United Way of Northern Westchester Announces 2015 Local Grant Recipients

July 2015 – United Way of Northern Westchester is pleased to announce the 2015 Local Presence Program grants awarded to organizations across the northern Westchester region following the recommendations of Local Presence Committee members Nancy Gould (Chair), Susan Tansey and Randi J. Brosterman.

These modest grants awarded by United Way’s Local Presence program help fund local community-based human and health service organizations that do not currently receive United Way funding. Organizations that receive funding share with United Way the fundamental belief that education, income, and health are essential for a better life.

2015 Local Presence Grants were awarded to: The Preservation Company, A-HOME, New Beginnings of Westchester, Neighbors Link, Search for Change; Support Connection, and Hope’s Door.

Located in Peekskill, The Preservation Company works to increase access to housing for low and moderate-income households and contribute to community development and revitalization. This year’s grant will help to support some of the organization’s tenant services such as landlord/tenant mediation, legal referral services and financial education workshops.

Founded in 1985, A-HOME (Apropos Housing Opportunities and Management Enterprises Inc.) is a community-based organization that works to strengthen northern Westchester neighborhoods by providing safe and affordable places to live for low-income seniors, individuals with a disability and single parent families. The United Way grant will help subsidize camp scholarships for children ages 6 to 11 residing in A-HOME housing. Camp activities are important for children living in families headed by a single working parent. Without those activities, families would be hard-pressed to find daycare for their children during the summer months when school is closed.

New Beginnings of Westchester provides direct assistance to homeless families as they make the transition to permanent housing. Families receive important items to meet immediate household needs. This year’s local presence support will cover the cost of “start-up baskets” for five needy families. A typical basket costs $250 and contains such items as bed linens, food, towels, pots, pans, utensils, etc.

Located in Mount Kisco, Neighbors Link of Northern Westchester strengthens the whole community by actively enhancing the healthy integration of immigrants through comprehensive services and training such as classes in English as a second language, financial literacy and computer skills. In addition, the Family Center offers parent education, early childhood programs and academic enrichment. They run a professionally managed Worker Center which includes a hiring site and jobs bank. The 2015 United Way Local Presence funding will help support a curriculum-based job skills training program at the Worker Center.

Search for Change is dedicated to improving the quality of life and increasing the self-sufficiency of individuals with emotional, social and economic barriers throughout Westchester and Putnam. The organization provides residential and vocational services focused on individual choices, needs, interests and abilities. United Way funds will help support vocational services, such as employment and retention services, and specific skills training like computer basics and clerical competencies.

Located in Yorktown Heights, yet serving people throughout the country, Support Connection provides free emotional, social and educational support to women, their families and friends affected by breast and ovarian cancer. The organization works to enable women to help each other and empower them to become their own healthcare advocates. The 2015 Local Presence funds will support the agency’s peer-to-peer program, which provides individualized support from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, during recovery and for years after.

The mission of Hope’s Door is to end domestic violence and to empower victims to achieve safety, independence and healing from the trauma of abuse. The United Way grant will be used to support their “Next Step Economic Empowerment Program,” which was launched in 2014 and serves to foster the economic empowerment and self-sufficiency of domestic abuse survivors.

About the United Way of Westchester and Putnam

For over 50 years, United Way of Westchester and Putnam has operated with the fundamental belief that all people deserve a quality education, enough income to support a family, and opportunities for a healthy lifestyle. United Way works with agency partners, government, businesses and community leaders to solve problems that are too complex for any one entity alone. All contributions go toward improving the education, income, and health of the children, youth and families throughout Westchester and Putnam. United Way’s Hudson Valley Region 2-1-1, covering Westchester and Putnam as well as Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties, answers up to 500 calls and 1,000 online inquiries per day ranging from tax, heating, and mortgage questions to childcare, basic needs, natural disaster and crisis calls. United Way of Westchester and Putnam is at 336 Central Park Ave., White Plains, NY 10606. They can be reached at 914-997-6700 or by visiting www.uwwp.org. Follow United Way on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UnitedWayWP) and Twitter (@UnitedWayWP) for the latest news and updates.

Full resolution photos can be found at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/spy5wppjm1sjarv/AACe2xWTcVzYH8_17zw-PDjua?dl=0