in need in Brewster and the immediate surrounding communities, received a grant. The organization runs the only homeless shelter in Putnam County. The funding will be used toward the new building it purchased on North Main Street in Brewster, which expands the shelter’s services from seasonal to a year-round facility.
United Way also awarded funds to the Youth Shelter Program of Westchester as it acts as the fiscal agent of the violence prevention community coalition created in Mount Vernon in response to the April tragedy when a 16-year-old girl was stabbed to death after a celebratory parade in Mount Vernon. The funding will be used to train community leaders in mental health first aid, assist with the cost of community forums, and overall community solutions to violence interruption.
Yonkers YMCA will be using the grant it is receiving toward its community garden program, Through the Community Gardens Program an estimated 4,940 individuals learn new skills and concepts; improve the natural environment by planting gardens and shrubbery; harvest the food that nourishes them; beautify their neighborhoods and homes; and enhance their mental and social well-being by working together in affirmative, community-changing activities.
A complete list of the awardees is below.
$10,000 Grant Awardees:
Brewster Cares; CoveCare Center; El Centro Hispano, Inc; Family Ties of Westchester, Inc.; Feeding Westchester; Food Bank of the Hudson Valley; Greyston Foundation; Kool Nerd Foundation; Mount Vernon United Tenants; Pro Bono Partnership; Student Advocacy; Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc.; Youth Shelter Program of Westchester, Inc.; YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester
$5,000 Grant Awardees:
Caring for the Hungry & Homeless of Peekskill; Community Center of Northern Westchester; Hearts & Homes for Refugees; Hit a Home Run Against Drugs, Inc.; Latino U; Legal Services of the Hudson Valley; Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center; My Sisters’ Place, Inc.; Open Door Foundation; Second Chance Foods; Westchester Alphas Educational Foundation; Yes, She Can Inc.; YMCA of Yonkers Inc.; Yonkers Partners in Education
