Previous Charitable Partners

Round 3

College Careers Fund of Westchester — CCF is a private, nonprofit organization which has helped educationally and economically disadvantaged young people for the last 30 years. They target 17- to 20-year-olds for whom higher education has not been presented as an option, and focus on academic enrichment, college advising, college awareness and financial aid awareness. To be accepted into the program, prospective students must meet with a counselor to determine their financial eligibility and discuss an appropriate educational program. Counselors help students with applications and interviews, and offer advice on planning budgets, managing time and forming other successful study habits. They also develop job leads to help the student obtain money for college, and they work the phones to help students go to a particular school. The program, which started with 22 students in 1967, then selects as many students as it can support. The College Careers College Program serves more than 260 primarily African-American and Hispanic, high school students each year. Over the past forty years, College Careers has made college a reality for more than 2,500 students. They provide ongoing support from high school through college matriculation. In addition to their College Program, College Careers also reaches out to over 1,200 teens and young adults annually through pre-college and life skills workshops, GED (general equivalency diploma) tutoring, and sponsored cultural trips. They offer pre-release services to young adults through the Westchester County Department of Correction and, in partnership with the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, provide drug dependency counseling and workshops on peer pressure, substance abuse, and life skills.

The Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center of New York — CAPC is a 25-year-old non-profit organization providing services to children and families in Westchester County. The Center's mission is to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect in Westchester County. The Center utilizes trained community volunteers and staff in an in-home intervention that provides supportive services. The center has been recognized as a highly effective program by the local Department of Social Services, and national and state organizations that focus on prevention. As a private not-for-profit agency, all services provided are at NO cost to the client. In July 2007, the Center suffered catastrophic losses when their offices were flooded and the Westchester County Department of Health determined that remediation involved the removal and replacement of flooring contaminated with asbestos. The losses included their complete computer and telephone systems, office equipment and furniture and the loss of an enormous amount of food, clothing, toys and other similar items which the Center had collected for distribution to our families. As a result, the Center was compelled to immediately move to a temporary space which they continue to occupy.

Friends of Westchester County Parks — Since the inception of the County Parks Commission in the early 1920s, Westchester County has been a national leader in the acquisition and preservation of parkland. The Westchester County Parks Department today manages more than 50 parks and recreation properties, spanning more than 17,000. In 1977, at a time when the demand for quality parks and recreation program was growing and budget dollars were shrinking, The Friends of Westchester County Parks, a 501(c)(3) non-profit philanthropic organization, was established. Over the past 30 years, the Friends has established a tradition of helping to bridge the budget gap, raising thousands of dollars to buy equipment, fund children's programs, provide amenities and support the Westchester County Parks System. The Friends mission is to support, maintain and enhance Westchester's Parks, promote their value to the economic, social and aesthetic vitality of our community, and stimulate public participation, interest and support in their preservation.

Green Chimneys — Founded in 1947, Green Chimneys is the nationally renowned, non-profit organization restoring possibilities and creating futures for children with emotional, behavioral and learning challenges. Recognized as the worldwide leader in animal-assisted therapy, Green Chimneys operates residential treatment and a special education school for children and also serves adults with handicapping conditions from New York City, the mid-Hudson region, Westchester and Putnam counties, and the counties of western Connecticut. The agency is considered the strongest and most diverse of its kind involving farm, animal, plant and wildlife assisted activities. Each year, Green Chimneys' restoration system gives hundreds of children and their families the tools that enable them to positively experience their youth, regain a sense of self-worth and create hope for the future as independent, positive and productive adults. Students with emotional or learning disabilities are involved in a number of rehabilitation programs including training service dogs to help the physically challenged and assisting at the wildlife rehabilitation center. Their training gives these children an opportunity to make the transformation from service receivers to service providers.

Mount Kisco Day Care Center — MKDCC is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian child care organization licensed for operation by the NYS Office of Children and Families Services. It was established in 1971 after a study by the Interfaith Council of Westchester determined a need for such a program in the area. With the backing of the Junior League of Northern Westchester, The Center opened its doors to 25 three and four old children. 35 years later, the Center cares for 139 children, ages three months to twelve years. The MKDCC mission is to provide high quality affordable childcare to a diverse group of children in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate environment. The goal of the Center is to promote each child's intellectual, physical, emotional and social development with an emphasis on enhancing his/her feelings of self-esteem. They are committed to ensuring the ethnic, social and cultural diversity of the student body, based on the belief that this policy is beneficial to all children and has long-term benefits for the community as a whole. The organization operates out of an incredible Intergenerational Facility in Mount Kisco where, thanks to collaboration with Family Services of Westchester, the children share parts of their day with senior citizens from neighboring communities. Programs offered include a comprehensive infant care program; over 7,500 square feet of outdoor play space; an expanded after-school program; literacy and science activities; and an intergenerational curriculum featuring everything from baking and reading to arts and crafts. The Center is a not-for-profit agency and tuition and fees do not cover the costs of operation. In September 2007, Connie and Connie's were honored at the Day Care Center's annual fundraising event, "Feed Me Fresh."

