Washington Heights Dominican Women's Center Gets $2,500 Grant

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Marisol Martinez has volunteered at the Dominican Women's Development Center (DWDC) in Washington Heights for most of her life. On Monday, Spectrum, the company that Martinez works for, announced that it sent a grant to the Upper Manhattan organization based on that long history of volunteer work.

Spectrum awarded a $2,500 grant to the DWDC as part of its national philanthropic program, Spectrum Employee Community Grants.

The money was used to help the DWDC distribute holiday food baskets to families in need.

The Dominican Women's Development Center is located at 519 West 189th Street and focuses on the empowerment of Latin women, the transformation of gender inequality, and the promotion of social justice.

"We are very happy to be able to bring food to our families for their holiday meals during these very challenging times when food insecurity has become one of the major problems affecting our community," said Rosita Romera, executive director of the Dominican Women's Development Center, in a news release.

The Spectrum Employee Community Grants program provided funding in 2019 to 140 local nonprofits in 24 states throughout the country.

For Martinez, the importance of giving back to communities is something she learned first hand growing up in Washington Heights.

"I'm grateful to be a part of the Spectrum Employee Community Grant program to support communities through local nonprofits such as the Dominican Women's Development Center, an organization that is close to my heart," Martinez said in a news release. "Growing up in Washington Heights, I saw firsthand and understood the importance of giving back. With the holidays approaching, I'm very happy to see the grant boost the DWDC's COVID-relief fund to help local families in need."

You can find out more about the Dominican Women's Development Center on its website.