In 2012 the Elias Foundation was proud to support the Westchester-serving community organizations below. We continued to fund core community-led organizations in Westchester County that are committed to the long-term pursuit of systemic change for social justice; short-term, small seed grants; as well as fundraising training and program support for the community.
Black/Brown Dialogue
Yonkers, NY $5,000
This grant supports work to establish and sustain an alliance between African American and Latino neighbors in Yonkers. This is the second year Elias has supported this effort.
Community Governance & Development Council
Yonkers, NY $26,000
www.FreeSchool19.com
A new grant that supports the organizing of quarterly Community Congress Assemblies, initiation of the Free School 19 campaign to renovate an abandoned school for mix-use community purposes, and the development of a community leadership training program.
Community Voices Heard
Yonkers, NY $25,000
www.cvhaction.org
This general support grant continued support for an outreach worker to organize residents of Yonkers' low-income housing projects to advocate for their unmet needs. Annual grant since 2004.
Grandpower Advocates / Family Service Society of Yonkers
Yonkers, NY $10,000
www.fssy.org
Support for this project began in 2005; Grandpower trains and supports older Yonkers residents, who are caring for their dependent grandchildren, to advocate for entitlement parity with non-relative caregivers.
Groundwork Hudson Valley
Yonkers, NY $20,000
www.groundworkhv.org
This general operating grant supports Groundwork to continue existing community development activities and to expand community outreach and advocacy training. Elias has supported Groundwork since 2005.
Hudson Valley Community Coalition
Hudson Valley Area, NY $25,000
www.hvccoalition.net
This general operating grant supports this organization build communities that foster social justice and cultural awareness, working with immigrants, emphasizing advocacy, leadership development and community organizing. Elias has supported HVCC since 2009.
National Day Laborer Organizing Network
$2,900
www.ndlon.org
This grant supported Westchester delegates to attend the 2012 convention.
Neighbors Link
Mount Kisco, NY $20,000
www.neighborslink.org
This general operations grant supports building critical paths to economic and social development for immigrant workers by teaching basic organizational skills, community building and empowerment. Elias has given an annual grant since 2007.
Parent Leadership Institute / Ossining Union Free School District
Ossining, NY $25,000
www.ossiningufsd.org
This is the sixth year Elias has given a grant for 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 $10,000
www.groundworkhv.org
This grant continues support for a project to build partnerships among groups and individuals working on problems that negatively affect progress in Yonkers’ communities. Elias has supported this effort since 2010.
SUNY Purchase
Purchase, NY $1,000
www.purchase.edu
Support for travel to the action in Albany on March 5th, demanding that our elected officials recognize that education is a RIGHT not a privilege.
Steppin’ Up Student Advocacy Project
Yonkers, NY $10,000
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.
United Community Center of Westchester
New Rochelle, NY $5,000
www.ayudandovidas.org
A grant to cover travel costs for members of the United Community Center of Westchester to attend the National Day Laborer Convention, February 19-23 in Los Angeles.
Westchester Children's Association, Inc.
Mount Vernon and White Plains, NY $15,000
www.wca4kids.org
This is the eighth year Elias has given a grant to this County-wide organization to support its mission to improve 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 United
Westchester County $25,000
www.westchester-united.org
This is the second year Elias has given a general support grant to this growing interfaith network of congregations and other community organizations working to build a new power base to generate positive social change in the county.
WESPAC Foundation
White Plains, NY $25,000
www.wespac.org
This is the seventh year Elias has given a general operating grant supporting WESPAC’s continuing growth and efforts to promote peace and justice activism locally. Includes $5,000 support for fundraising coaching.
2012 Program Support
Movement Building
Elias coordinated activist and funder meetings that are on-going, discussing strategy and next steps, with the goal of empowering those who are politically, economically and socially marginalized.
2012 Other Support
Community Design
Support to WESPAC, HVCC and CGDC 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.
Rent-free Office and Community Room Sharing
Elias shares long-term office space with Neighbors Link and Aging in Place, and offers the newly furbished community room to organizations looking for event space in Pleasantville, NY.
End of Year Sustainability Gifts due to Investment Growth
Community Voices Heard $15,000
Hudson Valley Community Coalition $15,000
Parent Leadership Institute / Ossining Union Free School District $15,000
Steppin’ Up Yonkers $15,000
WESPAC $15,000
Westchester Children’s Association $15,000
Westchester United $15,000