Open Door Family Medical Centers — Open Door Family Medical Centers is a registered 501(c)(3) private, non-profit organization. The mission of Open Door is to provide quality health care and human services at affordable prices to the economically disadvantaged. They believe that health care is a right and not a privilege; in diversity and respect cultural and linguistic differences; that healthy families are at the foundation of civil society; and that healthy individuals contribute to community success. Founded in 1972 in the basement of the First Baptist Church in Ossining, Open Door was first operated as a free clinic, staffed by nearly 100 local volunteers. Today, a professional staff numbering more than 230 deliver quality health care at four sites of care in Port Chester, Sleepy Hollow, Mt. Kisco and Ossining. Services offered include: a range of medical treatments and preventive health services for children, adults and pregnant women; comprehensive oral health care; mental health services including psychotherapy, case management and psychiatric services; and care for those with or at risk for AIDS/HIV infection. Open Door is also actively involved in health promotion and outreach in all of the communities they serve, and provides patient advocacy, assistance in applying for government-sponsored insurance and other assistance programs, transportation to and from appointments when needed, and pharmacy services. Last year, nearly 36,000 individuals were treated at Open Door Family Medical Centers - making 170,000 patient visits. Outreach and education efforts aimed at eradicating the health disparities that exist for low-income and minority groups reached over 20,000 people. Over 98% of their patients are "low-income" or living in poverty as defined by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services, and 50% of patients have no health insurance of any kind. Physicians at Open Door Family Medical Centers have admitting privileges at the Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco and Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, and faculty appointments at New York Medical College, a teaching facility in Valhalla.

Round 2

Round 1

Food P.A.T.C.H. – The mission of Food P.A.T.C.H. (People Allied to Combat Hunger) is to alleviate hunger and minimize food waste in Westchester County, New York. Last year, the organization distributed 5.2 million pounds of food to more than 200,000 hungry people. Food P.A.T.C.H. is in the midst of a two-year, $4.2-million capital campaign to construct a new warehouse that will increase its capacity to meet the needs of more of Westchester’s hungry residents. The new facility will enable Food P.A.T.C.H. to accept the trucks that would bring an additional 2.3 million pounds of food per year.

The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Inc. – Founded in 1946, this is a charitable organization dedicated to promoting mental health through advocacy, community education and direct services. MHA is committed to the belief that mental wellness is essential and that everyone has the right to quality mental health care. MHA serves as the leading resource in Westchester County for helping children, adults and families cope with domestic abuse, mental illness, advocacy concerns and trauma. Their mission is to provide quality services to those in greatest need and who are least likely to receive help elsewhere. MHA never turns anyone away due to an inability to pay. Dedicated staff and volunteers bring vital services to more than 11,000 members of our community each year.

Top Chefs Soups, a project of Westhab – Westhab is a not-for-profit provider of housing and social services for homeless and low-income families in Westchester County. In 2004, the organization launched a program called Top Chefs Soups, employing homeless heads-of-households living in Westhab family shelters in packaging six delicious gourmet dried bean soup mixes. Recipes for the soup mixes were created by top Westchester chefs from Abigail Kirsch of Tappan Hill; Sam’s of Gedney Way; Zuppa Restaurant and Lounge; The Willett House; Le Chateau and Peter Kelly of Xaviar’s. In their three months of paid work for Top Chefs Soups employees learn all aspects of the production process as well as the "soft skills" necessary to become responsible employees in the marketplace (e.g. teamwork, taking direction, punctuality). This Fall, a variety of Top Chefs Soups mixes will be available at Connie’s Bakery & General Store.

Back to School Clothes for Kids – "Back To School Clothes For Kids" is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that distributes new clothes and school supplies to needy youngsters throughout Westchester County. It was created in 1985 by Connie Kennedy, who believes that "having decent clothes and sufficient school supplies helps (kids) feel good about themselves and helps improve their school performance." Over the past two decades, nearly 8000 youngsters have returned to school outfitted for success, thanks to the unique partnership of the "Back to School" project, individual contributors and the corporate support of the Westchester Business Volunteer Council. The WBVC consists of more than 40 Westchester-based companies whose mission is to provide leadership in meeting community needs through mobilization of employee volunteers.

Support Connection Inc. – The mission of Support Connection is to provide emotional, social, and educational support services to women, their families and friends affected by breast and ovarian cancer. The support provided enables women to help each other and empowers them to become their own health care advocates. Based in Yorktown Heights and serving people from Westchester, Putnam and throughout the country, Support Connection has provided free and confidential support services to more than 5,000 people affected by breast and ovarian cancer since opening their doors in 1996.

The Northern Westchester Shelter – Northern Westchester Shelter is a private non-profit organization, founded in 1980 to provide a safe haven and caring services to survivors of domestic violence. Their programs are designed to help victims of abuse achieve safety, explore their options, and evolve from victim to survivor. They are free, confidential and offered in both English and Spanish. Emergency Shelter Program, 24-Hour Hotline, Safety Planning, Counseling and Advocacy Services, legal services, support groups and many others.

In addition to our charitable partners, we would like to tell you about a great program at Westchester Community College through which we found Connie’s first group of baking apprentices. If you own a restaurant or catering business, we encourage you to check it out:

JobSTAR – A collaboration between Westchester Community College and the Westchester County Department of Social Services and has been providing educational training, case management and job placement services to individuals and families receiving Public Assistance since 1990. The employees in our baking apprenticeship program are all graduates of the JobSTAR Food Preparation/Sanitation Certification program, which teaches the basic skills required for entry level jobs in the food service industry while preparing participants to earn or renew their ServSAVE Sanitation Certification offered through the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association.