The Community Fund of Bronxville Eastchester Tuckahoe, Inc. was founded on October 2, 1919, as The Community Welfare Fund, Inc., to support Lawrence Hospital, The Associated Charities of Eastchester, and other charitable agencies or welfare work in the community. The Fund served the community during the depression and World War II, providing basic support to families and the war effort.
From 1919-1979, The Community Welfare Fund underwent several name changes. In the 1940’s and early 1950’s the name became The Community Chest (the Red Feather for those who remember). In 1954 the name was changed to the United Fund of Bronxville Eastchester Tuckahoe, Inc. Later, in 1965 the organization affiliated with the United Fund of Westchester which became known as the United Way of Westchester in 1978.
On July 1, 1980, The United Fund of Bronxville Eastchester Tuckahoe severed its affiliation with the United Way of Westchester to ensure that all funds raised locally would remain in the three communities. It re-established itself under its original charter of 1919 and changed its name to The Community Fund of Bronxville Eastchester Tuckahoe, Inc., thereby reaffirming the organization’s original objectives.
The Community Fund currently supports 26 social service agencies and community programs which provided critical services to Bronxville, Eastchester, Tuckahoe and the area within the Bronxville 10708 zip code (the BET community). In addition to funding, The Community Fund also provides administrative support to the agencies it supports through on-going site visits, consultations, workshops and forums.
Dear Neighbors,
Let me begin by thanking all of you who have supported The Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe over the years. Without your donations we would not be able to accomplish our mission to “help members of our community with their most pressing needs.” So thank you!!
To fulfill this mission, we spent the last year plus working with Pace University to conduct a community-wide needs assessment. This project entailed surveying the community at large, conducting interviews with residents, governmental officials, non-profits, and local business owners to determine the most pressing needs of the community. (The results of our needs assessment can be found on our website). We discovered that the largest gap between needs and services existed in issues surrounding mental health and well-being. This was true for all three communities.
We have already initiated a process of looking at how we can help to fill this gap. We are looking at ways to allocate grant money to new mental health programs that will serve our community. We are re-examining our grants process and our evaluation process to assure that these needs get served. We are speaking with non-profits, with whom we might not have worked with before, that focus on mental health and seeing how we can help them to provide services to our community. We have also engaged with governmental officials and local organizations to help assess ways this important issue can be addressed.
While looking at new ways to address mental health issues in our community, we are continuing to support those agencies that currently service our community — from providing social outlets to our seniors, addressing food insecurity, teen programs, and many more. These vital services also indirectly address mental health in trying to address social isolation, drug addiction, and additional stress before it becomes an issue. The Community Fund is evolving as the needs of our community evolve, but still committed to those programs that our residents hold so dear.
As you can see, exciting things are ahead from The Community Fund of BET. Please follow us and the Youth Community Fund on Instagram and Facebook for updates of all the impactful ways your donations are being used. Finally, do not hesitate to reach out if you would like to learn more or become involved. We would love to have you!
Kindly,
Robin Lewis
Robin Lewis, President
Caitlin Greatrex, Vice President
Joanne E. Johnson, Treasurer
Sarah Normand, Secretary
Amy Atkeson
Peggy Belles, YCF Chair
Jessica Benjamin
Christopher Bush, Investments Chair
Laura Busker, Special Events Co-Chair
Lisa Dawson
Lisa Hery
Joanne E. Johnson, Campaign Co-chair
Michelle Meyercord
Catherine Moore, Special Events Co-Chair
Pam Morrisroe, Marketing Chair
Katrina Nay, Evaluations Co-Chair
Tania Neild
Megan O’Grady
Elizabeth Peacock, Evaluations Co-Chair
Patricia Reilly
Elisa Rizzo, Campaign Co-chair
Savatore Renzo
Maria Sayegh, Campaign Co-chair
Anne Sekula
Katie Shah
Donato Vaccaro, Campaign Co-chair
George Winn
Amy Rutter Korb, Executive Director
Sheridan Denfeld, Finance Administrator