The B’nai B’rith Gideon Foundation recently held a grant award reception to celebrate the recipients of their newest round of grants.
More than 40 nonprofit leaders, B’nai B’rith board members, and friends gathered on January 9, 2018, at the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. At the invitation-only reception, B’nai B’rith Gideon Foundation board members met grantees and formally celebrated awarding more than $208,000 in their most recent round of grant awards.
Since beginning grantmaking in 2016, the B’nai B’rith Gideon Foundation has awarded nearly $700,000 in grants to Capital Region nonprofit organizations to support low-income rental housing and/or related social and recreational facilities and programs for low-income families and elderly individuals, and persons with disabilities.
“Since beginning our grantmaking, we’ve learned so much about the needs in the Capital Region,” said David Hollander, President, B’nai B’rith Gideon Foundation Board of Directors. “Reviewing grant applications and awarding funds has shown us that issues affecting seniors, homeless youth and families, people with chronic diseases or disabilities, and others are widespread throughout our region. We are proud to support the nonprofits that are doing such incredible work, and we look forward to supporting our community for many years to come.”
“The Community Foundation is honored to work with the B’nai B’rith Gideon Foundation,” said Jackie Mahoney, Executive Vice President for the Community Foundation. “The Foundation has one overarching goal: to strengthen the greater Capital Region through philanthropy. Working with organizations like the B’nai B’rith Gideon Foundation to award grants to nonprofits helps us to achieve that goal, all while making our community a better place for some of our most vulnerable residents.”
PROGRAMS RECEIVING FUNDING:
- Albany Housing Coalition: $20,000 for intensive case management services for formerly homeless veterans.
- Chabad at Union College: $5,000 for “Shabbat to Share – Challah with Love,” through which Union College students bring challah and good cheer each week to senior residents of Schenectady B’nai B’rith.
- Chabad Lubavitch of Saratoga County: $2,500 for “Taste of Tradition,” which provides kosher Shabbat meals and seasonal holiday packages to families in need in Saratoga County.
- Daughters of Sarah Housing Company: $25,000 for the Massry Scholarship Fund.
- Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County: $5,000 for community outreach and family support services.
- Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless: $20,000 for supportive services and case management for formerly homeless individuals and families.
- Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York: $5,000 for wellness, social, and community engagement programming for residents of Ohav Shalom Senior Apartments.
- Sanctuary for Independent Media/Media Alliance: $5,000 for recreational and educational summer programming for children from low-income families.
- Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York: $20,000 for the BackPack program, which provides children from low-income households living in rental facilities with healthy, tasty meals and snacks for weekends and school vacations.
- Robert and Dorothy Ludwig JCC of Schenectady: $25,000 for LEV: Learning, Enrichment and Volunteering for B’nai B’rith residents. Funding will be used for equipment and educational, social, volunteering, and community programs for Schenectady B’nai B’rith residents and people with disabilities in Schenectady County.
- Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center: $25,000 for much-needed facility improvements for the Senior Adult Services Center.
- United Tenants of Albany: $20,000 for the Homeless Prevention Program. Funds will provide emergency rental assistance for low-income residents at risk of eviction, as well as housing counseling, case management, budget counseling, tenants’ rights information, mediation services, and more.
- Warriors on Wheels: $5,000 for free or low-cost rehabilitative fitness training for Capital Region residents with disabilities.
- YWCA of the Greater Capital Region: $16,000 for a Housing Intake Coordinator. This individual will help coordinate supportive services and collect housing histories for formerly homeless individuals and families.