By Karen Talbot
The Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe was founded in 1919 as the Community Welfare Fund to support Lawrence Hospital, The Associated Charities of Eastchester, and other charitable agencies doing welfare work in the community.
It was part of the United Way until July 1, 1980, when it severed its affiliation to ensure that all funds raised locally would remain in the three communities.
The Community Fund supports 26 social service agencies and community programs, and over the years, it has been an integral part of the Bronxville-Eastchester-Tuckahoe community. Amy Rutter Korb is the Executive Director. Below is a photo of students at the Eastchester Community Action Partnership (ECAP).
Below are some recent undertakings and notable grand recipients of the Community Fund.
Survey
In 2022, the Community Fund partnered with Pace University Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship to conduct a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment. Here are some details about the survey:
A team of university researchers conducted a mixed-mode community survey between March and October 2022.
The survey yielded 520 valid responses, with 95% completed online and 5% completed in paper format. 44% were from the Town of Eastchester, 25% from the Village of Tuckahoe, 22% from the Village of Bronxville, and approximately 9% from communities outside of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe.
Pace University also secured the perceptions of 22 community leaders through semi-structured interviews conducted between April and September 2022.
- The survey consisted of 54 questions covering five key community service areas: basic human needs; community services: crisis and disaster services; families, children, and seniors; and mental and physical health.
- It primarily used closed-ended questions to provide quantifiable data. It also included several open-ended questions that allowed respondents to provide more in-depth answers. The results will be announced in community meetings over the next few months.
Youth Community Fund
Three years ago, the Youth Community Fund was created for high school students from the Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe areas to support local giving for local needs. Students raise funds, allocate grants, and participate in community service to improve the lives of these local residents.
In October 2022, over 100 teens aged 12 to 16 enjoyed competition and community building at the Community Fund’s 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament in Tuckahoe.
Annual Golf Outing
On May 8th, they held their annual golf outing at Siwanoy Country Club to raise funds. In the fall, they will conduct an annual appeal campaign.
Notable Grant Recipients:
- $150,000 towards an ambulance every three years for the Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
- Scholarships to 9 High School Students each year in all three school districts,
- $500,000 to 15 agencies that provide Health, Education and Prevention, Youth and Senior Services, and Family Services.
