For nearly two decades, the Foundation has partnered with Citizens Committee of New York City on the Reisenbach Safe Neighborhood Awards, a series of micro-grants dedicated to funding projects that serve to increase the neighborhood’s level of security and or increasing the neighborhood’s quality of life. These micro-grants are, but not limited to: cleaning up graffiti, converting local vacant lots into safer community spaces, or creating interactive youth forums to discuss topics about community needs and issues.
An example of a recipient of the Reisenbach Safety Grants is the No Kids Left Behind project based in East New York. With a micro-grant of $2,000, the resident-led group facilitated a flag football tournament for local youth between the ages of 11 to 14. The purpose of the project was to help participants learn to: build better relationships with their community members, learn team-building skills, and how to be an effective team player (don’t forget to always have great sportsmanship!). Through these workshops, the students learned how to play and interact with each other in non-violent ways, how to avoid violent situations, and how to manage conflicts in a positive and effective manner– something that these participants so desperately need as East New York is one of the most violent neighborhoods in New York City.
Your donation to the Summer in a Safe City Campaign can provide extra funds for small, community based groups to fulfill projects that will improve the safety and quality of life of their neighborhood. There are many individuals with fantastic ideas on how to improve their neighborhood but lack the funds to follow through on these ideas. These grants gives them that chance to address the systemic problems within their neighborhoods and make it one more location closer to making a “Better and Safer New York”.
You can donate by clicking here.
