Ed Sappin | Philanthropy & Community

Giving & Volunteering

10 New York Charities to Consider during the Holidays

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The holiday season is a time for giving and many people in the New York area are looking for ways to give back to their communities. There are many charities to choose from, but here are our top 10 picks for the holidays in the New York area.

  1. New York City Rescue Mission. This charity provides food, shelter, clothing, and other services to the homeless and hungry in New York City. They also offer job training, recovery programs, and other support to help people get back on their feet.
  2. City Harvest. This organization helps to feed the hungry in New York City by rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste and delivering it to food pantries and other organizations that serve the hungry.
  3. The Bowery Mission. This charity provides food, shelter, and other services to homeless and vulnerable individuals in New York City. They also offer programs to help people overcome addiction, find employment, and rebuild their lives.
  4. The Children’s Aid Society. This organization provides a range of services to children and families in need, including early education, mental health support, and after-school programs.
  5. Covenant House New York. This charity provides shelter, education, and other services to homeless and at-risk youth in New York City. They also offer programs to help young people transition to independence and self-sufficiency.
  6. The Food Bank For New York City. This organization helps to provide food to those in need in New York City through a network of food pantries and other organizations.
  7. Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. This charity works to promote social justice and interfaith understanding in New York City and beyond. They also provide support and assistance to local Jewish communities.
  8. New York Cares. This organization coordinates volunteer projects and activities to help people in need in New York City. They offer a range of opportunities for volunteers to make a difference in their communities.
  9. The Robin Hood Foundation. This charity fights poverty in New York City by providing financial support to organizations that help the most vulnerable members of the community.
  10. United Way of New York City. This organization focuses on improving education, income, and health in New York City. They provide funding and support to a range of organizations that help people in need.

These charities are all doing important work in the New York area, and they would all be grateful for your support this holiday season. Whether you choose to donate money, time, or other resources, you can make a difference in the lives of people in need.

 

 

This article was written with the help of an AI chatbot.

The Giving Season

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The holidays are over, 2017 is here and it is back to work time. I hope everyone had a good break if you had time off and time with your loved ones and families. As the weather in New York enters the heart of the winter my thoughts often turn to those who are truly left out in the cold. The giving season may be over, but those in need require our help now more than ever. Here are just a few options to give of your time and/or money and help those who are less fortunate during the toughest time of the year:

1. Bowery Residents Committee (BRC). A fabulous organization that works to shelter and train the homeless so they can move to stable housing and stable lives. BRC shelters more than 1,600 people every night and they have had more than 10,000 people go through their programs. I had the privilege of attending their annual fundraiser last year and was impressed with the impact and no nonsense attitude the management team has, and the lives they have touched for the better.

2. Coalition for the Homeless. One of the longest established and most effective community organizations serving the homeless, the Coalition spends $0.89 out of every dollar received on programs across food, youth, job training, and of course shelter. One of my favorite aspects of the Coalition is their Bound for Success program, which focuses on one on one tutoring for homeless children.

3. The Times Neediest Cases. Focused to “give direct assistance to troubled children, families and elders,” the New York Times effort works with charities around the city to have as direct an impact as possible ranging from young mothers, to struggling high school students to immigrants. The campaign works through local religious and lay charities and has raised over $280 million dollars since its founding by the Times Publisher Adolph S. Ochs in 1911. This year’s campaign wraps up on February 3rd so consider helping others now.

 

A Wave Of Clean and Green Philanthropy in New York City

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green-building nyc

New York City–known for its skyscrapers and high cost of living–also sets the bar high when it comes to environmental standards.

On August 22nd, the New York Public Service Commission voted to increase the state’s clean energy production by 50 percent by 2030. The City’s clean economy sector is thriving and environmental initiatives passed over the last decade have dramatically lowered NYC’s per capita emissions of air pollutants  to levels below those of other major metro areas.

