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June 16, 2026 – BRONXVILLE, NY At their June 8, 2026 meeting, the Youth Community Fund (YCF), a program of The Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe, voted to allocate $5,700 in grants to four local organizations delivering programs and services to the youth in our community.
The YCF Executive Committee, led by students Charlie Atkeson, MacKenzie O’Gorman, William Morrisroe, Theodore Schafer, and Charles Watkins, facilitated a discussion that approved grant applications from The Bereavement Center’s Bronxville Tree House, The Friends of the Ward House, The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon, and Covered Westchester. Beth Larkin, Community Fund Board Member, and Dennise Mulvihill co-chair the program.
Anne-Marie Conlan, Program Director at The Bereavement Center of Westchester’s Bronxville Tree House, requested funding from YCF this year to cover costs for children and teens who interventions beyond group sessions to support their grief. The Community Fund already supports The Bronxville Tree House’s delivery of professionally facilitated group and peer support programs for children and teens experiencing the loss of an immediate family member. This year’s YCF grant will allow Bronxville Tree House practitioners to offer individualized counseling and art therapies to local young people who require it. YCF members believe that this mission is critical to community members’ emotional and mental health.
Sal Provenzano, President of The Friends of the Ward House, requested YCF funding to expand educational outreach in our school systems related to our area’s Revolutionary War history in conjunction with the nation’s 250th anniversary. Programming will include historical re-enactments, guest speakers, library presentations, school-based programs, and community events. The YCF has supported the Friends of the Ward House’s community education efforts for several years running; the teens value the organization’s consistently demonstrated ability to provide meaningful educational experiences for local students and the community-at-large.
Kerry Minto, Director of Development at The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon, applied for a YCF Grant this year in support of their “Empowered Futures: Youth Wellness, Confidence, and Leadership Initiative.” Through their proven “SMART Girls” and “Passport to Manhood” programs, youth will build genuine confidence, emotional wellness, leadership skills, positive identity, and a stronger vision for their future. Two enrichment trips, dynamic guest speakers, career exploration conversations, and hands-on leadership activities will give young people the space to discover who they are, what they value, and who they can become. YCF members considered the way that these programs help to build a better community and brighten kids’ futures when approving this allocation.
Bronxville resident and high school student, Elizabeth Barnes, founded Covered Westchester after her family experienced a dangerous grease fire in their home which left her father with burns on his hands and arms. Covered Westchester requested $400 from the YCF Fund to purchase 50 fire-safe blankets for distribution to low-income families in the Bronxville, Eastchester, Tuckahoe and broader Westchester communities. Elizabeth’s application highlighted that, 1. Family preparedness is key to avoiding injury and damage, and 2. Fire safety equipment can be expensive. For many families, this is an impossible or low-priority investment. YCF believes that the distribution of fire blankets and education can make a significant difference in preventing fire-related accidents and injuries.
Thanks to all of the local youth-serving agencies who applied for funding this year. Our community is better off as a result of your efforts!
Pre-register for the 2026-27 academic year now. We will reach out during Fall 2026 with complete details.
If you have heard of The Community Fund, but are unsure how the organization works to meet the needs of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe residents in need, these annual agency grants, our discretionary/mental health, and Youth Community Fund grants are how we work to keep BET healthy and well.
If you are new to the area, or haven’t had a chance to make your donation this year, please support our elders, youth, residents living with special needs, those working yet under-insured, those living with cancer, children and families mourning the loss of a family member, and your fellow community members.
About The Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe
For 106 years, The Community Fund has supported nonprofit organizations and essential services across Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe. Through collective giving, strategic partnerships, and community-driven philanthropy, the organization continues to improve the quality of life for local residents and families in need. thecommunityfund.org
Media Inquiries:
Shannon McDonough, Executive Director
director@thecommunityfund.org | 914-337-8808
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