20 for 2020: #PublicWorksGivesBack

Our annual giving campaign, #PublicWorksGivesBack, stems from our mission to help organizations increase their impact, advance their missions, and build stronger communities that work for all. Through #PublicWorksGivesBack, we support the missions of our nonprofit clients, and match employee donations to any registered 501(c)3 organization. In 2020, we were proud to give to over 20 organizations who are dedicated to building stronger communities. Read on to learn more about these incredible nonprofits and their missions.

APA New York Metro Chapter

Mission: “The American Planning Association’s New York Metro Chapter (APA-NYM) supports our members, local communities, schools, and practicing professionals through advocating for good planning practice, hosting diverse events and facilitating professional development opportunities in the New York Metro Area.”

Website: https://www.nyplanning.org/

Big Reuse

Mission: “We will reduce the environmental burden of construction waste; We will be socially responsible; We will offer quality home and community improvement goods”

Website: https://www.bigreuse.org/

Billion Oyster Project

Mission: “Billion Oyster Project is a nonprofit organization on a mission to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives. Why oysters? Their reefs provide habitat for many marine species, have the ability to filter water, and help shield New York City shorelines from storm damage. Founded on the belief that restoration without education is temporary, and observing that learning outcomes improve when students have the opportunity to work on real restoration projects, Billion Oyster Project collaborates with public schools. The crew designs STEM curriculum for NYC schools through the lens of oyster restoration, and engages Urban Assembly New York Harbor School students in large-scale restoration projects, collects discarded oyster shells from 75 NYC restaurants, and engages the local community. The project has planted 47 million oysters across 12 acres and 15 reef sites, with the help of more than 8,000 students and 10,000 volunteers.”

Website: https://www.billionoysterproject.org/

Border Kindness/Bondad Frontera

Mission: “Border Kindness began in the fall of 2018 as a direct response to the “migrant caravans” leaving impoverished Central American countries on a quest for a better life. From our earliest days, we have provided asylum-seekers, migrants, refugees, and the displaced with comprehensive services that include food, shelter, clothing, medical care and legal services. Our programs and interventions are designed to identify, protect and nurture the most vulnerable, including women, children, elderly and families. Border Kindness believes everyone should have the opportunity to live free of pain, hunger, intimidation, and fear. We believe everyone is our neighbor.”

Website: https://borderkindness.org/

Café Reconcile

Mission: “Reconcile New Orleans transforms the lives of young adults and the community through the ministry of reconciliation. We do this by encouraging personal growth, providing workforce development and training, promoting entrepreneurship, working with businesses, nonprofits and people of faith to support this transformation, and building strong communities through community economic development.”

Website: https://www.cafereconcile.org/

Community Help in Park Slope (CHiPS)

Mission: “We feed the hungry in our soup kitchen and shelter homeless young women & their infants.”

Website: http://chipsonline.org/

Food Bank for New York City

Mission: “To end hunger by organizing food, information and support for community survival, empowerment, and dignity. Food Bank For New York City has been working to end food poverty in our five boroughs for over 36 years. As the city’s largest hunger-relief organization, we employ a multifaceted approach centered on helping low-income New Yorkers overcome their circumstances and achieve greater independence.”

Website: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/

Fund for Public Schools

Mission: “The Fund for Public Schools has consistently and rigorously dedicated itself to supporting New York City’s public schools since 1982. The Fund has secured unprecedented investment from foundations, businesses, and individuals, raising more than $532 million for the city’s 1,800 public schools and 1.1 million students.
As a partner to the NYC DOE, the Fund sits in a unique position. We facilitate partnerships between the philanthropic community and the NYC DOE to pilot innovative projects; accelerate promising, outcome-driven initiatives; and respond strategically to emerging needs across the NYC public school system.
We support some of the most innovative programs in 3K-12 education at the largest school district in the country. With our partners, we have the potential to make significant impact in the lives of millions of New Yorkers.”

