10 Hudson Valley Non-Profits Get An Infusion Of New State Funds

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Albany has made funds available to help struggling Westchester and Putnam County residents thrive.

NYS Senator Pete Harckham announced that in an end-of-year resolution in the State Senate, $464,500 was set aside for youth workforce training and community programs in Westchester and Putnam Counties.

"The investments we have made in these important community programs are the result of hearing from different municipal officials and nonprofit stakeholders about the necessary resources required to support the work they are doing," Harckham said. "Many of these nonprofit organizations operate on shoestring budgets—and yet accomplish so much; they are on the frontlines in so many important areas. I am glad to have secured this funding because these programs will help empower residents and benefit them in so many ways. Each of these recipients is deserving of our support, and I thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for acknowledging the impact of their work in our communities."

The recipients of the funding are:

• CAREERS Support Solutions: $85,000 for Operations and Educational Programs
• Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation Corp. International: $80,000 for Operations and Research
• Neighbor’s Link, Inc.: $57,500 for Legal Services to Immigrant Community
• City of Peekskill: $50,000 for Workforce Training programs focusing on young adults and gun violence prevention
• Hope’s Door, Inc.: $50,000 for Crisis Response, Outreach Expenses
• Putnam / Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center: $50,000 for Advocacy Outreach
• My Brother Vinny, Inc.: $50,000 for Operations, Storage Costs and Vehicle Maintenance
• Ossining Padres Hispanos, Inc.: $25,000 for Operations and Vocational Training
• Prevention Council of Putnam, Inc.: $7,000 for Operations and Educational Programs
• Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route – NY, Inc.: $10,000 for Rochambeau Festival in Yorktown’s Rochambeau Park

The funding comes from several areas in the enacted FY2024-2024 State Budget, including the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Division of Housing and Community Renewal, the Department of Health, the Department of Labor, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation.

"My Brother Vinny is a small but mighty organization serving veterans throughout New York State and the entire Hudson Valley Region," Paula Miritello, founder and director of My Brother Vinny, Inc., said. "We are so very thankful for Senator Harckham’s support; he has made a tremendous difference in the lives of the veterans we serve. Last year was a record year of service for us, as we furnished over 453 homes for Veterans and their families. All of this has been possible due to Senator Harckham’s commitment to ensuring our formerly homeless veterans have all of the resources available to rebuild their lives in their community.”

Local officials say the new funding for community groups will help make municipalities' jobs easier.

"With New York State’s Violence Prevention Crisis Response funding, the City will continue workforce training for young adults with credible mentors at their side," Matthew Alexander, city manager for the City of Peekskill, said. "Additional funding secured by Senator Harckham helps Peekskill to walk youth at risk through the process of setting goals and achieving them, which is the best way to prevent despair and violence. We want to offer youth making a transition from high school to adulthood the skills to see that they have all kinds of choices and that they too can have a bright future."