Englewood Community Chest Awards $161K To Help Children, Seniors And Others

The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization serving eastern Bergen County, awarded $161,500 in annual grants to 23 agencies and The Harriet Tanner Impact Grant. The philanthropic organization allocated $200,000 for grant awards during 2017-2018.

Founded in 1933, The Community Chest supports local nonprofit organizations serving people in need. This year's grant recipients provide services to meet peoples' needs of all ages in these categories: children (34%), aging/seniors (18%), women (14%), health (13%), mental health (12%), hunger (6%), and volunteers (4%).

Recipients

The 2017-2018 grant recipients are: ArtWorks-The Naomi Cohain Foundation, Bergen Family Center, Bergen Performing Arts Center, Bergen Volunteer Center, Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Calvary Cares Community Development Corporation, Center for Food Action, The Center for Hope and Safety, Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Flat Rock Brook Nature Association, Friends of John T. Wright Arena, JCC Thurnauer School of Music, Office of Concern Food Pantry, Planned Parenthood of Central & Greater North Jersey, Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living, St. Paul's Afterschool Choir Program, Tenafly Nature Center, Vantage Health System, West Side Infant and Teen Parent Program, Women's Rights Information Center, YWCA of Bergen County, and Visiting Homemaker Bergen County.

Harriet Tanner Impact Grant

The Harriet Tanner Impact Grant was awarded earlier for 2016-2017 to the Office of Concern Food Pantry in Englewood. The funds completed an ambitious project to build an extension between the agency's office and its warehouse. The extension provides additional space and greater efficiency for the pantry's mission to provide food the needy.

Throughout the year, other awards are provided to support programs helping people in need during the holiday season and to meet requests for small projects. During this fiscal year, The Chest awarded $5,000 in annual holiday grants. These awards will be made again in the fall of 2017. Grant awards, totaling $8,500, for special requests to support small projects continue to be made.

With a mission to strengthen the community through partnership, leadership and philanthropy, The Community Chest awarded the grants to local nonprofits through a competitive process managed by the organization's Allocations Committee and approved by the Board of Managers. During the year, funds were raised through an annual campaign, events and activities to address pressing issues in the area.

Requests Exceed Funds Available

The Chest's grant awards service approximately 50,000 people annually. "The Community Chest works to lead initiatives and support nonprofits strengthening our communities and assisting people in need in eastern Bergen County. The needs persist and are evident from the increase in total requests and applicants for annual grants, $306,133, received from 26 agencies. Our goal is to fulfill, as much as possible, an agency's request. With the requests for support outpacing the amount raised, we want to meet these needs with the community's continued generosity," said Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, Executive Director.

For further information about The Chest or to make a contribution, visit the organization's web site or contact (201) 568-7474. Stay updated about the organization's activities on Facebook and Twitter.

Photos.

1) Bergen Family Center, one of The Community Chest's grant recipients,
provides services to seniors and children. Photo Credit: Bergen Family
Center

2) The Office of Concern received The Harriet Tanner Impact Grant