The Staten Island Foundation Announces Five Major Grants through its Nonprofit Recovery Fund
The Staten Island Foundation has made five substantial grants – ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 – from its Nonprofit Recovery Fund (SIFNP). The grants have been awarded to: Richmond Senior Services, the Staten Island YMCA, the Jewish Community Center of SI, Community Health Action of SI and the Staten Island Mental Health Society. The SIFNP Recovery Fund was created to support the Island’s nonprofit organizations as they work to relieve the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. Key support to this fund was provided by the American Red Cross which donated $1 million to expand services to Staten Islanders affected by the disaster.
“These funds will help Staten Islanders with some of the long-term challenges created by the storm” explained Betsy Dubovsky, executive director of The Staten Island Foundation. “While many families are still dealing with significant repairs that will allow them to return safely to their homes, others are battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), an increase in substance abuse rates or disruptions to their healthcare treatments. Some children are behind academically due to the emotional toll the storm took on them and their families.”
- The grant to Richmond Senior Services will benefit 20 households with home repair needs.
- The Staten Island YMCA will provide tutoring and counseling to 100 children.
- The Jewish Community Center will provide service to 300 individuals suffering with PTSD symptoms and give support to their families.
- Community Health Action of SI will provide benefits counseling, health services and referrals for 350 individuals using their mobile health unit as a base.
- Staten Island Mental Health Society will provide coaches for Sandy affected youth at high risk for substance abuse to help them move towards positive goals and learn job readiness skills.
Josh Lockwood, CEO, Red Cross Greater New York Region, said: “The Red Cross is proud to partner with these Community initiatives through The Staten Island Foundation. They will provide on-the-ground recovery for Sandy survivors throughout the borough.”
“People have just not been taking proper care of themselves” explained Kevin Keeley, Nurse Manager aboard the Community Health Action of Staten Island mobile unit as it sat parked opposite the Midland Avenue Relief Center earlier this week. “We’re seeing chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension going untreated because people are just so distracted by dealing with rebuilding their homes or trying to get back to work. They are not making the time for regular health check-ups. It helps that we can bring the mobile unit right into the worse affected neighborhoods but we can see how badly our patients are affected by the stress of all the uncertainty and upheaval.”
Brenda Stramock, Project Coordinator for the Sandy Resource Center, a program run by Richmond Senior Services in the New Dorp area, helps residents register on-line with programs such as Build it Back. “It’s much quicker to apply on-line” she explains. “So I encourage our clients to do that — and to let me keep a copy of their paperwork so that it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle! Still there is a lot of coordination involved in matching peoples’ needs up with volunteers’ skill levels and finding donated or low-cost materials to do the repair work that’s needed. There are always a lot of gaps to plug so this grant will be a godsend.”
Kevin Keeley, Nurse Manager of the CHASI mobile unit takes a client’s blood pressure.
(Photo by Bill Higgins)
Brenda Stramock, Project Coordinator, shows Bill Sorensen, 81, of Graniteville how to use the computer at the Sandy Resource Center, New Dorp. (Photo by Bill Higgins)
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About The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossNY.About The Staten Island Foundation
Since its founding in 1997, The Staten Island Foundation has granted over $50 million to local organizations for the benefit of Staten Island residents in the areas of education; health and human services; and the arts. The Foundation has supported 60 local elementary schools through its Children’s Literacy Program by providing professional development for teachers. It is a major funder of The Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness Tackling Youth Substance Abuse initiative. For information visit the Foundation’s website.