United Way announces community investments

ALBANY, N.Y. » United Way of the Greater Capital Region recently announced $417,000 in community investment grants for 2020, a total of 33 grants to community programs in the Capital Region including a new investment initiative and $88,750 in emergency gap funding for organizations that were particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is in addition to the $1 million in grants distributed through the Capital Region Community COVID-19 Response Fund.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges and magnified disparities in health, education and financial stability within our communities – but there is power in unity, and together we are able to start to chip away at these challenges and provide real impact to help our neighbors who are struggling.” Peter Gannon, United Way of the Greater Capital Region’s President & CEO stated.

“United Way is proud to support these organizations that are providing critical programs and strengthening our communities,” Gannon added.

UWGCR 2020 Community Investments

Family Neighborhood Resource Centers ($163,650) - A partnership of health and social service providers, residents, schools, businesses, and faith-based organizations provide one-stop, coordinated services to individuals and families in crisis at five locations across the Capital Region:

• Mechanicville Area Community Services Center

• Schenectady Community Action Program

• Schoharie County Community Action Program

• Trinity Alliance

• Unity House

Summer Meals Collaborative Program ($115,000)

Launched and led by United Way of the Greater Capital Region in 2013, the Summer Meals Collaborative combats food insecurity during the summer months for families that rely on free/reduced-price meals during the school year. In 2019, the Collaborative served 240,834 meals and increased the capacity to serve meals by 230% since inception. Free, nutritious lunches are available for children and youth at more than 100 sites across the Greater Capital Region through the following Summer Meals sponsor organizations:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area

• CAPTAIN Community Human Services

• Refugee & Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus

• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York (Schoharie, Greene and Columbia counties)

• Schenectady Community Ministries

Five to Watch ($50,000)

Designed to identify a cohort of organizations and leaders that are poised to shape the future of the Capital Region, this new investment initiative was created to address the racial and cultural disparities between the leaders of nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve as well as to address similar disparities when it comes to organizational resources. The 2020 Five to Watch grant recipients are:

• BirthNet

• Bluelight Development Group

• Mission Accomplished

• Soul Fire Farm

• Youth FX

Community Initiatives Emergency Gap Funding ($88,750)

In addition to the $1 million in community funding provided through the Capital Region Community COVID-19 Response

Fund, United Way GCR is providing $88,750 in sixmonth emergency grants to 16 United Way funded agencies whose funding was scheduled to sunset in June 2020:

• Albany CEO

• Albany Community Action Partnership (ACAP)

• Arbor Park Child Care Center, Inc.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area

• Capital Roots

• Family & Child Service of Schenectady, Inc.

• Hospitality House, TC Inc.

• Mechanicville Area Community Services Center

• Refugee & Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus (RISSE)

• Schoharie River Center, Inc.

• Social Enterprise and Training (SEAT) Center

• The Albany Damien Center

• The Center for Community Justice

• The Food Pantries for the Capital District

• Watervliet Civic Chest, Inc.

• YWCA of Northeastern NY