2014 was the final year that the Elias Foundation proudly supported Westchester-serving community organizations. We spent down the Westchester endowment with sustaining tie-off grants to core community-led organizations in Westchester County that are committed to the long-term pursuit of systemic change for social justice.
Community Governance & Development Council
Yonkers, NY $270,000
www.CGDCNY.org
This tie-off grant continued general support, provided strategic consulting and funded sustainability work for this community development organization. Elias supported CGDC 2012–2014.
Community Voices Heard
Yonkers, NY $155,000
www.cvhaction.org
This tie-off grant continued support for an outreach worker and a Spanish-speaking organizer organizing residents of Yonkers' low-income housing projects to advocate for their unmet needs. Elias supported CVH 2004–2014.
Grandpower Advocates / Family Service Society of Yonkers
Yonkers, NY $60,000
www.fssy.org
Support for this project from 2005–2014; Grandpower trains and supports older Yonkers residents who are caring for their dependent grandchildren and advocating for entitlement parity with non-relative caregivers.
Groundwork Hudson Valley
Yonkers, NY $20,000 General Operations
www.groundworkhv.org
This final grant supported Groundwork existing community development activities and helped to expand community outreach and advocacy training. Elias supported Groundwork 2005–2014.
Hudson Valley Community Coalition
Hudson Valley Area, NY $140,000
www.hvccoalition.net
This tie-off grant continued general support and sustainability of this organization building communities that foster social justice and cultural awareness, working with immigrants, emphasizing advocacy, leadership development and community organizing. Elias supported HVCC 2009–2014.
Hispanic Resource Center
Mamaroneck, NY $30,000
www.hrclm.org
A final grant in support of this organization building critical paths to economic and social development for immigrant workers and teaching basic organizational skills, community building, leadership and empowerment. Elias supported HRC 2004–2014.
Mt. Vernon United Tenants, Inc.
Mt. Vernon, NY $60,000
www.mvut.org
This final grant supports this community-based organization in building power for tenants of low or moderate income. Elias supported MVUT 2012–2014.
Neighbors Link
Mount Kisco, NY $20,000
www.neighborslink.org
This final grant supports an organization building critical paths to economic and social development for immigrant workers by teaching basic organizational skills, community building and empowerment. Elias’ annual grants spanned 2007–2014.
Parent Leadership Institute / Ossining Union Free School District
Ossining, NY $65,000
www.ossiningufsd.org
This is the eighth and final year Elias has supported the Parent Leadership Institute, an innovative program developed by the public school system, involving minority parents in the life of their children’s schools through service leadership and social justice organizing.
Steppin' Up Yonkers
Yonkers, NY $155,000
www.steppinupyonkers.org
This final grant continues support and sustainability for a project building partnerships among groups and individuals focusing on continuing empowerment of Yonkers’ communities. Elias supported this effort 2010–2014.
Steppin’ Up Student Advocacy Project
Yonkers, NY $10,000 General Operations
www.groundworkhv.org
This is the second year of a community-based grant to train a cadre of Yonkers parents in education rights and advocacy strategies on behalf of children against abusive school discipline practices.
Westchester Children's Association, Inc.
Mount Vernon and White Plains, NY $45,000
www.wca4kids.org
Elias has supported this County-wide organization for the past ten years - helping WCA to further its mission of improving the lives of Westchester’s children by shaping policies and programs to meet their needs, and by keeping the well-being of Westchester’s children at the top of the public agenda.
Westchester Hispanic Coalition
White Plains, NY $15,000 Civic Engagement
www.hispaniccoalition.org
This grant supported WHC’s civic engagement project and efforts to mobilize new Latin voters and increase the community’s awareness of the role immigrants can play in Westchester’s future.
Westchester United
Westchester County $35,000
www.westchester-united.org
This is the fourth and final year Elias has supported this growing interfaith network of congregations and other community organizations working to build a new power base that generates positive social change in the county.
WESPAC Foundation
White Plains, NY $130,000
www.wespac.org
This is the eighth and final year Elias has provided general operating funding supporting WESPAC’s continuing growth and efforts to promote development of young leaders, peace and justice activism locally.
WESPAC Foundation Food Justice Committee
White Plains, NY $160,000
www.wespac.org
This tie-off grant supports young organizers’ empowering community members concerned about food and farm worker justice. In conjunction with its farm, Elias also provided funds for a prison visiting program that links families of incarcerated persons with food justice and farming.
2014 Other Support
Community Design
Support to organizations to cover the cost of printed materials that were developed by community design students at SUNY Purchase College. Elias has been supporting organizations taking part in this program since 2008.