Website: https://www.fundforpublicschools.org/

Grand Street Settlement

Mission: “We give New Yorkers access to opportunities that inspire, services that keep families strong, and programs that bring communities closer. ”

Website: https://www.grandsettlement.org/

Henry Street Settlement

Mission: “Henry Street Settlement’s mission is to open doors of opportunity for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, arts, and health care programs. The organization is distinguished by its commitment to listening to and learning from our neighbors—and then acting to meet the most pressing needs of our community.”

Website: https://www.henrystreet.org/

HIAS

Mission: HIAS rescues people whose lives are in danger for being who they are.
We protect the most vulnerable refugees, helping them build new lives and reuniting them with their families in safety and freedom.
We advocate for the protection of refugees and assure that displaced people are treated with the dignity they deserve.
“Guided by our Jewish values and history, we bring more than 139 years of expertise to our work with refugees.

Website: https://www.hias.org/

Hot Bread Kitchen

Mission: “Hot Bread Kitchen’s mission is to create economic opportunity through careers in food. At Hot Bread Kitchen, we aim to create economic mobility for individuals impacted by gender, racial, social, and/or economic inequality in New York City, historically using the vibrant potential of the food industry as a pathway forward. We seek to not only expand skills, connections, and life-changing opportunities for talented women and small businesses, but to advance a vision of a food industry that is inclusive, just and reflective of New York City.”

Website: https://hotbreadkitchen.org/

Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City

Mission: “The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City cultivates partnerships that combine the incomparable reach of government with the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector to create a stronger and more just city for all New Yorkers.”

Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/fund/index.page

New York Abortion Access Fund

Mission: “The New York Abortion Access Fund supports anyone who is unable to pay fully for an abortion and is living in or traveling to New York State by providing financial assistance and connections to other resources.”

Website: https://www.nyaaf.org/

New Yorkers for Children

Mission: “As the nonprofit partner to the Administration for Children’s Services, NEW YORKERS FOR CHILDREN protects, ensures, and promotes the safety and well-being of NYC’s children and families, with an emphasis on youth in foster care.”

Website: https://www.newyorkersforchildren.org/

Queens Library Foundation

Mission: “The Queens Public Library Foundation raises funds for the programs, services, and collections provided by Queens Public Library.”

Website: https://www.queenslibrary.org/support/about-queens-public-library-foundation

Regional Plan Association

Mission: “RPA is an independent non-profit civic organization that develops and promotes ideas to improve the economic health, environmental resiliency, and quality of life of the New York metropolitan area. RPA conducts research on the environment, land use, and good governance, and advises cities, communities, and public agencies.”

Website: https://rpa.org/

Rocking the Boat

Mission: “Rocking the Boat empowers young people from the South Bronx to develop self-confidence, set ambitious goals, and gain the skills necessary to achieve them. Students work together to build wooden boats, learn to row and sail, and restore local urban waterways, revitalizing their community while creating better lives for themselves. Kids don’t just build boats, boats build kids.”

Website: https://rockingtheboat.org/

St. Nick’s Alliance

Mission: “St. Nicks Alliance seeks to transform lives of low- and moderate-income people through employment, education, housing, and health care. We do this by delivering impactful services with measurable outcomes to children, adults, and the elderly. As a civic anchor we carry out this mission within the context of building a sustainable community for all people through the arts, environmental advocacy, and urban planning.”

Website: https://www.stnicksalliance.org/

The Farmlink Project

Mission: “Fighting food insecurity is our mission—repurposing surplus produce is our solution.”

Website: https://www.farmlinkproject.org/

The Longevity Fund (Welcome to Chinatown)

Mission: “Welcome to Chinatown is a grassroots initiative to support Chinatown businesses and amplify community voices that generates much needed momentum to preserve one of New York City’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
The Longevity Fund will distribute $5,000 grants to 40 small businesses to alleviate their overhead costs (rent, labor, insurance, utilities, etc.) with the goal of offering some reassurance and peace of mind to small business owners, allowing them to focus on COVID-19 recovery.”

Website: https://www.welcometochinatown.com/the-longevity-fund-small-business-grants

Water for People

Mission: “Water For People exists to promote the development of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services, accessible to all, and sustained by strong communities, businesses, and governments.”

Website: https://www.waterforpeople.org/