Bayside Nonprofits: Check Out These Groups In Your Neighborhood

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Nonprofits are a prime contributor to a community’s quality of life, and a number of such organizations are located right in Bayside.

Here are just a few of them:

Bayside Historical Society

Address: 208 Totten Ave.

The Bayside Historical Society was founded in 1964 to collect, preserve and disseminate information concerning the history of Queens’ Bayside community, according to the Society’s Facebook page.

The organization advocates for the preservation and protection of Bayside’s most historic structures through the landmarking process and strives to develop a broad constituency of like-minded preservation and educational organizations in order to protect the historic integrity of the Bayside community. Exhibits include a showcase of Bayside through the 1920s and the origins of the Bayside Historical Society castle.

Tourette Association of America

Address: 42-40 Bell Blvd., Suite 205

The Tourette Association of America, formerly known as the Tourette Syndrome Association, works to make life better for all people affected by Tourette and tic disordered.

According to the nonprofit’s website, the organization accomplishes its mission through raising public awareness and fostering social acceptance; working to advance scientific understanding, treatment options and care; education professionals together serve the needs of children, adults and families challenged by Tourette and tic disorders; advocating for pubic policies that promote positive school, work and social environments; and empower the community to deal with the complexities of this spectrum of disorders.

Bayside-Whitestone Lions Club

Contact: (718) 428-7285

The Bayside-Whitestone Lions Club formed in 2011, back when Bayside Councilman Paul Vallone was its founding president. This northeast Queens chapter of The Lions Club International focuses on dedicating service, integrity and energy to the community.

More specifically, members — called Lions — are residents who wish to give back to and improve their neighborhood through volunteer humanitarian work. The club does not currently have an address listed. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Bayside Village Business Improvement District

Address: 213-33 39th Ave., Suite 310

The Bayside Village Business Improvement District (BID) represents more than 200 businesses along Bell Boulevard, according to the nonprofit’s Facebook page, from Northern Boulevard to 35th Avenue.

Since its establishment in 2007, the BID has hosted street fairs, created banners promoting local businesses, hung holiday lights for seasonal occasions and provided additional sidewalk cleaning throughout through the business district.

Bayside Business Association

Address: 41-16 Bell Blvd.

The Bayside Business Association has provided Bayside businesses with a single, united voice since its inception in 1997, according to the nonprofit’s website. The BBA has been involved with local beautification projects, street cleaning, tree planting and graffiti removal in support of a mission to provide the Bayside community with a family-oriented, pedestrian-friendly shopping experience.

The BBA website further notes that the group seeks to be responsible for the overall planning of commercial and economic programs in the neighborhood, education businesses toward increasing their market share through publicity techniques and addressing the concerns of local businesses by “having one voice with government agencies.”

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