In 2013 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.
Community Governance & Development Council
Yonkers, NY $55,000 General Operations and $25,000 Gift*
www.CGDCNY.org
This grant supported 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. Elias has supported CGDC since 2012.
Community Voices Heard
Yonkers, NY $25,000 General Operations $30,000 Boost
www.cvhaction.org
These grants continued support for an outreach worker, and a new grant to support the short-term hiring of a Spanish-speaking organizer, to organize residents of Yonkers' low-income housing projects to advocate for their unmet needs. Annual grant since 2004.
Envisioning Westchester Collaborative
Westchester County $60,000 General Operations and $30,000 Gift*
This grant supports a coalition of progressive activist leaders who have been convening for over five years, committed to building the power of disenfranchised people in Westchester County to improve their own lives. In 2013 EWC hired a community organizer to carry out movement building and campaign organizing work over issues such as housing, jobs, immigration and education.
Grandpower Advocates / Family Service Society of Yonkers
Yonkers, NY $5,000 General Operations and $5,000 Sustainability Support
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 General Operations
www.groundworkhv.org
This 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 General Operations and $15,000 Gift*
www.hvccoalition.net
This grant supports this organization building communities that foster social justice and cultural awareness, working with immigrants, emphasizing advocacy, leadership development and community organizing. Elias has supported HVCC since 2009.
Mt. Vernon United Tenants, Inc.
Mt. Vernon, NY $40,000 General Operations
This one time grant supports this community-based organization in building power for tenants of low or moderate income.
Neighbors Link
Mount Kisco, NY $20,000 General Operations and $2,250 Immigration Forum
www.neighborslink.org
This 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 has given an annual grant since 2007.
Parent Leadership Institute / Ossining Union Free School District
Ossining, NY $25,000 General Operations and $10,000 Sustainability Support0
www.ossiningufsd.org
This is the seventh 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 $15,000 General Operations, $10,000 Sustainability Support and $20,000 Gift*
www.steppinupyonkers.org
This grant continues support for a project building partnerships among groups and individuals working on problems that negatively affect progress in Yonkers’ communities. Elias has supported this effort since 2010.
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 $15,000 Gift*
www.wca4kids.org
Elias has supported this County-wide organization for the past nine 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 $25,000 General Operations
www.westchester-united.org
This is the third year Elias has given a 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 $20,000 General Operations and $10,000 Gift*
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.
WESPAC Foundation Food Justice Committee
White Plains, NY $15,000 General Operations and $15,000 Gift*
www.wespac.org
This grant supports this committee in organizing a series of meetings for community members concerned about food and farm worker justice, highlighting local farmers and the struggles of indigenous peoples both here and abroad regarding the exploitation of their lands and foods, and other food justice related activities.
Westchester Women’s Summit
Westchester County $5,000
wwagenda.org/summit/
This one time grant supported the purchase of interactive keypad voting technology for use during this event building power for women in Westchester on legislative policy and program issues.
2013 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.
* End of the year gift due to investment growth