In June, the Saint Thomas Church Vestry approved twenty organizations to receive a grant to support their work. Please note, these grants come from restricted funds that can only be given away in the form of charitable grants.
Pamela Lewis, Chair of the Grants’ Committee of the Vestry, is pleased to share information on nine of those organizations that are first-time grantees, the first three of which are discussed here:
New York Cancer Foundation
In 2020, Silvia and Ivelisse were diagnosed with breast cancer, and Carl was diagnosed in 2023. This news was devastating enough; the medical bills added an even heavier burden.
The mission of the New York Cancer Foundation is to relieve the financial stresses experienced by patients under care for a cancer diagnosis so that they may focus on their treatment and healing. The Foundation offers financial assistance grants for non-medical expenses to make treatment more accessible and prevent patients from being burdened by financial hardship. Allowing patients to focus on their health has seen proven results and has helped people to get back on their feet after life-altering diagnoses. The New York Cancer Foundation has an immediate positive impact in the community, as there is nowhere in New York that has not been touched by cancer. Each patient receives a maximum grant of $2,500 annually.
We are grateful to the Vestry for its approval of a grant to New York Cancer Foundation, which is giving hope to Silvia, Ivelisse, Carl, and all who benefit from its generous support.
Stand Up! Girls: “LOL League”
The Stand-up Comedy Afterschool Program in East New York, Brooklyn, delivers comedy classes to W.H. Maxwell Career and Technical Education High School girls, self-identified girls, and gender non-conforming youth. It also supports these groups of incarcerated parents in leading healthy and productive lives through the skills and confidence gained through stand-up comedy.
Stand Up! Girls’ latest after-school program, called “LOL League,” seeks to address a critical need in its community, where young people often lack creative outlets. Through the time-honored art of stand-up comedy, this program will provide a unique platform for self- expression and skill development. The program aims for three distinct outcomes: Creating and Maintaining a Positive/Supportive Learning Environment, Effective Communication, and Foster Community.
Funding for “LOL League” will support the necessary resources, professional guidance, and a safe space for participants to explore and develop their comedic talents. This program is designed to enrich young lives and build a vibrant and resilient community that values artistic expression and personal growth.
We are grateful to the Vestry for approving a grant to Stand Up! Girls in support of its after-school program that nurtures laughter and creativity in young lives, which will uplift present and future generations.
Victory United, Inc.: Victory in the Community Initiative
The Victory in the Community Initiative is a two-pronged program that supports youth and addresses food insecurity. Through its Basketball Program, Youth Leagues target obesity among young people and encourages participants to remain engaged and physically fit. The program also provides mentors who will help students make appropriate life decisions and assist them in choosing the right colleges.
The Food Delivery/Food Pantry/Food Insecurity Program will provide additional meals in some of the neediest neighborhoods that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, by feeding families where there are youth in the home. This includes food delivery and purchase of groceries and supplies Currently, this project serves two neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens where food pantries were shut down. Victory’s support has been able to keep these programs going in neighborhoods where the median family income falls at or below the poverty line.
We are grateful to the Vestry for approving a grant to Victory United, Inc. for its Victory in the Community Initiative, whose goal is to guide young people in making healthy choices, discerning the right educational choices, and in addressing the food needs of struggling families.
On behalf of the Grants Committee, it has been my honor to share descriptions of the 2024 new grantees.
Thank you,
Pamela A. Lewis
