The Community Fund Recognizes Eight Local Graduates

announced at their annual meeting an allocation of $513,450 in community grants to be awarded in 2012- 2013 recognizing the continued increasing needs of social services within the Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe communities.

The grants will help support 26 local social service agencies and programs in the community.

Romy Coquillette and Carol Conway, Co-Chairs of the Evaluation Committee expressed their appreciation to the over 30 Community Fund volunteer evaluators for their efforts this year. 

“Thanks to the dedication and hard work from our evaluators, we are happy to announce that we've allocated $513,450 to 27 agencies for the 2012-2013 fiscal year including allocations to two new organizations, Cabrini of Westchester and the Youth Council of Family Services of Westchester," said Conway.

Gayle Haller, 2011-2012 President of the Community Fund, thanked all the donors and noted, “the services provided by the agencies we support help everyone in the Bronxville 10708, Eastchester and Tuckahoe communities." 

"In this difficult fundraising year, we are even more appreciative of the contributions made by our donors to the Annual Campaign and Annual Golf Outing and I am very pleased that despite a tough fundraising environment, we were able to increase funding to our agencies just when they needed us the most," continued Haller.

The grants will continue to support services for:

• Seniors at the Bronxville, Tuckahoe and Eastchester Senior Centers and
• Health Services and support from Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps (EVAC), The Community Flu Shot and Cancer Survivorship Programs at Lawrence Hospital and the Westchester End of Life Coalition 
• Counseling Services  from the Cancer Support Team, the Bereavement Center, the Maxwell Institute and Victims Assistance Services
• Drug and Alcohol prevention programs from Eastchester & Tuckahoe D.A.R.E., and the Maxwell Institute
• Youth Programs from Andrus Early Learning Center , Bronxville Youth Council,  Eastchester Community Action Program (ECAP), Eastchester Youth Council Summer Theater,  Eastchester Teen Scene, Heartsong, South East Consortium for Special Services and Tuckahoe Police’s Youth Programs. 

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Another highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Community Fund High School Scholarship Awards. These scholarships to local graduating seniors are made in memory of Michael Frey and in appreciation for all the support the community receives from its dedicated police, fire and other emergency workers.

Students are chosen in recognition of their service and dedication in support of their peers at school as well as the community at large.

This year the recipients are Sarah Blanco and Xavier LaSalle Lessane from ; Victor DiFede, Sophia Tahiraj and Thamden Wangyal from and Katlin Boyer, Megan Callanan and Emily DiRenzo from . 

Executive Director, Melinda Burge, noted that “this is a very special privilege for The Community Fund each year and each of the recipients should be very proud as they were chosen by their Principal and Guidance Offices based off their commitment to their school community and they are a wonderful group of young people and I wish them the very best in the coming year.”