All posts by PJO'H

Elmezzi Foundation Summer Spotlight

We hope your summer was as fulfilling as ours at the Elmezzi Foundation! We’re excited to share some fantastic updates on our workforce development initiatives. This summer, among other initiatives we are proud to continue our support for LaGuardia Community College’s Elmezzi Career Fellows Program. Thanks to the program’s outstanding results and the positive impact… Read more

50 Ideas for a Stronger and More Equitable Queens

Queens, one of New York City’s most diverse and vibrant boroughs, offers a rich tapestry of cultures, cuisines, and communities. Known for its unique neighborhoods, Queens is home to iconic sites like Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the bustling neighborhoods of Astoria and Long Island City, and the vibrant food scene reflecting its multicultural population. This diversity… Read more

A Year in Review

— We would like to acknowledge the passing of Lynn Grossman, long time Board Director and friend to the Elmezzi family. After a long battle with cancer, Lynn withdrew to a new life on January 12, 2024. The work of the Foundation was deeply influenced by Lynn’s passion for uplifting the under resourced and underserved… Read more

A Tribute to Lynn Grossman

On January 12, 2024, the Foundation bid farewell to a beloved Director, Lynn Grossman. Nearly thirty years ago, she played a key role in establishing the Foundation alongside its founder, Thomas Elmezzi, and every year since, served as a devoted advocate for the residents of our shared community. Lynn passionately promoted the Foundation’s mission to… Read more

Elmezzi in the News

This spring, the Elmezzi Foundation initiated a second round of emergency grants to support local and citywide organizations in their continued efforts to address the reverberating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recipient of one of these grants, the Floating Hospital, recently spoke with our Executive Director, Pooja O’Hanlon, to discuss the Foundation’s grantmaking process… Read more

Reimagine Everything: A Reflection and Response

The pandemic revealed much about the philanthropic sector, namely its ability to quickly adapt to the immediate needs of the communities they serve while also questioning certain operative practices that until now have been considered norms. Jim Rendon reflects on how the shift towards providing direct cash assistance, a relatively uncommon practice prior to the… Read more