LICF and AFTEE Award $50,000 to 20 East End Nonprofits

The Long Island Community Foundation and the Board of the All For the East End (AFTEE) Fund announced on Thursday, June 12, the first grantees of its Building Stronger Neighborhoods Program, supporting organizations serving Long Island’s East End communities of Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, Southold and East Hampton.

“We received an overwhelming number of proposals from over 80 community organizations, and it really validates the extent of the needs out on the Island’s East End,” said David Okorn, Long Island Community Foundation’s executive director. “We are very excited about this collection of organizations and feel it addresses those diverse and important sets of needs within these communities.”

With input from the AFTEE Advisory Committee, which included representation from each of the five East End towns, 20 proposals were approved to support projects and programs in the fields of health and welfare, the environment, arts and culture, education, youth development, and animal welfare. The committee members include Vince Taldone, Debra Halpert, Laura Anker, Greg Blass, Ken Pysher and Diane Radigan.

“The Long Island Community Foundation provides such needed help of private monies for a variety of nonprofits who are there for the public interest where government is unable to assist,” said Greg Blass, AFTEE Advisory Committee member and former commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services. “The grant award process is uniquely community-based and I am grateful to have been a part of it.”

Below are the details of each $2,500 grant, listed by town.

East Hampton
Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center – a program to help non-English speaking pre-K kids transition to kindergarten
Family Service League of Suffolk County – an early identification program of emotional disorders for elementary school aged children
Food Pantry Farm – provide access to organic produce for seniors & children
Inspirational Triathlon Racing International – self-esteem and mentoring program for young women
Project MOST – a Healthy Snack Club program at the Springs School and teach kids how to make delicious and nutritious snacks

Riverhead
Aid to the Developmentally Disabled – expansion of a sensory garden program for people with disabilities
East End Arts & Humanities Council – Jump StART artist/business collaborative
North Fork Spanish Apostolate – leadership development workshops
Open Arms Care Center – food purchase to restock pantries
Peconic Community Council/Maureen’s Haven – safety screeners for homeless outreach program

Shelter Island
Shelter Island Historical Society – oyster bed restoration education program
Sylvester Manor Educational Farm – educational program on sustainable agriculture

Southampton
Children’s Museum of the East End – Cantemos family literacy program
Dominican Sisters Family Health Services – nonmedical support for seniors and people with disabilities
East End Hospice – training for caregivers and professionals who work with grieving children
Lucia’s Angels – support services for late stage cancer patients
Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry – purchase of fresh produce

Southold
Community Action Southold Town, Inc. – purchase of books & toys for the Parent-Child Home program
North Fork Animal Welfare League – provide low/no cost spay and neuter surgeries
Southold Free Library – for the purchase of replacement computers

“AFTEE was founded with the goal of providing financial support to the NPOs of the East End,” said Claudia Pilato, Executive Board Member of AFTEE and VP, Director of Marketing for BNB. “The announcement of these grants fulfills the mission from our first year of hard earned fund raising, and we are delighted to see the money going to so many worthwhile organizations. We plan to continue the AFTEE mission, and with each year increase the number of community organizations that receive support from the AFTEE fund.”

“With the help of the LICF, AFTEE has been able to reach out into the NPO community of the East End. This is a true community collaboration which involves decision makers, business people, nonprofit leaders – the entire community coming together for a common cause and in support of this very special place we call the East End of Long Island.” said Bob Edelman, Chief Executive Officer of Dan’s Papers, LLC.

By publicly showcasing and supporting the NPO’s of the five east end towns, AFTEE is a unifying voice, leveraging strategic assets of collaboration and its regional brand to raise awareness, rally support and launch a new era of fundraising and organizational integration. AFTEE is a unique 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2012 with a singular mission: to help, support and showcase the nonprofits that make the East End a place unlike any other. To learn more about AFTEE, visit AFTEE.org.

The Long Island Community Foundation (LICF) is the Island’s community foundation, making grants to improve our region and helping donors with their philanthropy since 1978. The org identifies current and future community needs, strengthens the Island’s nonprofit sector, encourage philanthropy and, with their generous donors, builds a permanent endowment to address these needs. It has made more than $145 million in grants from hundreds of funds established by individuals, families and businesses.

LICF is a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the country’s oldest and largest community foundations. To learn more about the Long Island Community Foundation, visit their website at LICF.org or on Facebook and Twitter @LICommunityFndt.