There are more and more companies in New York City abiding by a green ethos. These groups are prioritizing sustainable initiatives and collaborating on significant projects to maximize the impact of clean and green philanthropy. Which organizations are are making the most difference? I’ve examined New York’s clean and green philanthropy landscape to give you a closer look. Here are some groups to get to know:

Urban Green Councilstatic1.squarespace

An affiliate of the U.S. Green Building Council, the Urban Green Council works to transform NYC buildings into sustainable constructions. In collaboration with Mayor de Blasio’s office and Center for Urban Science and Progress at NYU, the Urban Green Council aims to cut New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions in NYC by 80 percent, by 2050.

 

Doris Duke Charitable FoundationDoris_Copper_RGB

In the past, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation maintained a strict focus on conservation efforts, but the Foundation has now shifted gears with initiatives to fight climate change. Climate change, the Foundation cites, threatens Earth’s biodiversity and our livelihood. The Foundation’s latest measure to fight climate change Foundation awarded a $2.3 million grant to Scenic Hudson to enhance land preservation and undo damage sustained by Hudson Valley ecosystems.

 

Urban Future LabUFL

The Urban Future Lab – a collaboration between the NYC Economic Development Corporation and NYU Polytech – is an incubator for “green tech” businesses in NYC that want to drive economic growth and resiliency in the region. Located in Downtown Brooklyn, the Lab has a new home on the top floor of the MetroTech Center.

 

NYCEEC For a Sustainable FutureNYCEEC

Thanks to NYCEEC For a Sustainable Future, new residential and commercial buildings in New York City will become infinitely more energy-efficient, the result of improvements to the New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) that were given the go-ahead by the New York City Council back in July. The code will affect new construction (and renovations) in all five boroughs. According to estimates, commercial buildings to be built in the future will be nearly 9 percent more energy efficient than they are today.

 

The Environmental Defense FundEDF

Started in 1967, the Environmental Defense Fund works with corporations and government to create environmental programs, initiatives and policy. Areas the EDF seeks to address: using “h2 science” to affect markets, laws and corporate partnerships. EDF has been honored in the media for its environmental advocacy; you can read a summary of the organization’s achievements here.

Other big players in NYC clean and green philanthropy:
Wildlife Conservation Society

Wildlife Conservation Society

MacArthur Foundation logo

MacArthur Foundation

New York League of Conservation Voters

New York League of Conservation Voters

Hudson River Foundation

Hudson River Foundation

 

The Scherman Foundation

The Scherman Foundation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gateway to Himalayan Art at the Rubin

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Gateway to Himalayan Art

“Life story of Buddha Shakyamuni,” a Tibetan cloth painting on display at the exhibit.                           [Image courtesy of RubinMuseum.org]

New York City is home to a vast range of museums, many of them legendary, from the Met to the MoMa to the Museum of Natural History. While big-name museums are exciting to visit, there are also many niche institutions throughout the city. The Rubin, a cultural hub for Asian art, is one that I find fascinating and wish more people knew about.

 

Located in Chelsea, the Rubin, “inspires visitors to make powerful connections between contemporary life and the art, cultures, and ideas of the Himalayas and neighboring regions.” Since opening in 2004, the Rubin has had 1.4 million visitors through its interactive and educational exhibits that connect contemporary world to Himalayan art, ideas and history.

 

Himalayan art is not something everyone has an inherent familiarity with, which is why a visit to the Rubin can be particularly eye-opening and intriguing. The exhibit “Gateway to Himalayan Art,” a year-long exhibit lasting this June to next, is a wonderful way to introduce new viewers to the Rubin’s collections. Even those like myself with an interest in Asian Art can glean new and interesting insights from “Gateway.”

 

“Gateway to Himalayan Art” introduces visitors to the main concepts, forms, and themes  within the Rubin’s collections: a gateway in every sense of the word. It opens with a video presentation and virtual map that highlights regions of interest, including past and present parts of Mongolia, India, Nepal, China, and Bhutan. Significant objects from the collection are arranged within the exhibit by theme: 1) figures and symbols, 2) materials and techniques, and 3) purpose and function. This careful, organized curation helps visitors understand what a piece of art means, what it is made for, and what it does or did.

