Providing Safe, Stable Housing

Options for Community Living, Inc. recently received a $25,000 grant through Newsday Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund. This award will support Options housing program for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. A total of $475,000 was distributed to 12 nonprofit organizations on Long Island through Newsday Charities in this grant cycle.

Options operates more than 60 units of supportive housing scattered across Long Island. These homes provide safe, affordable housing with supportive case management services for people who were formerly homeless or inadequately housed.

“Everyone needs safe, stable housing,” said Yolanda Robano-Gross, executive director, Options for Community Living, Inc. “For our most vulnerable residents, — people with mental illness or chronic health conditions like HIV/AIDS — a home helps them to get treatment and start on the path toward recovery. As a philanthropic leader in the community, Newsday Charities has always provided assistance to the neediest Long Islanders and we are thankful for this generous award”

About Options for Community Living, Inc.

Established in 1982, Options for Community Living, Inc. operates residential programs for adults recovering from mental illness and affordable supportive housing and care coordination services for individuals and families with chronic health conditions. Options’ mission to assist people to live independently and with dignity in the community has grown through the years to serve more than 1,500 adults and children annually. For more information, call 631.361.9020 or visit Options’ website at www.optionscl.org.

About Newsday Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund

In 2000, Newsday expanded its long-term support of helping those in need on Long Island and partnered with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation to establish Newsday Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund. With the generous support of Newsday readers, the general public and corporate donors, grants are made to local qualified nonprofit organizations with programs that concentrate on housing, hunger, child abuse prevention & treatment and child/youth education. All donations are matched 50 cents on the dollar by the McCormick Foundation. Newsday and the foundation pay all expenses, ensuring that 100 percent of the money raised, plus the match, goes directly to support programs for Long Islanders in need. Since inception, more than $15 million has been distributed to make a positive impact in the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children and families on Long Island. To learn more about Newsday Charities visit http://donate.mccormickfoundation.org/newsdaycharities

About the Robert R. McCormick Foundation

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic programs, Cantigny Park and museums, the Foundation helps develop citizen leaders and works to make life better in our communities. The Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The McCormick Foundation is one of the nation’s largest foundations, with more than $1.5 billion in assets.

The McCormick Foundation’s Communities program continues Col. McCormick’s legacy by partnering with media outlets – such as Newsday, sports teams and philanthropic organizations across the country – to raise money and provide matching dollars which increase the impact of charitable giving. To learn more about the McCormick Foundation, visit www.McCormickFoundation.org, Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.

Photo left to right: Newsday Co-Publishers Debby Krenek and Edward Bushey, Options Board of Directors President Jody Burke, Newsday Community Affairs Project Manager Dale Cole, Options Development Director Denise Waterhouse, and Newsday VP Public Affairs Paul Fleishman.