FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Erin Clarke, erin@anatgerstein.com, (347) 831-1096
(The Bronx, N.Y.) The Bronx Community Foundation (BxCF), the first and only community foundation in The Bronx dedicated solely to delivering resources to the entire borough, today announced awardees of its latest participatory grantmaking round, a $350,000 investment in nonprofits investing in eradicating inequity and building sustainable futures for Bronxites.
With this grantmaking round completed, The Bronx Community Foundation has provided a total of more than $650,000 over 12 months. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $10 million in grants and resources to grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and small businesses in The Bronx. This announcement comes after the foundation s three-month long community engagement process, where the organization met with more than 1,000 Bronxites and over a dozen nonprofit organizations to discuss how to invest in the future of the Bronx.
A committee made up of leaders and staff from the Bronx nonprofit community, chose 14 organizations from a competitive pool of more than 140 applicants in the categories of Community, Education, Digital Equity, Health, Equity & Justice to fund. Each organization will receive a $25,000 grant to advance their work in the Bronx community.
The 2023 grant recipients are:
Astor Services, Bethel Hamliri, Inc., The Hope Program, The Bronx Land Trust, Homeless Remedies Inc., A Fair Shake for Youth, Inc., Throughline Learning, Sapna NYC, Bronx Community College Foundation, The Point CDC, Justice Innovation Inc., New Settlement, Part of the Solution (POTS) and St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction.
“We are so proud to support these outstanding nonprofit organizations who are working to create lasting solutions to solve systemic challenges in the Bronx, a borough that is often left behind,” said Dr. Meisha Porter, President and CEO of The Bronx Community Foundation. We look forward to seeing the things they can accomplish through this partnership.
The foundation conducts its grantmaking through a participatory framework that ensures the process is equitable and inclusive. Guidance for grantmaking comes from our participatory grantmaking committee which has equal power in the review process and decision-making, with a goal of solving systemic challenges and creating lasting solutions. The foundation released an open call for funding requests to the Bronx community in the fall of 2023 and received responses from more than 140 organizations, a response rate that highlights the need for a community foundation that supports the borough s nonprofit sector.
Specifically, the participatory grantmaking awards will support work in the following areas:
Community Grantees
● Astor Services Trauma Recovery Center provides trauma treatment to immigrant children and their families.
● Operational capacity to support the health and nutrition program for Bethel Hamliri, Inc. and their Healthy Street NYC initiative that provides fresh food, and packing supplies.
● The launching of a JOBS program run by Homeless Remedies Inc. and a mobile program providing essential items, meals, and referrals to the unsheltered.
● Construction of a greenhouse by The Bronx Land Trust, to expand educational classes for young people, and support 13 Bronx community gardens with supplies and equipment.
● General and green construction training, materials and certification for hard skill training for the Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) program, offered by The Hope Program
Education and Digital Equity Grantees
● Canine therapy programming for middle school youth to build greater empathy and self-esteem. Grant funds to support instructors, volunteer recruitment, training, transport to schools, insurance, and program materials for A Fair Shake for Youth, Inc.
● The 18-week CUNY Start program run by Bronx Community College Foundation, providing English, Math, and College Success Skills preparation to help students meet their developmental skills requirements.
● Culturally and linguistically appropriate digital literacy and training programs and classes offered by Sapna NYC.
● The integration of solar energy at The Point CDC to enhance its Hunts Point Community Network (HPCN) and train students to become digital stewards.
● Collaboration, co-design, and planning of a new parent-tutor model that provides leadership training and teaching skills to parents and caregivers who want to be literacy tutors through Throughline Learning.
Health Grantees
● Food Support Program addressing food insecurity through a food pantry and community dining room run by Part of the Solution (POTS).
● The La Cueva Food Program is providing culturally competent meals run by St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction.
Equity & Justice Grantees
● The Bronx Child Trauma Support (BCTS) provides free evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions for both children and teens run by The Center for Justice Innovation
● Bronx Borough Equity and Access Team (Bronx BEAT), a borough-wide campaign and organizing project to build equity, inclusivity, and parent power in Bronx Public Schools run by New Settlement.
About The Bronx Community Foundation
The Bronx Community Foundation (BxCF) is the first and only community foundation in The Bronx, solely dedicated to delivering resources to the entire borough. BxCF supports and invests in community power to eradicate inequity and build sustainable futures for all Bronxites. BxCF s vision is to build community power and generational wealth across the Bronx to harness the energies of many community partners to identify problems and co-create solutions.