Press Release – (Eastern Bergen County, New Jersey; July 20, 2018) — The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization serving eastern Bergen County, awarded a record $220,000 in annual grants and The Harriet Tanner Impact Grants to 26 agencies and for special projects. Founded in 1933, The Community Chest supports local nonprofit organizations serving people in need. This year’s grant recipients provide services to meet peoples’ needs of all ages in these categories: children/families (37.2%), health/mental health (24.2%), older adults (11.2%), women (10.8%), hunger (7.07%), disabled (4.71%), and volunteers (2.3%).
Recipients
The 2018-2019 grant recipients are: Adler Aphasia Center, Bergen Family Center, Bergen Performing Arts Center, Bergen Volunteer Center, Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Buddies of NJ, Center for Food Action, The Center for Hope and Safety, Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Flat Rock Brook Nature Association, JCC Thurnauer School of Music, Girl Scouts of Northern NJ, Metropolitan Community Center, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern NJ, Office of Concern Food Pantry, Planned Parenthood of Central & Greater North Jersey, Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living, Spectrum for Living, Tenafly Nature Center, Vantage Health System, West Side Infant and Teen Parent Program, Women’s Rights Information Center, and YWCA of Bergen County.
Harriet Tanner Impact Grant
This year, two Harriet Tanner Impact Grants totaling $27,500 were awarded to area nonprofit organizations, West Side Infant and Teen Program and Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living (SESCIL), from Englewood, New Jersey. West Side Infant and Teen Program plans to use the grant to expand services to accommodate children ranging in age from two and a half to five years old. Some of the funds will also be used to purchase age appropriate furniture for the new entrants. The organization provides quality day care services while parents are completing their high school degrees and pursuing higher education.
SESCIL will use their grant award to improve the facility’s infrastructure, including acquiring enhanced lighting and implementing fire sprinkler and walkway repairs to make the building safer for seniors. The nonprofit’s dental equipment will be repaired to enable the continued provision of quality dental care for their clients.
Throughout the year, other awards are provided to support programs helping people in need during the holiday season and to meet requests for small projects. Grant awards, totaling $8,000, were given for the first Women’s Leadership Scholarships and the annual holiday project.
With a mission to strengthen the community through partnership, leadership and philanthropy, The Community Chest awarded the grants to local nonprofits through a competitive process managed by the organization’s Allocations Committee and approved by the Board of Managers. During this milestone 85th anniversary year, funds were raised through an annual campaign, events and activities to address pressing issues in the area.
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- The Community Chest supports agencies such as Bergen Family Center that provide services to seniors, children, and others requiring assistance in the area.
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- The Community Chest’s Board of Managers
Requests Exceed Funds Available
The Chest’s grant awards service approximately 50,000 people annually. Each year, The Community Chest works to lead initiatives and support nonprofits strengthening communities and assisting people in need in eastern Bergen County. The needs persist and are evident from the increase in total requests and applicants for annual grants, $265,288, received from 26 agencies.
“We were delighted to be able to increase the amount of money awarded to the agencies this year by 10% and to welcome new organizations as grant recipients,” said Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, Executive Director, The Community Chest.
For further information about The Chest or to make a contribution, visit www.communitychestofenglewood.org or contact (201) 568-7474. Stay updated about the organization’s activities on Facebook and Twitter.
About The Community Chest
Founded in 1933, The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, has supported local not-for-profit agencies for 85 years. The Chest leads initiatives and supports nonprofits that make our communities stronger and benefit people in need in eastern Bergen County. Each year, The Chest raises funds and allocates them to agencies demonstrating the capacity to provide services to local citizens. The organization also provides coordinating and planning services in its communities, serving as a bridge between agencies and organizations and investing in the stability and quality of the service network.
For further information about The Chest, visit www.communitychestofenglewood.org
