Background on Recently Approved LCIF Grants:
These five nonprofit agencies, which were recently awarded LCIF designated grants from the foundation’s September 11th fund, were selected to work in partnership with the steering committee to initiate long-term social service programs for 9/11 victims. They are providing services ranging from employment workshops for persons who lost a job as a direct result of 9/11 to the mentoring of children who lost a parent in the tragedy.
The following is a brief description of each program.
September Space: "The Lions Clubs Job Readiness Center". This program sponsors a series of employment workshops to aid individuals that lost their jobs as a direct result of the 9/11 tragedy. ($100,000). DG contact: Michael Santos (20-R2).
The Lions Clubs Job Readiness Center was created after hosting a beta test with the first Career Night held in January 2003 for 30 participants that lost their jobs as a direct result of September 11th. This grant will provide funding to host several one-time seminars and workshops to provide professional career counseling, financial planning, optimal verbal communication skills, resume workshops, critique sessions, and advice from recruiters on self-marketing and interview techniques. The workshops/seminars will benefit approximately 30 participants each and also enable the purchase of equipment to offer on-line career services to people who either lost a job due to 9/11 or are currently unemployed because of 9/11.
CID-NY (The Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY): Conducting advocacy and providing various services to people with disabilities directly affected by the 9/11 tragedy. ($95,000). DG contact: Jerry Killebrew (20-K1).
This grant will assist in providing emergency response to ongoing recovery efforts for disabled people since September 11th. The recovery can be categorized into three distinct, yet interrelated areas of (1) direct services, (2) education and technical assistance and (3) outreach to prospective consumers. Most significant is the outreach mechanism. To insure that administrative and other barriers to service and access are overcome, CID-NY will provide education to the overall knowledge of disability specific issues, benefits and resources, and long-term disaster relief planning. Another service provided is professional counseling on the emotional and practical impact of becoming newly disabled, especially regarding the delivery of services. The majority of the outreach will continue in New York's Chinatown. The grant will enable education to provide many services from raising awareness, education and work, services and benefits and dealing with everyday life for hundreds of disabled people affected by 9/11.
Tuesday's Children: "The Lions Mentoring 9/11 Children's Initiative". Providing mentoring services to the children of victims directly affected by 9/11 with the involvement of local Lions from New York and New Jersey. ($100,000). DG contact: Michael Santos (20-R2).
The Lions Mentoring 9/11 Children's Initiative is tooled after Tuesday's Children Creative Insight program. Both group and one-on-one mentorship initiatives are planned through corporate stewardship, sporting and cultural clinics and community connections via the Family Support Network and Lion volunteers. With the help of professional staff made available by this grant and Lion volunteers from both MD-20 and MD-16, hundreds of the 5,000 children who lost a parent due to the 9/11 tragedy will have several programs available to provide a low-stress, non-threatening vehicle by which they can sensitively and respectfully offer positive role models so that the children of 9/11 can realize their full potential.
The Davidson Community Family Career Center: "The Lions Clubs 9/11 Emergency Station". The Lions Clubs 9/11 Emergency Station Computer Resource room will have equipment and trained personal to provide transitional services such as academic, culturally diverse, pre-employment/ post employment needs to families directly affected by the 9/11 tragedy. ($100,000). DG contact: Michael Santos (20-R2).
The Davidson Center has served as an ambassador in the Bronx communities for the last 30 years, focusing on family/youth services and community development. The Lions Clubs 9/11 Emergency Station will provide instruction, education and information as to local food pantries, career retraining and placement and mental health services for those affected directly by the events of September 11th. Other information such as child care, housing, legal services, and clothing will be available in the new Lions Clubs 9/11 Emergency Station Computer Resource room and equipment purchased with this grant will allow for online access for training at home.
Henry Street Settlement: “The Lions 9/11 Emergency Employment Clearing House”. This project assists affected families in Chinatown and the other Lower East Side communities to regain their financial independence by providing displaced workers training to re-enter the workforce. ($100,000). DG contact: Michael Santos (20-R2).
This initiative will make it possible for staff expansion and other resources to assist families still affected by 9/11 by providing crisis intervention counseling; connections to a range of employment services including job placement; career guidance; and skills development programs as well as social services for stabilization.
For more information on the Henry Street Settlement program, please visit this great website from the United Nations Lions Club. To view pictures of the special grant ceremony, please click here
Previously Approved Grants:
Charles B. Wang Health Center - click here for pictures of award ceremony