 

The most common depiction is the Buddha, or “enlightened one,” founder of Buddhism and religious figure in 5th or 6th century BCE. A variety of Himalayan gods and goddesses can also be observed on scrolls, murals, sculptures, and tools.

 

The Rubin Museum is a fantastic museum for any visitor, its collections full of items that provide a window into another part of the globe. “Gateway to Himalayan Art” is an educational portal into this magnificent world, well-suited for both first-time visitors and specialists. Next time you’re in Chelsea, why not treat yourself?

Great Philanthropic Events in New York This Summer

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There’s something to love about every season in the city, but summer is perhaps the best for events: it gets dark later, you can transition from day to night without a coat, and you’re finally free to take a vacation or two.

For the philanthropy-minded individual, summer events are an opportunity to enjoy summer days and nights in ways that also benefit important causes. If you want to enjoy yourself while contributing to a worthy organization, there are plenty of events that fit the bill.

The best way to find a philanthropic event is to subscribe to the causes and organizations you care about most and tune in to see when their fundraisers are. But for a taste of the diverse offering in New York alone, I found a few that look pretty great this summer:

Broadway in Bryant Park

Thursdays, July – August

For a sample of Broadway’s huge array of shows and talent, Broadway in Bryant Park is a recurring summer event in Midtown Manhattan right behind the New York Public Library. It’s free for guests to enjoy lunch-hour snippets from selected shows, but also benefits New York-Presbyterian for Kids and TKTS Discount Ticketing Booth.

TKTS is an affordable ticketing organization that helps sustain and share the arts and develop the audiences of the future.

Summer Camp on Fire Island

August 6, 2016

Pool parties are always a summer highlight, though for many New Yorkers they are few and far between. This annual pool party at Fire Island is presented by the Hetrick-Martin Institute, “the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit, multi-service agency dedicated to serving LGBTQ youth.”

The money raised will help ensure that youth members can return to school in September with all the supplies, clothes, and meals they need to get by.

The River Project 30th Anniversary Benefit

August 1, 2016

The River Project is a marine science field station that protects and teaches the wonders of the Hudson River ecosystem. The perfect summer event will commemorate its 30th anniversary: a river cruise and dinner party to on the Hudson River. Ticket funds will help the organization continue its important research.

Located at Pier 40 in Hudson River Park, you can also visit the River Project for interactive exhibits that show the public the wonders of the waterfront, both above and beneath.

Good for the Heart, Good for the Community

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Back in the dark ages, I rowed for part of my freshman year at Penn. The school had just won the national championship for heavyweight eights the prior year (the most prestigious race) and I walked on without knowing too much. Almost all of the other team members had been recruited from prestigious prep schools around the US, but I somehow was good enough to be invited to winter training in Florida. I generally do not look second guess past decisions, but my 18 year old self decided to leave the team just before the main spring rowing season to try rugby. I went to a few rugby practices, didn’t like it and decided to just run and play basketball rather than go back to rowing.

Now, 20+ years later, I am excited to have found a place in New York City where one can row on the water. Even better, the group sponsoring it has a great community program. So this Saturday I’ll be heading to the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse on the Harlem River to take RowNewYork’s Learn to Row I program. It is required to move ahead in their sequence and I’ll be in Learn to Row II later in June.

What excites me at least as rowing myself is the youth programs RowNewYork sponsors targeting middle school and high school kids that ordinarily would not have access to a crew program. From the website: “RowNewYork’s core year-round program for youth combines rowing with comprehensive academic support, and prepares middle school and high school girls and boys for success both on and off the water.” More about the volunteer mission here. Whether you want to row yourself or just get involved with a great organization check out RowNewYork.